Microblading – the lowdown

What exactly is it? If your brows are thin or sparse it’s probably one of the most transformative treatments you’ll ever book in for. Advocates call it miraculous. Microblading is a subtle, precise and softer take on tattooing which can be carried out on brows to achieve a fuller, flattering shape whether you’ve got thin 90’s style brows, sparse hair growth or nothing at all. It is done with a pen like device – all by hand, there are no machines involved. The microblading tool looks like a pen with tiny blades attached on the end. The therapist creates tiny hair like brush strokes of pigment individually on the skin to create the illusion of fuller, thicker, beautifully shaped brows. Is it right for me? If you’re a person who fills in your brows daily it will make a big difference. If you’re not someone who does that every day and will happily leave the house without pencil or product on your brows then it’s probably not for you. But if you notice your brows have become sparse from over plucking , with age or you simply were never blessed with beautiful brows then it’s definitely worth considering. What about darker skins? This treatment can work brilliantly on darker skin tones but choose your brow specialist carefully. There is not so much of a contrast between darker skin tones and pigments used so just ensure your aesthetician is used to working across skin tones. What happens during a treatment - and how long does it take? The initial treatment normally takes between an hour and a half to two hours. You’ll have a detailed consultation about what shape, and colour will work for you. Our aestheticians are spot on with colour as it’s a real art to find the precise shade which will work for you. Like finding a good hair colourist, it’s very much not a one size fits all approach and this is one of the areas (as well as creating the most perfect brow shape for your face) which our therapists are renowned for. People say the effect is like a subtle face-lift after our microblading. All of the prep takes more time that the actual treatment. The shape is then ‘drawn’ on and can be adapted so you do have time to say if you’d like anything altered. Once you’re both happy with the shape, the process of creating the ‘hairs’ on the skin begins. As soon as it’s over, the pigment may look a little bit darker but this settles down after a week. Is it painful? Everyone’s pain threshold is different. It’s certainly not a relaxing lie back and drift off to sleep treatment. Some people find taking a Nurofen before the treatment can help take the edge off. How long does it last for? Everyone is different and it depends on the individual, the colour of your skin and which skincare you are using. It can last from anything from 8 months to 18 months. If you like the result, it’s a good idea to have a top up before the colour has faded completely. Any tips to make the treatment last longer? Skincare which has Vit C, exfoliants or retinol ingredients will make the pigment fade faster. So try and not apply these products over the eyebrows to make your treatment last a bit longer. Anything else I should know? If you’re considering it, tear pages out of magazines or save photos on your phone of people with good brow shapes you like. Visual aids are wonderful for helping the therapist and you decide on the perfect brow shape (and colour) for you.