The Truth: Does Microblading Hurt
The Truth: Does Microblading Hurt
There are many questions that come to mind when considering microblading.
Is it painful?
What does the healing process look like?
How long will it last?
Can I still put makeup on afterward?
These are all good questions! And to be honest, I had all these questions and a whole lot more. I want you confident about your decision, knowing what's best for you and your lifestyle. Let me help! That's why I've created this blog post highlighting 15 things that you should know before getting your eyebrows microbladed.
“Having my eyebrows microbladed changed my life”
My Struggle: I Had No Eyebrows
I was the Mayor of "No Eye Brows-Ville" before I took the plunge to be microbladed.
As long as I can remember, my brows have NEVER been thick, full, or caterpillar-like. I never feared a unibrow and they were never out of control. And in recent years, my brows are becoming sparse, and have begun moving towards retirement.
When most women find themselves faithfully getting their brows waxed or threaded every 6-8 weeks, I was more of 8 months to a 1 year kind of girl.
In fact, I kept having to re-introduce myself to my brow lady during our annual brow appointment. She legit thought I was a new customer every time. It was comical yet awkward.
So what's the big deal?
You can always pencil them in, right?
Yes, but every girl that has thin brows knows "the struggle". Every morning we humbly pray to the eyebrow gods for favor. We pray that our penciled in brows will match each other in size, height, thickness, and believability. We pray that they will be twins and not cousins. And we pray that they will stand strong amongst whatever heat, humidity, and perspiration come our way.
So to stop "the struggle", I decided to take a leap and get my brows microbladed.
The Basics
What is Microblading?
Microblading is a semi-permanent form of eyebrow enhancement that makes eyebrows look fuller and darker. In my experience, it wasn't as painful as getting tattooed because it uses tiny needles to deposit pigment under the skin, rather than an ink gun to inject color. Individual hair strokes are drawn on the surface of the skin with a pigment-dipped blade or needle pen tool, which is then used to mimic a brow wax after it has been healed. This technique deposits pigment into the top layers of your skin in order to create natural brows.
What's the Difference? Microblading vs Tattoo
Spoiler alert: There is a big difference.
Tattoos use ink. Microblading uses pigment
The consistency of tattoo ink is watery compared to the thicker pigments used in microblading. Tattoo ink tends to move under the skin causing the strokes not to be as clear and crisp as a microblading pigment.
Tattooing is executed with an electric needle. Microblading uses a microblade pen tool with multiple needles
A microblade pen or blade will produce cleaner, more sharply defined strokes when compared to an electric needle. The most significant distinction is that microblading is a manual technique, whereas tattoos are an automated/mechanical procedure.
Tattooing is permanent. Microblading is semi-permanent
Did you know that tattoos are permanent while Microblading is semi-permanent, lasting anywhere from 1 year to 3 years?
What are the Benefits of Microblading?
If you're looking for an amazing brow day, then microblading may be the answer. You'll no longer have to worry about your brows fading or smudging throughout the day, and you can wake up every morning with perfectly shaped eyebrows. Seriously, who can't get excited about a great brow day every day?! Now you can truly sing-along, in good faith, with Beyonce when she says, "I woke up like this!". Because guess what? You actually did... well at least your brows did. Not to mention, the tools you previously used every day to fill in your brows can now take a backseat.
What Are the Risks of Microblading?
Microblading is generally safe but it's important to remember that the technique involves puncturing the skin. Some people are also allergic to some components of microblading pigments so it's important that you disclose any allergies or sensitivities beforehand.
Does Microblading Hurt?
The short answer is yes, it hurts (at least it was for me).
But it's worth it if you want natural-looking perfect brows every day.
I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I was honestly in pain. But in all fairness, I must admit that I have a very weirdly low tolerance for pain. So for me, it hurt - even with the numbing cream.
However, I'm happy to report that when I spoke with other women about their experience, the majority said they had more discomfort than pain.
Does Microblading Hurt More Than Threading?
In my opinion, yes. I have an unreasonably low tolerance for pain and because of this, threading hurt too. However, when comparing microblading pain to threading pain, microblading pain was more intense.
What Does Microblading Feel Like?
I was told it would feel like someone scraping their fingernails down my face with a ballpoint pen, but the pain felt more like someone scratching my brow area over and over again in the exact same spot with a sharp object.
How Long Will My Microbladed Brows Last?
After your second follow-up appointment, microblading typically lasts 12-18 months without an additional touch-up (or color boost). Because this is a semi-permanent process, the color will fade over time – even just with daily wear and tear – but that can easily be fixed with a periodic touch-up or color boost.
How Much Does Microblading Cost?
Depending upon your location and the artist's experience and skill level, microblading will cost between $250 and $850.
How Long Does the Microblading Procedure Take?
Microblading consists of two separate sessions- one initial session and a follow-up session three months later. My initial session was roughly 2 hours. And my follow-up session was about one hour in length.
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The Procedure
How Do I Prepare for My Microblading Procedure?
Before you go in for your appointment, here are 7 things to avoid:
Try not to sweat 24 hours before your procedure, hold off on exercise.
Don't drink alcohol or caffeine (including decaff coffee and tea) 48 hours before your appointment.
For a week before your appointment, do not have your brows waxed, threaded, or tinted. The greater the amount of hair you have, the better for the microblading artist. This enables them to observe how your natural hair development pattern grows.
Avoid Botox and filler injections to the forehead, temple, eye, and brow area 1 month prior.
Be sure to avoid any chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and facials for 4 weeks before the procedure.
Keep out of the sun and steer clear of tanning for one week before your procedure; wear sunscreen if you need to be in sunlight during this time period.
Do not take Aspirin, Niacin, Vitamin E, or Advil/Ibuprofen for 48 hours before your appointment.
The Step-by-Step Microblading Procedure
Step One: A topical numbing cream was placed on my brows for a period of time. After, my eyebrows were thoroughly examined and measured to find the perfect arch, shape, and thickness for my face and bone structure. To ensure accurate measurements, a special ruler was placed on my forehead (and would remain there for the duration of the procedure). My new brows were temporarily drawn on my face. After I confirmed the shape, it was showtime.
Step Two: There were 2 rounds of microblading during my initial appointment with each round being very very similar in execution. During Round 1, individual strokes were made to mimic my eyebrow hair strands. Annnnnnnnnnnnd I'm not gonna lie, this really hurt. The best way I can describe the pain I was feeling was as if someone cut you and kept scraping that cut over and over again.
Step Three: Once Round 1 was done, we rested (and I needed it too). I was able to view the progress and adjustments could be made if needed. Despite the pain and after seeing how my new brows were starting to form, I was all smiles.
Step Four: A second round was done almost identically to the first. The numbing cream was reapplied before my brows were worked on again. I could definitely see the progress during Round 2. I was so freaking happy with my new natural-looking brows.
How Do I Care for My Microbladed Brows After the Procedure?
You’ve invested in microblading and now you want to make sure you care for them properly.
Here are some things that will help you get started to heal on the right foot.
Do's:
Gently cleanse brows using your fingertips with antibacterial soap and pat dry.
Apply ointment sparingly to the brow area (my artist recommended A&D Ointment).
Don't wash your face in the shower (heat can cause pores to open resulting in loss of pigment).
Avoid harsh skin care products (cleansers, acids, scrubs, etc.).
Consume limited sunlight and tanning (skin is still healing).
Don'ts:
Pick any scabs and avoid scratching any crusts that may form. Instead, allow the scabs to flake off naturally. I know it's kind of gross, but it's part of the process to heal.
Apply makeup immediately. Instead, wait a minimum of one week after your procedure.
Apply sunscreen, acid toners, alcohol-based serums/oils, etc., which can all cause pigment loss.
Other Important Things to Know About Microblading
What is Clouding?
Clouding is a phenomenon that occurs primarily in people of color but can happen to anyone. Clouding is when the microblading strokes start disappearing within 2 weeks of the procedure and then magically reappear after a few days. It's very weird but can happen.
Do Your Research!
You can't go wrong with this advice.
Although microblading is a semi-permanent process, it's still permeant enough. Unfortunately, a large chunk of the top artists' business is correction work. Currently, a person with a tattoo license (including nail salons) is able to legally perform microblading. As previously discussed, microblading is very different from tattooing. Do your research before you get any type of procedure done on your body - make sure they're qualified and licensed professionals who know what they're doing because you only have one set of skin to live in for life!
Cheaper Isn't Alway Better
First, ask yourself what are you willing to sacrifice in order to save money.
Be very cautious of low-priced microblading services or places with just stock photos of microblading afters in their portfolio. You need to see the before and after work done on actual clients. And if it's not a reputable place or one that specializes in this procedure, then there's no way they'll be giving you the best quality service either!
My Final Thoughts on Microblading
Microblading can be a really great way to get fuller, more defined brows. But, it's super important to know what you're getting into before making the decision.
So, does microblading hurt?
Yes, at least for me it did. However, the pain was worth it because I could honestly say that my new brows looked natural and beautiful!
Currently, my brows are due for another procedure as it's been a few years ago since I originally got them done.
I hope this post has helped answer some of your questions and demystified the procedure and process for you!
If you have questions about my experience, please feel free to just leave a comment below. Thanks so much for reading!
-XOXO (as always)
Mel D.
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Same place; same bat channel
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*Originally published in 2017, updated in May 2018 and September 2021, this post has been updated by Mel Drake to add the new sections of "The Basics", "The Procedure" which weren't included in the original post. Structural and grammatical changes were made as well.
