Microblading – The Essentials & Everything Explained

The Science Behind Microblading

Eyebrows have always been an important part of facial aesthetics as it instantly beautifies and transforms your entire appearance. Eyebrow restoration is an important component of anti-ageing procedures, and microblading is a novel technique that has yielded impressive results.

This particular eyebrow treatment has created a boom in social media and is highly sought by celebrities and other popular influencers. It has created a great deal of curiosity and awe in the world of social media due to the clean and natural-looking results it provides. Some people have even experimented with the technique at home, but this is not a good choice as mishandling can cause irritation or other complications.

Microblading has moved beyond the beauty industry and is now an integral part of cosmetic treatments as well as dermatological conditions such as alopecia totalis, hyperthyroidism, chemotherapy and induced madarosis. The essential treatment has branched away and has several practical applications. However, this highly sought treatment is not to be practised by those who are not trained or certified to perform the treatment. Untrained professionals could cause adverse side effects or severe complications.

Microblading has moved beyond the beauty industry and is now an integral part of cosmetic treatments as well as dermatological conditions such as alopecia totalis, hyperthyroidism, chemotherapy and induced madarosis. The essential treatment has branched away and has several practical applications. However, this highly sought treatment is not to be practiced by those who are not trained or certified to perform the treatment. Untrained professionals could cause adverse side effects or severe complications.

The eyebrows and lips are two parts of the body that have to maintain symmetry. In eyebrow mapping, the brows are drawn according to the anatomical markers and lines made based on your face structure. Different scales are used to acquire the eyebrow measurement and to make an eyebrow assessment. The microblading pen is a specialized instrument consisting of multiple blades arranged in rows, which is used to deposit maximum ink to the dermis. 

Here is more information about the right directions to microblade your eyebrows https://browz.ae/blog/microblading-brows-right-direction-2/ 

There are many options for microblading pens, and it comes in various shapes, sizes, and configurations to adapt to the different uses. The longest blade on the microblading pen is placed where we want the hair root to start as the needle allows maximum ink to be deposited and successfully creates the illusion of longer hair. 

Is Microblading Permanent?

Microblading is a semi-permanent cosmetic treatment and is not a permanent solution. Microblading may also be referred to as an eyebrow tattoo, but only because a pigment is implanted into the skin. However, the treatment is not like a conventional tattoo as it only enters the dermal-epidermal junction. The skin will push the pigment out with time through the process of regeneration and skin renewal. 

The dermal-epidermal junction is an acellular zone that lies between the dermis and the epidermis. Because of this, the colour fades with time, and you have to get a touch-up to maintain its original glory. The treatment lasts between 12 to 18 months, but this also depends on other factors such as skin type and lifestyle. 

Microblading is an eyebrow treatment that aims for a natural look, and due to this reason, the treatment is less invasive and permanent compared to a conventional tattoo. Moreover, the feature of semi-permanence makes microblading a natural-looking eyebrow enhancement; hence, the pigment does not transform into other undesirable colours as is observed with other permanent cosmetic treatments. 

Pre-treatment Guidelines

Some of the Pre treatment guidelines for microblading include:

• If you are receiving Botox treatments, make sure to book your appointment three weeks prior to or four weeks after the microblading procedure.
• Ensure to avoid all kinds of chemical peels 60 days before or after the procedure. Chemical peels can cause the skin beneath the eyebrow to peel quicker due to the chemicals travelling under the skin.
• Avoid the use of retinol, Retin-A, or other anti-ageing/acne creams or serums as these products contain acids and will cause premature fading of the eyebrow pigment. Instead, you can use mild skincare with gentle ingredients to ensure the maintenance of your eyebrow treatment.
• Excessive sweating can also disrupt the treatment and healing process. Thus, it is best to avoid intensive exercises on the day of the procedure and for two weeks after.
• Make sure to avoid tanning beds and saunas on the day of the procedure.
• Our expert advice is to refrain from waxing or tinting the eyebrows at least three days before the procedure.
• Stop using medications and supplements such as aspirin Neisen, vitamin E, fish oil and ibuprofen at least 48 hours before the procedure.
• Strictly avoid the intake of alcohol or caffeine 24 hours before the procedure.

Microblading is not a suitable treatment which is or has the following conditions:

• It is best not to opt for treatment if you are sick with a cold, flu, or respiratory infections.
• Microblading is not an ideal treatment if you suffer from skin irritations, including sunburn, rash, eczema, acne, or psoriasis near the eyebrow area.
• Avoid the microblading process if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Candidates using Accutane are not eligible for microblading as Accutane treatment can cause the skin to be extra sensitive and hinder microblading.
• Suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, cardiac problems, HIV or hepatitis.

Additionally, it is also important to consult with your physician and avoid medications that affect the blood clotting process at least seven days before the microblading treatment. 

Face Mapping to Finalize a Match

Our eyebrows have an anatomical structure just as the other parts of our body. The anatomy of eyebrows changes with age, and knowledge of the structures and the anatomical markers are important in the process of face mapping. There are four parts to an eyebrow, and an eyebrow’s anatomy consists of the head, body arch and tail.

Head: The eyebrow head is the broadest and medial most of the brow area. It consists of most of the hair in a vertical direction.

Body: The body of the eyebrow extends from the head to the arch, and in most cases, you will be able to see a fold of hair in this part of the brow. 

Arch: This is the highest point of the eyebrow, and it is the point where the brow starts tapering and becomes narrow towards the tail.

Tail: The tail is the narrowing lateral most of the eyebrow with a feather-like appearance in the downward direction. 

Another important component of face mapping is eyebrow shapes. There are numerous face structures, and they differ based on age, sex, and race. An eyebrow is drawn with consideration to the natural face and bone structure. Each individual has a unique facial structure, which means a particular eyebrow shape suits them best. Some of the different eyebrow shapes include high arched, low arched, s-shaped, rounded, and straight.

Facial morphology has to be considered in the process of eyebrow mapping. Eyebrows are structures of the human face that should be symmetrical, and due to this reason, we have to take meticulous measurements while drawing eyebrows. The shaping of the brow area depends on the natural growth of the hair, facial symmetry, and face mapping based on the eyebrow position and anatomical landmarks.

The full anatomical lines for face mapping include:

Glabellar line: It is the most crucial anatomical landmark which passes from the tip of the nose through the glabella and helps to assure the symmetry of the eyebrow. 

Medial line: The line runs upwards from the nasal alae to the medial canthus until the existing eyebrow. 

Highest point line: It is the line that runs from the nasal alae to the mid-pupillary point.

Lateral most point: The line extends upwards from the nasal alae through the medial canthus.

Discover the differences between microblading and ombre brows before making your final choice by going through our blog https://browz.ae/blog/ombre-vs-hair-stroke-choosing-between-the-best-for-a-perfect-brow-look/ 

Is Microblading natural-looking?

The most popular feature of microblading treatment is to create natural hair-like strokes and the ability to mimic natural brow hair. The microblading pen has a very fine tip, enabling our eyebrow therapists to create fine hair-like strokes. Moreover, this semi-permanent treatment is different from other cosmetic treatments. It only deposits pigment on the superficial layer of the skin, which means that the treatment is neither entirely permanent nor does the pigment change colour like other traditional tattoo treatments. 

In microblading we make fine incisions to create the illusion of a thicker and feathery eyebrow look. The natural results microblading produces is one of the many reasons for its immense popularity. It is suitable for everyone who wants an effortless solution for perfect eyebrows without a bold, dramatic look. 

Treatment Process

The popularity of the microblading eyebrow treatment is its semi-permanence feature and its natural-looking results. It is a convenient option as you can now avoid your everyday eyebrow makeup, saving you a lot of time and effort. Instead, you get natural results with this process, and it is a suitable option for your everyday makeup look. Microblading includes several steps, and it is crucial to be aware of these steps before you visit the beauty clinic so that there are no unwanted surprises. You can plan when, how, and what style to enhance your natural eyebrows. 

Consult an eyebrow therapist: The first step is to consult an eyebrow therapist and ensure to check their certifications and previous work to make the right choice. Also, make sure to draw your eyebrows exactly how you want them before approaching the beauty clinic. You can try out different styles before finalizing the one look you want to go with. Be sure that is your final decision, as the eyebrow therapist will model based on the existing look. There are different styles, such as bold, dramatic, and natural-looking eyebrow styles. However, while microblading, it is best to opt for a style that you can carry on a day-to-day basis. Moreover, if you are confused with the different styles, you can always consult with the specialist before making your final decision.

Obtaining measurements: Taking the measurement is the most important part of the microblading process, and here we use special tools to take the measurements directly from the eyebrows. This technique enables us to determine the start and the endpoints of the eyebrows. The measurements will ensure the shape of the brow does not go too far from the natural brows. Accurate measuring is key to obtaining perfect results.

Outlining: In this process, the eyebrow therapist will draw on your eyebrows with a pencil to create a rough sketch to have an idea of how the chosen brow style will appear on you. However, the sketch is a temporary one and maybe more dramatic and darker than the result. Additionally, you can also communicate with the eyebrow therapist to make any changes to the chosen style. Once the drawing is complete, the specialist will outline the pigment so that the drawing is not wiped away with the application of the numbing cream. This is to ensure accurate results further.

Choosing the colour: Choosing colour is an integral part of microblading. The eyebrow specialist will mix different colours to verify it with your skin tone and hair colour to make sure that they match and blend seamlessly.

Applying the numbing cream: Microblading treatment includes numbing the skin of the eyebrows to ensure minimum pain and maximum comfort. In this process, we will make tiny cuts on the skin, so some pain is expected. However, once the numbing cream is applied, it will drastically reduce your pain as it is an anaesthetic. The cream is applied on the eyebrows once or several times depending on the skin’s sensitivity, and it takes around 10 minutes for the numbing effect to begin.

Microblading: The treatment process is done in layers. In this process, we will draw small hair-like strokes of pigment to the skin of the eyebrow using a microblading tool that consists of several tiny needles that continuously apply the pigment to your skin. After treatment, you can expect mild swelling and redness due to the small cuts made on the skin. However, this will completely heal during the healing period.

Learn more about the treatment process from experts https://browz.ae/blog/microblading-what-the-experts-say-you-need-to-know/ 

Is The Procedure Painful?

In the microblading treatment, hundreds of tiny cuts are made on the brow line, and the procedure is somewhat similar to a tattoo. The cuts made break the skin so that the pigment can enter. However, anaesthetic cream is used to numb the area before starting the treatment. Hence, you will not necessarily feel the pain from the cutting of the blade; instead, you will only feel the pressure from the microblading tool on the face, or in some cases, you may feel a scratching sensation.

While microblading you may also hear loud scratching noises. It is best to use an anaesthetic as the pain will worsen if you do not use it, especially if you have low pain tolerance. The numbing cream takes between 10 to 30 minutes before showing effects, and throughout the process, the eyebrow therapist will keep adding cuts on top or close to existing cuts. The eyebrow therapist we go from one eyebrow to the other and will simultaneously add numbing cream to the resting eyebrow. Hence, the takeaway is that with numbing cream, you will only experience mild irritation during your microblading treatment; however, the pain may be much worse without the anaesthetic.

Healing And Aftercare

The microblading treatment lasts between four to six weeks. It is extremely crucial to take care of the treated areas during the beginning stages of the healing process. The first stage is the most sensitive stage, after which you can relax a bit.  

Some of the basic aftercare rules to follow include:

• Make sure to be gentle while washing your face, especially around the treated area and pat with a clean tissue instead of a dry towel. Also, be careful not to rub your eyebrows as this can hinder the healing process.
• Only use the products prescribed by the eyebrow therapist, and don’t use any skincare products as they may contain ingredients such as exfoliants and acids that will cause the pigment to fade away.
• Allow the dry patches to fall off naturally, and do not pick on them as you may rip some pigment off in the process.
• Avoid sleeping on your face and use a clean pillowcase, preferably a silk one.
• Avoid applying makeup for at least ten days post-treatment as the makeup and the removal products may contact the treated area.
• Avoid intense activities which may induce sweating and stay away from saunas, swimming pools, and long showers during the healing.
• Avoid excessive sun exposure.

The basic rules of aftercare have to be strictly followed; therefore, it is best to plan your microblading appointment to facilitate healing and. Hence, it is best to have the treatment at least two months before an important event or function.

Post Treatment Guidelines

Once the healing has been completed, you still have to ensure good care of the eyebrow area, as this will determine the longevity of your eyebrow enhancement treatment. Be mindful of your lifestyle and habits, and if you are prone to excessive sweating, your result may not last as long as the average period. Further, you can prolong optimal results of treatment by getting regular touch-ups. It is also important to know that you shouldn’t wait too long before getting your touch up as once the microblading fades away, you will have to do the whole process all over again. You can prolong your results by protecting your eyebrows with sunscreen lotion and avoiding products that contain retinol, as it can quicken the fading process.

When To Get A Touchup?

The micro bleeding treatment is a semi-permanent treatment that lasts between one to three years. However, there are consecutive sessions you can add to include more pigment onto the eyebrow area. You can add on new sessions, usually eight weeks after the first session. The additional sessions will ensure that the entire treatment process is complete and accurately finished. The add-on sessions follow the same procedure as the first one, and you must follow the same aftercare.

It is essential to get a touch-up after the healing process of the microblading treatment as the eyebrows will go through several phases during this period. Initially, the results may be too dark, and then your skin will start falling off, and finally, you will lose some of the colours, which will be regained after the completion of the healing period. At times the results may be uneven and patchy, and some of the pigment may come along with the scabs. Due to this reason, it is best to get a touch-up right after the treatment. The first touch-up is to modify the initial treatment; however, once your eyebrow has settled to the new colour, the results can last for a longer period. You may only have to get the touch-ups once the pigment starts to fade away. Do not miss out on the touch-up sessions, as once the pigments have completely faded away, you will have the trouble of getting the treatment done from scratch.

Can You Microblade if There Is No Eyebrow Hair?

Microblading is a suitable procedure if you have very scarce to no eyebrow hair. It is the best option to create natural-looking results, and for this purpose, it simulates the natural hair or otherwise natural hair-like strokes to give you the perfect finish. It is similar to a tattoo; however, the main difference is that in microblading fine hair-like strokes are drawn onto the superficial layer of the skin rather than deep within the epidermis. This treatment is also a safe fix for many suffering from hair loss and alopecia, affecting brow hair.

If you have little to no eyebrow hair, we will focus on the existing hair to determine a suitable colour and rely on face mapping techniques to draw eyebrows to suit your facial features and bone structure. The goal is to create perfect eyebrows you can proudly flaunt. This treatment will also help you boost your self-esteem and confidence as brows are one’s central features, and a deficiency in hair growth or patterns can affect your overall appearance.

Read through this blog to get the answers to some of the frequently asked questions regarding microblading https://browz.ae/blog/some-faqs-about-microblading/.

The team at BROWZ includes dedicated professionals who have received professional expertise from around the globe. Consult with us to clear all of your brow-related queries and learn about the different eyebrow enhancement treatments for your unique needs.