Does Microblading Hurt and what to Expect During Treatment?
If you are someone who suffers from eyebrow hair loss, has thin eyebrows, or are simply just tired of dealing with the hassle of filling in and keeping up with your eyebrows everyday, then eyebrow microblading might be the perfect solution for you.
Microblading is a semi-permanent eyebrow tattoo procedure designed to enhance the look of your eyebrows to appear more natural. A handheld tool is used to create small hair like strokes into the skin with pigment. It is different than a traditional tattoo in which a machine, with a motor, is used and ink is then colored into the skin. Both can be considered cosmetic tattoos and fall under the term ‘permanent makeup’ but the technique used to create fuller brows is very different.
During the treatment, because of the numbing agents used, you should really only feel pressure and maybe a scratchy feeling. The sound you will hear when the blade is being pulled through the skin is similar to the sound of velcro. The actually blading process only takes about 30-40 minutes. Toward the end of the treatment, your brow area will start to feel tender because the numbing has started to wear off. When you leave your appointment, the skin will feel like it’s sunburned for up to 48 hours.
Is the Microblading Treatment Painful?
A common question we receive is, “Does Microblading Hurt?” Although most aren’t pain-free during the treatment, many people tend to feel very little pain. This is because we use a topical Lidocaine numbing cream that takes about 20 minutes to set in before starting the procedure. We then apply a second layer of another numbing agent once the skin is broken. Of course, everyone’s pain tolerance is different so the numbing cream may work better for some than for others. Now if no anesthetic is used, that’s a different story. Luckily, you don’t have to worry about that with us. We want you to be comfortable throughout the entire procedure! Most clients say that Microblading isn’t as painful as receiving a body tattoo. This is likely because we are able to use numbing agents since Microblading doesn’t penetrate the skin as deep a traditional tattoo does. The brow area will be sensitive and almost have the feel of a sunburn for up to 48 hours. When comparing what Microblading feels like to other beauty treatments I would say that it doesn’t have the same feeling as other treatments like waxing and threading, however we often hear that it’s less painful than threading. But again, everyone’s pain tolerance is totally different.
A couple things you can do to help prevent some pain when you have your eyebrows done are:
Make sure you aren’t on or close to being on your period.
Refrain from alcohol and caffeine for 24 hours prior to your appointment. (This includes pre workout)
What to Expect During the Microblading Procedure?
When you arrive at your appointment, we will first discuss what you like/don’t like about your eyebrows and what you’re hoping to achieve from your Microblading treatment. We will then have you lay down and we will take some ‘before’ photos. Then, using your natural facial features, we will properly measure and map a brow outline on you. This process can take up to an hour as making sure the outline is symmetrical and you approve the shape are some of the most important things. After the shape has been approved, we will then apply a topical anesthetic which is a numbing cream. It will sit on your skin for 20 minutes. The numbing cream is the topical anesthetic we’ll use. During this time, we will explain the Microblading process to you, show you the tools we will be using, go over pigment colors, and thoroughly explain aftercare.
After the 20 minutes have passed, we will then begin Microblading. The actual blading will only take about 30-40 minutes and we work back and forth on the eyebrows, going over each brow 3 times. Between each pass, we will apply another numbing agent which is a gel. It will penetrate the broken skin and if you were in any pain prior, you should be a lot more comfortable now. After we’ve completed your treatment, we will take some ‘after’ photos and have you sit up and check out your new amazing brows!
A few tips before having your Microblading appointment are:
Get waxed, threaded, tinted, etc… at least 48 hours prior to your appointment if you have unruly brows.
Make sure your appointment isn’t scheduled for on or around your period.
Refrain from alcohol and caffeine 24 hours prior to your appointment.
What to Expect For Aftercare?
Immediately following your Microblading treatment, your brows will be dark and bold. Try not to let this scare you. This is normal and it’s because there is ink not only in your skin but sitting on top of your skin which makes the brows have a bolder look initially. During the first several days, the brows will seem like they’re getting darker and bolder. During this time, the skin is starting to scab and the scabs are sitting on top of the skin, again, giving a bolder appearance. Likely somewhere between days 5-7, the scabs will start to flake off. They won’t all fall off at the same time. Because of this, the brows will begin to look very uneven. Again, don’t fret, it’s part of the healing process. By the end of 14 days, all of the scabs should have fallen off. Now, the brows will be at their lightest point. During the next 3-6 weeks, the pigment will start to return to the skin as the skin regenerates. You will have full color by 6 weeks which is when the skin is healed. Varying skin types will heal differently. If your skin is more on the dry side, you may notice that your skin scabs and heals a bit quicker. For those with more oily skin, your scabs may tend to take a bit longer to fall off and you will likely take the full two weeks to properly heal.
Following the treatment, you will be given an aftercare balm. We will instruct you on how often to use it but we typically suggest applying an extremely thin amount 1-3 times per day. Don’t ever use vaseline, aquaphor, vitamin E, or any other petroleum product. Those can actually pull the ink right out of your skin. Your brow area will be sensitive for up to 48 hours so you may take ibuprofen, aspirin, or another pain killer to help minimize the pain. Do not apply anything topically for pain. No arnica cream, no ice packs, no neosporin, etc…
There are a few things you will want to be sure to avoid after your treatment:
No direct sun exposure for 2 weeks (This includes tanning beds)
No sweating. Sweating, even elevating your heart rate, can push the pigment out of the brows. In addition, the salt in sweat can make the pigment not heal properly under the skin.
Keep the brows dry and free from getting wet for 14 days, or until all of the scabs have fallen off. Water can cause the pigment to not heal properly and/or the ink to blur.
Do not pick the scabs! Picking the scabs will pull the pigment out completely.
No waxing, threading, or tinting the brow area for 6 weeks. You may resume tweezing immediately.
For more aftercare advice, check out our website.
After your first Microblading treatment, you will need a touchup. We suggest having this done 6-10 weeks following your first session. Regardless of when an artist tells you to return, it’s imperative that your skin isn’t cut back into for a minimum of 5 weeks after the first appointment.
Is Microblading Right for You?
Microblading is meant to be a natural brow enhancement, and to create the appearance of full, beautiful brows. It looks most natural on clients who have full brow hair, and are wanting to perfect their shape and add natural fullness. The finer hair you have, the more natural it will appear. This is not an ideal service for those with little natural hair, hair that is patchy, or coarse hair. Microblading heals best on young, normal/dry skin. Those with combination/oily or aging skin are not candidates for microblading, and are better suited for a microshading or ombre brows. Many clients think that microblading is the only way to achieve “natural” results. However, unless a client is an ideal candidate, microblading can look more unnatural then something like a combo or powder brow. If you do not fit the above description of an ideal microblading candidate, book a microshading or ombre brow! Most people interested in Microblading are experiencing eyebrow hair loss or thin eyebrows and most hate needing to use a brow pencil daily. They desire the look of fuller brows but want them to still look natural.
We understand that on treatment day you may feel overwhelmed with excitement and nerves. That’s why we offer our clients a personalized permanent makeup experience. Rest assured, we will not allow any questions to go unanswered. First, we’ll discuss your desired outcome. Then we’ll tailor your dream look based on your bone structure and face shape. During the treatment, we will ensure you are comfortable and at ease. Your satisfaction is our top priority so we will make sure we have your approval each step of the way. So make yourself a priority, so you can stop feeling undesirable and start living life with confidence. If you still have nerves and aren’t quite ready to book, it’s best that you book a consultation first so we can put all your worries to rest. By contacting us here, we’ll be happy to get you set up with a FaceTime call or in person consultation.
Not only have we provided brow treatments for thousands of clients but we also train others how to become successful Permanent Makeup Artists. We have in person trainings for: Microblading, Microshading, Tattoo Removal, and Plasma Fibroblast. If you are interested in an Online Microblading Course, check ours out here.
“This place was great! I was nervous to get microblading, but she was clearly an expert and put my mind at ease. I barely felt the procedure and love my new brows! Taylor is friendly and professional. Very clean and comfortable salon as well. Highly recommend.” -Mikayla H.
