Micropigmentation (microblading, shading, powder brows, ombre brows, nanobrows, hybrid brows) is a semi-permanent type of cosmetic tattooing. You want to carefully choose the right Artist because *it’s your face!* Not only are we talking about good style and shape, we’re talking about choosing an Artist who deeply understands the science and technical precision necessary to create eyebrows that look natural after healing, as well as a year or two later. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for, and when you see a high price tag on cosmetic services, you’re paying for expertise. This is not the time to turn to Groupon for a deal.
Micropigmentation is an umbrella term covering many techniques of tattooing. Many people think Microblading is something different than tattoo work, however it is a type of tattooing utilizing a special hand tool called a microblade. Ink is picked up on the blade and deposited as the hair-stroke line is created in the skin. Shaded brows, or sometimes called “powder brows,” is a soft, misty application of ink in the form of tiny dots made with a rotary tattoo machine. The two together is often called a “hybrid brow.” If the hair-stroke line is created with the machine it is called “nano brows.” So many terms! I tend to use a combination of several techniques as microblading on it’s own does not age well. I like to use a soft shading technique behind the hair strokes for the most natural looking set of brows. Depending on your skin type, I might use a microblade or choose to create the hairstrokes with a machine needle. All techniques are skin dependent, not necessarily your desired vision for your brows. We hope to find the best compromise between the two.
Now let’s talk about what semi-permanent means. Tattooed eyebrows are designed to fade over about two to five years with a refresh every year or two to keep them looking superfresh. On a more technical level, this means that the pigment is not deposited as deeply as a body tattoo, which is referred to as permanent ink. Getting the depth correct is a skill that requires consistent practice and experience with all different types of skin. The deeper the deposit of ink, the longer it lasts, but then we have to consider the color of the ink as it ages at that depth. While it may last longer, it may not age well at a deeper level. So with brow work, we’re depositing slightly higher in the skin so we have more control of the pigment color as it ages.
Different areas of the eyebrow require varying depths of pigment deposit due to changes in skin density. For example, the skin at the head of the eyebrow is tougher than the skin at the tail of the brow. Slightly more pressure is required to achieve a lasting hair stroke at the head of the brow. If the same pressure is applied on the brow tail, the lines could blur or turn cool over time.
An experienced Artist looks at your skin coloring, texture, condition, and oil production to determine the correct pigment shade for your eyebrows. In another example, we have two people with the same coloring but different types of skin. The oilier-skinned person will require a warmer shade of pigment to compensate for the oil production, which changes the pigment color over time.
The micropigmentation process takes two sessions to complete, typically scheduled 8-12 weeks apart. (Session one is an hour-and-a-half and session two is one hour.) The initial healing stage lasts for about a week where your skin is working hard to heal the wounded area. The remainder of the time between sessions allows the ink to fully encapsulate and settle in the skin. Ample time must be given so as not to overdarken ink that may still be transforming in the layers of the skin. Conversely, too much time between appointments and the ink prematurely fades. Touching up at just the right time means your ink will stay for a year to two years (skin conditions permitting, your mileage may vary) before needing a refresh. See the below photo for an overview of the healing stages you can expect to experience.
Please do not consume alcohol 24 hours prior to your brow tattoo appointment. Discontinue other blood thinners such as aspirin, ibu, prescription thinners, fish oil, CBD, weed, vitamin E for three days prior, as well. Refrain from cardio exercising the morning of your appointment. Normally, the skin does not bleed much, if at all, during the process except if blood thinners have been consumed or heart rate has been elevated through exercise before the appointment.
After your brow sessions you’ll need to refrain from sweaty exercising for a week, and no chlorine or salt water on the brows as well. Sweat and chlorine can inhibit the pigment from properly encapsulating in the skin during the healing process resulting in uneven results. Please take this into mind when making your appointment. Beach vacations with freshly tattooed brows will yield spotty coloration.
Consultations via text or email with photos prior to your initial appointment are required. If you have previous work done by another artist, either years ago or recently, I may choose to move our virtual consulting to an in person visit. Working over previous PMU (permanent makeup) is not as easy as painting a new set of brows on your face. Many factors contribute to a good outcome over prior work, so please be honest because I will know immediately if you’ve had work done before. Corrections and/or coverups are a special situation and may need more time or even a session or two of saline ink removal prior to implanting new color. If the old ink is still too present in the skin, new pigment will not implant properly greatly effecting the outcome of the desired color. I want the best for your face!
Every set of eyebrows I create are unique and designed just for you. Your face shape, eye size, and bone structure all factor into the final brow shape you and I choose together. Whether you like your eyebrows thin or thick, highly polished or bushy, I can create an enhancement that’s perfect for your face.
To book your free consultation, follow this link to the Monarch booking page.
A little background about the Artist: I received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from Baylor University and enjoy many types of creative work, from drawing to sculpture.
