Tel: 07976 589068

What is Powder/Ombre Brow Tattoo?

Powder Brows 89733IMG_20211209_214529_665.jpg

When it comes to semi-permanent eyebrow tattoos, you’ve probably heard of microblading. Microblading’s popularity has grown rapidly with the help of social media. Microblading has seen mainstream appeal due its realistic effect created by hairlike strokes cut into the skin.

Powder/Ombre brows also known as powdered, mist, microshading, ombré shading, or stardust brows, was developed in Asia. Ombré Powder Brows differs from traditional tattooing in that it is surface work—meaning, the application is done on the epidermis layer of the skin. The technique is described by its name, with results being powdery with a faded front and a crisp tail, resembling the look of powdered makeup.  In only the last 3-4 years, ombré powder brows have started to gain more attention, often converting people with prior microblading work:

So, why has ombré powder brow become the next big thing?

    LESS INVASIVE: Ombré powder brows are achieved using a small machine, which disperses extremely fine dots of pigments even into and across the skin in an airbrush or shading technique. Microblading uses a hand-tool that creates incisions or small cuts into the skin. Over time, repeated incisions into the same spots may cause trauma and thus ombre will be more beneficial.

    LESS PAIN & BLEEDING: Ombré powder brows are less painful due to the airbrush-like technique we apply, which creates less trauma to the skin vs. the blading technique of microblading. The latter also creates cuts into the skin, thus more bleeding is involved. With ombré powder brows, minimal to zero blood surfaces during the procedure. Some of our clients say that getting ombré powder brows is a similar sensation to rapid tweezing; some discomfort is to be expected as a needle is utilized.

    LASTS LONGER: Results do vary based on lifestyle, skin type, health, preferences, etc., but a single ombré powder brows session, using high-quality pigments, can last on average 1-3 years. Microblading, on the other hand, has a high likelihood of healing blotchy, spotty or with blurred strokes, thus requiring more frequent touch-ups, generating more long term wear and tear on the skin, eventually maxing out the skin’s lifetime capacity quickly. Like any injury to the skin, the body repairs the wounded area by building collagen fibers, creating a scar. Both treatments will eventually dull out the skin in this way permanently, so choosing the right method to save your skin integrity is critical.

    GREAT FOR ALL SKIN TYPES: Ombré powder brows are great for any skin type, unlike microblading, which is not suitable for those with oily skin. Microblading on oily skin requires several touch-ups, which causes more trauma to the skin.

    STILL LOOKS NATURAL: While ombré powder brows have a more “filled-in” look, the healed results appear like softly shaded brow pencil or powder. Immediately after the treatment, ombré powder brows can appear more saturated and bold, however, brows will fade 20-30%, leaving a very soft finish and shape that will allow our clients to quickly groom their brows going forward.

What is Microblading?

This is great article from Tina Davies explaining exactly what Microblading is:

Although microblading is one of the top beauty trends of today, it has really only become mainstream in the last few years. We've noticed various celebrities like Bella Thorne and Mandy Moore talking about their experiences with microblading, and really bringing it to the forefront of the beauty and media industries. While people have been using permanent makeup and cosmetic tattooing to enhance their appearance for decades, any new beauty trend is bound to bring up questions.

So since microblading is such a new beauty procedure, many clients still have A LOT of questions about the process.  We've heard it referred to as microblading, microfeathering and micropigmentation, but these words are not as interchangeable as one might think. So in this post we want to address a few questions and common misconceptions about microblading, that you can share with potential clients, or anyone you know who might be curious about the process!

Here are a few of our most frequent microblading Q&A's.

 

What is microblading exactly and how is it different than permanent makeup?

Permanent Makeup is a form of cosmetic tattooing, also known as micropigmentation. It has been around since at least the 20th century, but maybe even longer There’s even evidence that Queen Cleopatra of ancient Egypt had cosmetic tattooing! It is a cosmetic technique where pigment is inserted into the skin to resemble makeup. It is typically achieved using a machine or manual hand tool to create permanent enhancements to the eyebrows, eyes, lips, and body.

Microblading is a technique of cosmetic tattooing performed specifically on the eyebrows. Like earlier methods of cosmetic tattooing, it is done by manually depositing pigment into the second layer of the skin (dermis). But what makes it truly unique is the hand tool used.  The unique formation of needles allows the artist to create the look of real eyebrow hairs by tattooing very fine hair-like strokes in the skin.  

 

Do you have to shave off your eyebrows to get it done?

No! Microblading is done to enhance what you already have to make the eyebrows look as natural as possible. Microblading is a great solution for people who have over-plucked their eyebrows, or who have naturally very thin/light eyebrows and want to accentuate the look of eyebrows on their face. It is not necessary, nor recommended for a client to get rid of any natural hair he or she may already have.

 

Does Microblading Scar? 

No. Microblading itself will not cause scarring. What can cause scarring after a microblading procedure is picking at the healing skin. This is why it is extremely important to make sure your client knows to NOT pick at any scabs or flaking skin after they have had a microblading procedure. Picking could result in the loss of pigment as well as scarring.

 

How Much Does Microblading Cost?

Having a microblading procedure can be quite costly. A procedure can cost anywhere from £250-£1000, depending on the skill/experience of the artist, where you are located, and on the demand for this procedure in your location.

What Can I Expect After a Microblading Procedure? 
The healing process after a microblading procedure varies from client to client based on many factors. This could include, but is not limited to: the artist's technique, pigments used, aftercare instructions, whether or not shading was done, as well as just overall how someone's body and skin reacts to the procedure. Some of the most common things clients can expect after a microblading procedure are: 
    • Tenderness in the area 
    • Pink or redness around the affected area
    • Swelling 
    • Thickening and darkening of the area
    • Moderate to thick scabbing 3-4 days after the procedure
    • Scabs will begin to flake off anytime between days 5 - 10
    • After scabs flake off, pigment color and strokes will look light, grey, and blurry 
    • After area is fully healed (4 weeks after procedure) the pigment will return to full color

 

How Do I Find a Microblading Artist?

As with any cosmetic or tattoo procedures, the best way to find a certified, reputable artist in your area is often by word-of-mouth referrals or legitimate customer reviews. You can also do some investigative research of your own on local artists.

 

How Long Does Microblading Last?

It really depends on the client and the health of their skin, but microblading procedures should last anywhere from 1 to 3 years. Microblading is not supposed to last forever and will require touch-ups when the pigment begins to fade. 

Microblading is a form of semi-permanent makeup and is subject to fading over time due to exfoliation, sun exposure and skincare products that may increase exfoliation of the skin. Microblading should last anywhere from 1 year to 3 years before requiring a touch-up. 

 

How Long Does Microblading Take to Heal?

Just like a typical skin wound, microblading takes about 10 - 14 days to heal before it can get completely wet without disturbing the skin or the healing process. This includes heavy exercise and sweating, showering, and face down swimming. The area will be fully healed 30 days after the procedure was done.

 

Does Microblading Hurt?

Because you are numbed prior to the procedure, the level of pain experienced can be minimized, but in all honesty, there is definitely some discomfort involved. The best way to describe the discomfort felt during a microblading procedure would be similar to that of a continuous cat scratch.

The skin near the front of your eyebrow is thicker, so this will likely be a lot less painful than the tail of your eyebrow. The tail of your eyebrow sits very close to the temple, where the skin is very thin. The thinner the skin, the more likely you will experience a higher level of discomfort. That being said, everyone's skin and pain threshold is different, but during the procedure, there shouldn't be a point where the pain becomes unbearable.

 

Who Should Get Microblading Done?

Many factors decipher whether or not a person is a good candidate for microblading. The most crucial deciding factors depend on the client's skin condition and health. If they have any pre-existing health conditions or are on any medications, it may be best for the client to wait for a microblading procedure.

Important Semi Permanent Makeup Aftercare

Aftercare is crucial following your treatment. It is extremely important that you follow the steps below and you will come back with good healed results


For at least 10 days avoid:

  • Cream on the treated area
  • Makeup on the treated area
  • Workouts that involve a lot of sweating
  • Sauna
  • Facials
  • Steaming
  • UV
  • Touching/rubbing/picking the treated area


Avoid for one month:

  • Sunbathing
  • Light therapies
  • Solarium
  • Chemical peels
  • Fruit acids
  • Microdermabrasion
  • Creams that contain regeneration factors

Always avoid laser on the treated area (Fraxel, laser, IPL) Because it can destroy the pigment and cause burns.

If any of the above steps are missed, please be aware that your healed results will not be as great as we would like.

The Microblading and Semi Permanent Makeup Healing Process

Microblading & Semi Permanent makeup is helping women save time on their daily makeup routine.  Clients have to be prepared for all stages throughout and after the procedure.  The healing process can be quite daunting, but if you are aware of what to expect it will be a breeze.

The procedure itself is only about 10% of the true experience, its the next 30-60 days that will leave you with the most questions.

This is what to expect day by day after the procedure:

DAY 1

You are looking forward to the idea of new brows, albeit a little nervous.  But after the procedure, you will be amazed at how fab your new brows look.  They may look a little red and swollen and feel tender, but your thought is, I will never have to spend so much time on my makeup routine.  You can't wait to show them off.

DAY 2

Your brows will feel a little sore because of the multiple tiny papercut-like wounds on your face. Your brows will be reddish, still quite tender and maybe even a little bit thicker in texture and darker than the day before.  You may start to feel a little self conscious that people are staring at your new brows. 

DAY 3-4

There shouldn't be too much of a difference from days 1 and 2, if anything, you may even notice the pain, redness and swelling has subsided. At this point brows will be slightly dark or thicker than day 1 and 2.  You will think to yourself how great it is getting up and not having to do your brows every morning.  What a time saver.

DAY 5

This is when things start to change. This is usually the turning point in the healing process and is when the itching is likely to start. A thick layer of scabbing may form, and the fine hair-strokes that were created may be hidden. at this time you may start to worry.  What you have to remember is that you have a wound that is repairing, so a scab is forming, this will create the itching sensation.  You need not worry.  Just remember to NOT pick or scratch the brows as this will drastically alter the overall finished look.

All of the above is totally normal and even if it doesn’t look pretty, you shouldn’t worry, they’re going to look great again, just have patience.

DAY 5-7

This can be the scariest time.  Scabbing will start and begin to peel. The brows may start to look patchy.  DO NOT PICK OR SCRATCH AT THIS TIME, Don’t give in to this temptation, it could affect your healing very negatively. If you pick it, you are likely to lose the pigment deposited into the skin and could end up with a patchy eyebrow when healed.

DAY 7-10

At this point your scabs have almost all fallen. The skin at this point has not truly healed so may still be a worry. The colour during these days may seem too light and have an almost silvery/grey appearence, this is scar tissue forming. You will feel like your skin didn’t take the pigment, but that’s not the case. They may look like they are filled in with powder as the lines may look a little blurred, so again just remain as calm as possible. It’s important to note that at this stage, the wounds should be closed so if you’re feeling self-conscious about the light look of them, you are able to apply some makeup to fill in for the time being.

DAY 14-21

You are almost at the end of the healing process. Hurrah. The colour and definition of the hair-strokes will return at this point. Colour starts to even out and your brows are starting to look good again.  People you tell about the procedure won’t even believe that it’s a tattoo. You’ll enjoy the fact that time spent on your morning makeup routine is greatly reduced.

DAY 30

The healing process is complete. Your skin is completely healed and all colour is looking great. They should look soft and natural. This is the point where you’ll be able to tell if there is anything you want to tweak with regards to shape and colour.  There could be a couple spots from loss of pigment, which is all dependent on how well your skin took the pigment, but this is OKAY because your follow-up appointment should be just around the corner!

 

 
 

Microblading V's Tattoo Method Brows

MICROBLADING vs TATTOO method with a nano needle. The pictures on the left are microblading, the pictures to the right are tattoo method using a nano needle with a combination of hairstrokes and shading ????

What are the differences and which to choose:

Microblading: is using a manual tool made up of tiny pins that form a fine blade.  This is used to create a small incision in the upper layers of the skin.  Pigment is implanted which in turn mimics hairstrokes. It is a more affordable treatment as opposed to the tattoo method. Some skintypes do not take well to this and therefore the machine method will be more suitable. Results can last anything from 3-18 months.

Tattoo method brows: using a digital device and a nano needle that implants pigment into the skin. With this method we can achieve various looks including hairstrokes and shading, powder brows and also ombre brows. The look can be as subtle or as bold as you wish. Slightly more in price but it's longevity is anything from 9 months - 3 years. Works on pretty much any skintype.

Have a question, unsure what to choose. Contact me anytime