MICROBLADING FAQ

Permanent make-up is custom designed for each client according to your face shape, skin type/tone, hair and eyebrow color.

WHAT IS MICROBLADING?

It is a permanent make-up technique using a small blade hand-held tool to deposit colored pigment into the skin. It creates beautiful thin lines, hair-like strokes that mimic the appearance of natural eyebrow which leads fuller, fluffy, natural looking brow. It is achieved with two sessions. The second session is approx. 6-10 weeks after the initial procedure.

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Microblading heals best on healthy and normal/dry/combination skin with small to normal pores. Mature, super thin, hypersensitive, thick/super oily skin with large pores are not recommended for microblading. Results will not heal as well, or more like powdery or look as natural.

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*If you have very little to no brow hair, oily skin/large pores, a third session might be necessary to complete your desired brows.

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WHAT IS FUSION/COMBO BROWS?

A fusion/combination brow combines manual microblading strokes with machine shading.

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This look will still appear natural but it will be fuller and darker compared to microblading alone. This technique can give you more 3D result. Shading densities are adjusted to your preference from powdery to a more defined look.

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Fusion/combo brows are great for clients with normal to moderate oily skin. If you have naturally sparse brow hair, fusion/combo brow technique is for you.

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WHAT IS POWDER/OMBRÉ BROWS?

A powder/ombre brows has no hair strokes and are done with a machine to implant pigment throughout the brow in a really small, extremely fine, pixelated dots. These pixelated dots are layered on top of each other until the desired amount of saturation is achieved.

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Powder brows can be completely customized to fit clients preferences. We can create custom shading and give you soft shading for a natural look, or more saturated, defined brow. Though the initial results can be intense, when healed, they are soft, powdery finish.

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Powder/ombre brows are great for all skin types! This technique is the best option for oily skin and/or mature skin.

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WILL PERMANENT MAKE-UP BE THE SAME AS REGULAR TATTOO?

While permanent make-up is cosmetic tattoo, permanent make-up is not the same as regular tattoo. The colored pigment is not implanted as deep underneath the skin, only in the upper layer of the dermis. Permanent make-up pigments are made up of smaller particles than tattoo inks, tattoo inks are much more concentrated - this allows for a natural, softer healed results.

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HOW LONG DOES IT LAST?

Permanent make-up is intended to fade over time.  Factors such as age, medication, lifestyle, skin characteristics (dry, oily, sun-damaged thick or thin skin type), personal pH balance of your skin, alcohol intake and smoking, the sun/tanning beds, post procedure after care affect the longevity of the microblading. Have annual touch-up done every 12-24 months (as needed). A follow-up is recommended 6-8 weeks after the initial procedure where we can assess your pigment retention and make any changes necessary.

DOES IT HURT?

Pain level from none to minimal. Some clients fell asleep during the procedure. However, pain tolerance varies between clients. Pre-numbing Lidocaine cream is used to make sure you’re comfortable. After the skin is opened (after the first pass), secondary numbing gel is applied to continue numbing. 

HOW LONG DOES THE PROCEDURE TAKE?

Plan your visit for about 3.5-4 hours for the initial session. We like to take time to do your brows because we want it to be perfect. During this time, a consultation is done where we discuss your desired brow look, choose a pigment color, shape and draw the initial outline of the procedure area for your approval. Once you are satisfied with the choices, we begin the procedure. “Perfecting session”/touch-up session will take approximately 1.5-2 hours to complete.

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IS IT SAFE?

Yes. We use premium pigments, sterilized, disposable high quality blades and supplies (single use only).

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AM I A CANDIDATE?

Permanent make-up CANNOT be performed on clients with the following conditions:

• Pregnant or nursing

• Under 18 years old

• Under influence of alcohol and/or drugs

• Viral infections and/or disease

• Accutane in the past year

• Epilepsy

• Keloids

• Auto-immune disorder 

• Active sunburn, Eczema, Psoriasis, Rosacea, Dermatitis near the treatment area

• Allergic to metals, colors, anesthetic

• Major heart conditions 

• Hemophilia

• Organ transplant  

• Filler, Botox, facials within 2-3 weeks of your appointment 

• Using Latisse or brow serums within at least 6 weeks of your appointment 

• Using Retin-A, Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Glycolic Acid, other acids, anti aging, brightening products within 2 weeks of your appointment

• Chemical peels or laser within 6 weeks of your appointment

• Taking antibiotics, blood thinning medications/supplements, steroids shots within 2-3 weeks of your appointment

If you show up with any of the following conditions without telling us prior, your appointment will be canceled and you will forfeit the deposit, with no exceptions.

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Doctor’s note required for these conditions:

• Thyroid

• Glaucoma

• Uncontrolled Diabetes

• Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure

• Undergoing Chemotherapy/have active cancer

If you show up with any of the following health conditions without a doctor’s note. Your appointment will be canceled and you will forfeit the deposit, with no exceptions.

WHAT FACTORS WILL EFFECT MY RESULTS?

• Oily skin: Increased oil production can cause hair strokes to blur, fade very quickly, or not stick at all.

• Super thin, hypersensitive skin: Highly prone to developing scar tissue, bleeds very easily, has hard time healing and cause pigment appears blurred.

• Anemia and iron deficiency: You may lose pigment faster because your body will absorb these iron based pigments more quickly.

• Sun exposure: Increased exposure to the sun will cause premature fading. You will want to use a sunscreen for your healed microblading. We recommend Cannasmack Ink Guard on Amazon.

• Excessive bleeding:  Excessive bleeding during your procedure will greatly affect how your body retains pigment and causes pigment to fade very quickly and heal ashy. While bleeding is not entirely in our control, it is important that you follow before care instructions to help minimize bleeding. This includes avoiding blood thinning medications, alcohol 24 hours and caffeine in the morning before your procedure.

• Failure to follow pre and post care: Please come prepared beforehand and follow all instructions afterwards for the best results

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HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR MY APPOINTMENT?

Pre-care is REALLY important as post-care/aftercare. Please make sure that you are prepared to your appointment because if you’re prepared, it means better experience and better healed results. Failure to follow pre-care may result in you being turned away the day of your appointment.

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6 Weeks Prior:

• No chemical peels or laser

• No Latisse or brows serums

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2-3 Weeks Prior:

• If you get Covid-19 vaccine, you HAVE TO WAIT 14 days after dose prior to your appointment 

• No Botox, Fillers, Microdermabrasion, any facials 2 weeks prior to your appointment and 2 weeks after

• Stop using Retin-A, Alpha Hydroxy Acid, Glycolic Acid, other acids, anti aging, brightening products

• No steroid shots

• Antibiotics have to be done 2-3 weeks prior to your appointment 

• No sun/tanning bed exposure

• Do not wax or thread your brows so we can see how your brows grow naturally

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72 Hours Prior:

• Do not tint your brows within 72 hours of your appointment 

• Stop using blood thinner medication (Aspirin, Ibuprofen), Niacin, Vitamin E, fish oil, fat burners

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24-12 Hours Prior:

• Avoid alcohol 24 hours prior to your appointment 

• Avoid caffeine (coffee, soda, tea, energy drinks) 12 hours prior to your appointment 

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The Day of Your Appointment:

• Wash your hair before you come in. You won’t be able to wash your eyebrows in the shower for approximately 10 days post procedure! (we will give you some shower face shields visors in your aftercare kit)

• Avoid working out. Exercising increases blood flow and will cause excessive bleeding

• Wear your brow make-up as you normally do

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WHAT CAN I EXPECT IMMEDIATELY AFTER MY APPOINTMENT?

After getting your brows done, you may experience some redness and/or swelling around your brows, this typically disappears within 48 hours. In the hours following your procedure, your brows will appear much darker and bolder than it will heal. This is normal and this is not the way they will remain. 

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Around day 3-4, you may notice some flaking or light scabbing around your brows, this is normal and DO NOT PICK, doing so will result in loss of pigment in those areas and can cause scarring. You may notice that some areas may appear very light or even have lost pigment entirely after they have peeled.

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No water on your brows for the first 10-14 days (while scabbing) after your procedure. We will give you wash and balm after the procedure, yes, you can wash your brows!

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10-14 days post-procedure:

• No make-up, lotion, face wash, serums

• No direct sunlight. After completely healed, use sunscreen on your brows

• No PICKING YOUR BROWS/touching/rubbing/scratching

• Do not sleep on your face

• No excessive sweating/working out, swimming

• No hot bath, jacuzzi, sauna, steam

• No facials, laser, chemical treatments, peeling, any Acid or Retinol (acne or anti aging) serums for 14 days

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Brows may appear spotty or patchy until the entire brow has finished healing. After 4-6 weeks, your brows will be fully healed, the pigment will typically reappear but will about 30-50% lighter than it was immediately after the procedure. Whatever pigment that does not return will be addressed at your touch-up appointment. We will touch-up the empty spots, asses your retention and adjust the color or dimension during that appointment.

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DOES MICROBLADING/PERMANENT MAKE-UP REPLACE MY MAKE-UP?

Permanent make-up is NOT meant to replace make-up. While permanent make-up is really good for enhancing your natural brows and defining your features, it will never be as saturated and bold as make-up. Because permanent make-up sits under your skin, and make-up sits on top of your skin. At first, it’s bold and looks like make-up but once it’s healed, the skin creates a translucent filter making it appear softer, not like make-up. At Brows Therapy, we strive for natural results and will look amazing for years.

It’s really important that as a client to have realistic expectations about what it can and cannot do. Permanent make-up is a great guideline when you decide to wear brow make-up, you’ve got a shape in place to work with and you don’t need to worry about symmetry because it’s already measured. It will take you less than a minute as opposed to creating brows from scratch (with make-up).

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Permanent make-up is AWESOME because;

• You can enjoy cardio, swimming or jumping into a pool, without worrying about sweating off your brows (it’s waterproof!)

• No need to worry about clean your make-up off before you sleep at your boyfriend’s house :D

• If you are late for work or brunch with your BFFs, you can just go and still have brows

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DO I NEED A TOUCH-UP/FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT?

Yes. Permanent make-up procedures require 2 sessions (sometimes 3 sessions), touch-up AKA “perfecting session” is recommended. This session is to see how your skin heals, retains the pigment, and is where we can assess your pigment retention, add volume and/or definition. This touch-up also increases the longevity of your brows.

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I HAVE HAD MY BROWS DONE BEFORE, CAN YOU FIX THEM/TOUCH THEM UP?

We require that anyone who has had their brows done by another artist text/email us clear pictures in natural light with no brows makeup before booking an appointment. We, usually, only do previous other artist work if it’s 80-90% completely faded. Any client coming to me from a different artist is considered a new client, with full price.