Frequently Asked Questions:

Well, that totally depends on what treatment you get, but generally it will last you anywhere from one to three years. So, not really permanent, but, hey, more permanent than the eyeliner that smudges off your face by the end of the day, right? And the reason it doesn't last forever, like a regular tattoo, is because permanent makeup doesn't reach the deeper layer of your skin—it's more of a superficial tattoo

Microblading is a form of permanent makeup tattoo. A manual blade is used to make small incisions in which the pigment is deposited. Once healed, they resemble hair strokes. It is a great way to get natural-looking, full and dense eyebrows.

Microblading is done with pigments, not ink, which are inserted into the surface layer of the skin. That is why it is actually not permanent – it fades after about 18 months.

Combo brows are also a type of permanent makeup brow tattoo, done with pigments. They are a combination of two techniques – hair strokes and shading. Hair strokes are usually created with microblading i.e. a manual tool, but they can also be made with a machine – machine strokes or nano brows.

After that (or before, as some artists do) shading is added to fill in the space between the hair strokes. So, why is this done? Some people like the makeup look of their brows – they want them to look like they were filled in with a brow pencil or brows powder, without having to apply it on their brows every day.

Combo brows are not only for people who want a combination of hair strokes and a powdery look. They are great for people with oily skin who like microblading. The hair strokes tend to become blurry on oily skin, so adding some shading will make them look better. Also, they will last longer with some shading.

The main difference is in the technique, but there are also some differences in longevity and the cost. As described above – microblading is hair strokes only, combo brows are microblading + shading. Or nano brows plus shading. 

Shading can be done with a manual tool, but it is more commonly done with a machine. Most artists do the hair strokes first and then add shading, but some of them say that the final result looks better if the shading is done first.

It is good to know that hair strokes are usually done only in the front part of the brow, i.e. the head, and the tail of the brow is shaded.

Procedures take between 1 1/2 – 2 hrs, this includes drawing on time for the initial procedure where the eyebrows or lips will be drawn on and the procedure will not be started until myself and the client are happy with the shape and style.  I always say to allow yourself 2.5 hrs in total for your first appointment and 90 mins for the second, although most treatments are completed before this.

Permanent makeup can be totally safe, but there are a lot of factors you need to consider beforehand to avoid any complications or infections (because, yes, it can happen). Make sure you're taking excellent care of your permanent makeup during the healing process. Your aftercare depends on your specific permanent makeup

Here's the thing: Microblading definitely doesn't last forever (hence the semi-permanent thing). Because the cuts aren't as deeply ingrained as a real tattoo, your body ends up metabolizing it (meaning, it'll start to fade naturally). That means you can either let your permanent makeup fade, or if you want to keep your brows looking amazing long-term, you can go back every 12 months for a touch-up.

On average, microblading lasts anywhere from one to two years. When I got mine done, I came back a month later for a check-in to see how everything was healing, and for a quick touch-up. To keep them in tip-top shape, you'll also want to avoid getting your brows wet for one week post-application.

Permanent eyeliner involves placing pigment on your lash line to recreate the look of that eyeliner you painstakingly apply every morning. It's similar to lip blushing and microblading because it deposits color onto the skin, but it doesn't last forever. If you're someone who can't find an eyeliner that doesn't smudge, doesn't want to deal with your liner running, or you're sensitive to regular makeup, it could be a good option for you.

No, permanent makeup does not hurt if you are getting it done by a trained professional.  In general, permanent makeup uses a smaller needle than tattoo’s because it doesn’t pierce as deep. This allows for less trauma to the skin. What helps the most is the topical anesthesia that is used on the skin to make sure no pain is felt. One of our goals as permanent makeup artists is to make you feel comfortable and pain free throughout the entire service.

Each service is slightly different, but in general you will see redness and sometimes swelling in the areas that the service was performed on. The redness and swelling should be gone the same day. The full healing time of procedures very but most on fully healed within 2 weeks. After the procedure, make sure to keep the area clean and avoid any physical activity.

The healing process and aftercare are pretty similar for both of these treatments. Here is what it looks like day by day:

Day 1 – Your eyebrows are a fresh wound, they may look swollen and you will notice the lymph coming out. Blot the lymph a couple of times a day to avoid lymph build-up.

Day 2 – Your eyebrows may look too dark. Don’t worry, the color will fade once the brows are healed. You can start washing your eyebrows now. Avoid getting them soaking wet – use a little bit of water and antibacterial soap on a cotton pad. Make sure your brows are dry afterward.

Days 3-10 – Your eyebrows will start scabbing, then peeling. Don’t pick on the scabs, let them fall off on their own, to avoid the risk of scarring and ruining the whole process. Keep washing your eyebrows regularly, twice a day. Use a moisturizing ointment if your artists prescribed it.

Days 10 onwards – You can wash your face and brows as usual. Your brows may seem too light after the scabbing stage, but it is normal – the pigment will reappear. Two weeks after the treatment you can wear makeup and go back to your usual routine.

6-8 weeks after – Your eyebrows are completely healed and you can have a touch up. The artist will make all the necessary corrections if the eyebrows healed too patchy.

You should avoid sunbeds, saunas, steam rooms and swimming for the first 7 days after a treatment, full aftercare will be given to you on the day of your procedure.  If you are planning a sunshine holiday you should have the treatment at least 14 days prior to your departure.

NO, the procedure is used to enhance your natural shape and style.

No, if you are going to then I recommend you do this a week before your treatment.  your eyebrows will be shaped by myself during the treatment.  Waxing/Plucking prior to treatment can result in open pores and can cause irritation and in severe cases infection.

The average lifespan of microblading is 12-18 months, but combo brows last longer since there is shading added. You can expect that they will last around 2 years. The longevity depends on your skin type – brow tattoos fade faster on oily skin, and lifestyle – if your eyebrows are exposed to the water, sweat, sun, they will fade faster. Also, your skincare routine can speed up fading – some products should be avoided after microblading and combo brows.

Firstly, it comes down to your preferences, meaning whether you want a completely natural look of hair stroke brows done only with microblading or a more makeupish look with a bit of shading.

Secondly, it depends on your skin type. Combo brows are a better choice for people with oily skin. And they will last longer.

Also, if you have an old brow tattoo to cover, combo brows will do better at hiding pigment or ink residues. 

The skin takes some time to heal after a microblading treatment.

During that period, your eyebrows will go through several phases. First, they will be too dark, then they will start scabbing, and finally, they will lose some of the color and you might think your microblading was unsuccessful.

The color comes back at the end of the healing period, but sometimes it can be uneven and patchy, as some of the pigment could come off with the scabs. Everybody’s skin heals differently and some clients might notice gaps and irregularities after the brows are healed.

The first microblading touch up includes adding additional strokes where the pigment didn’t settle properly. Sometimes. if the artist assesses pigment strokes won’t retain even after the second implementation, they will suggest adding microshading.

The touchup is there to correct all the possible imperfections. Its purpose is to fix what got messed up during the healing period. It’s also an opportunity to make some modifications, in case you feel the color or shape of the arches isn’t quite right yet.

If you don’t get the first touch up microblading, your brows will stay the way they turned out once the skin has healed – uneven and patchy.

If you don’t touch them up ever again, they will fade within 6-12 months.

The first microblading retouch is done after the healing period is over.

The healing time is different for everybody. Generally, it takes from 4 to 6 weeks for the skin to heal, but in some cases, it could take as long as 8 weeks.

The touch up should be done no earlier than 5 weeks and no later than 10 weeks after the first procedure.

Most artists book touch ups about 6-8 weeks after the initial appointment.

You shouldn’t book a touch up appointment before the brows are completely healed and the pigment sets in properly. The skin is at risk of scarring if further trauma is caused before it heals completely.

Microblading touch ups usually last half the time of the first treatment or about an hour. The touch up won’t last as long as the initial treatment because only certain areas need to be fixed. The time the microblading touch up will take depends on the area that needs to be retouched, and whether only strokes need to be refilled or some shading needs to be added, too.

The healing period after the microblading 6 week touch up is much shorter than after the initial process, since the treatment isn’t as intense and there is less trauma to the skin.

It usually takes 5-7 days and it is less complicated than the initial one.

It doesn’t include as much scabbing (although some flaking is possible) and it is not as emotionally exhausting, since the results are visible quite soon and there is less redness, itchiness, and irritation.

The aftercare routine is pretty similar to that of the initial implementation. Clean and moisturize as instructed. Avoid makeup, sweating, sun exposure, long showers, rubbing and scratching the treated area for a couple of days. 

Some artists consider microblading a 2-step treatment, so they include the first touch up in the initial price. The average price of the microblading treatment is half of the initial procedure. 

How much is a microblading touch up varies according to the location, reputation, and skillfulness of the artist, the popularity of the salon, and the quality of the products used.

Even though it is called permanent makeup, microblading does not last forever.

It is only similar to a tattoo, but the pigment is not inserted as deep, and it is gradually broken down by the body. That’s why microblading fades away after some time.

Microbladed eyebrows generally last 12-18 months, but they may last as long as 3 years.

The factors that affect the longevity of microblading are:

• skin type

• skincare routine

• lifestyle

• and the frequency of touch-ups.

If you want your microblading to last as long as possible, book regular touch ups.

The pigment will definitely start to fade away after some time and the speed of fading depends on your skin type and lifestyle.

If you want to let your microbladed brows fade, just skip additional touch ups.

If you’re not satisfied with your microbladed eyebrows and aren’t willing to try and get them corrected or wait out for them to fade naturally, you can try microblading fading or removal.

You can prolong your microblading by scheduling a touch-up appointment as soon as you feel like your brows are too faded.

For most people, there’s no need to touch them up more frequently than every 12 months.

If you have oily skin, the pigment will naturally fade away faster.

Also, people who spend a lot of time in the sun, in the gym, or swimming will probably have to book touch-ups more frequently. Certain skincare products can also accelerate pigment fading.

Dry skin makes you a perfect candidate for microblading, but it doesn’t mean that your microblading will last forever. Book a touch-up once a year to refresh the color and prolong your microblading.

There’s no definite rule on how faded the brows need to be in order to be retouched. It’s down to your own preference.

Bear in mind that the more the brows fade, the more work needs to be done during the microblading touch-up, which means the appointment will take longer, could cost more, and the healing period will be longer and more intense since there’s more trauma to the skin.

The first touch up is a must and you shouldn’t skip it. Otherwise, the whole treatment can be ruined and you have wasted your money. Other touch ups are optional but recommended if you want your microblading to really pay off and for the results to stay crisp.