I’m worried about my microblading treatment!
If you are scared, I’d like to reassure you that you are not alone! And I would also like to reassure you that it is completely normal to feel this way! But as a Microblading Artist, it’s my duty to give you the facts so that you can make an informed decision as to whether or not your fears are justified.
There’s a lot of content out there on social media (good and bad), and as I’ve had the good fortune of training 1-2-1 with a leading Harley Street Semi-Permanent Make-up Artist (thank you Ariana), with over 15 years’ experience, I am confident that can trickle more good, honest content into the content pool.
Let’s start this blog by listing some of the biggest fears clients have approached me with:
Does Microblading Hurt?
Microblading shouldn’t hurt as long as the good-quality numbing gel is given proper time to work (usually 30 mins).
I’m not a fan of pain and I wouldn’t want to inflict it onto any of my clients whom, through meeting and consultation, I have built a good relationship with! For this reason, conscientious therapists like myself will follow the correct numbing procedure during your treatment and during your 4 week top-up.
Once your new eyebrow shape has been drawn on with eyeliner, numbing cream is applied to the area. It is then covered with cling film and held in place by a beauty band to ensure the cream penetrates the skin and is activated with natural body heat.
I know that this is not glamorous, but looking like an extra from a Rambo movie will be worth it as far as pain management is concerned. The cream is allowed to work for 30 minutes, and this is one of the reasons why your treatment should never be rushed.
Although your appointment will last approximately 3 hours, the actual insertion of pigment into the skin is very quick. The consultation, eyebrow mapping and numbing consumes most of the treatment time.
Will I be Stuck with Eyebrows I Hate?
If you have researched your therapist and have undergone a thorough consultation with them, then getting stuck with eyebrows you hate is almost impossible.
During your eyebrow consultation (with a fully trained therapist that you feel comfortable with), your new eyebrows will be drawn on with what is effectively an eyeliner using the eyebrow mapping process. This means that the new eyebrow shape will be based on your face morphology, is unique to you and will complement your face. Stencils are not used!
From your consultation, your therapist will already know the look you are trying to achieve and can advise you on what will look most aesthetically pleasing, but you will have the opportunity to discuss your future shape and colour density in detail before the actual pigment insertion begins. Therefore, your therapist should only deliver the eyebrows that you are happy with. In addition to this, your therapist will build up colour density and thickness gradually. You will find that you quickly adjust to your new look, and at the 4 week top-up, be braver and want to add more definition.
Furthermore, it should be noted that semi-permanent make-up is superficial. As it’s performed on the ‘epidermis’ section of the skin, the treatment is designed to fade over time. Permanent procedures use different machines and longer needles that go far deeper into the skin (dermis), making them permanent and far harder to remove than semi-permanent makeup.
For semi-permanent makeup, even at-home procedures such as salt exfoliation will help to ‘lift away’ the SPMU if you’re desperately unhappy with the result for whatever reason.
Is Microblading Dangerous?
No. Microblading and Powder Brow is perfectly safe when done by a fully trained technician who adheres to all health and safety guidelines and checks.
To receive accreditation, a fully trained microblading artist will be well-versed in hygiene and proper sterilisation of equipment, so there will be no risk of infection during your procedure.
Your therapist will also have a good knowledge of skin structure and contraindications (occasions where the client should not undergo Microblading such as those who are prone to keloid scarring). This will all be established during a thorough consultation.
There are a number of other health and safety procedures which a good brow technician will follow (you can see some of them in my blog on whether mobile brow technicians are safe and hygienic).
Disposable needles are used for both Microblading and Powder Brow procedures and are immediately discarded at the end of your appointment.
As mentioned earlier, you will also undergo a patch test, so there is no risk of an allergic reaction to the pigments used during and after your procedure.
Finally, your therapist will provide you with detailed aftercare advice to eliminate the risk of any infection occurring before the skin is fully healed.
What If I Don’t Look Like Myself After My Brow Treatment?
You will still look like ‘you’ after your SPMU procedure, as your new brows will be mapped out according to your specific facial planes.
I promise that you will look like yourself! Just a better version where you get to save time in the mornings! Remember that your new eyebrows are mapped out according to your features, so they are the eyebrows you are supposed to have, and are simply just reinstated and/or enhanced in areas in order to fulfil their duties in framing your face.
A client once told me that she was fed up with looking like a boiled egg. It’s a harsh way of putting it, but I guess I haven’t seen any eggs with eyebrows in my lifetime!
And remember, in a worst-case scenario, semi-permanent makeup is just that – you won’t be stuck with something you’re not keen on as there are ways of reducing the pigmentation before it fades by itself.
What If Microblading Makes Me Look Too ‘Done Up’?
There are many different microblading techniques available to help you achieve different looks, from bold to barely-there.
You don’t have to look like you have a ‘Nike tick’ (and I would never do this for any client in the first place), but given the volume of ‘Insta Queens’ out there, you’d be forgiven for assuming the ‘block-bushy bold’ look is all that’s available. This is not true. The more defined look is a personal choice, but you can also achieve eyebrows which are incredibly natural-looking and even under-stated, so natural, in fact, that people will think your eyebrows are real.
Individual hair strokes and shading is a fabulous way of achieving this natural feathered look, and your therapist will be there to help you decide on what would work best for you.
Help! I’m Still Worried About Getting My Eyebrows Done!
I hope that I have eased some of your fears or concerns with the above post, but I am happy to answer any questions you may still have about the process or finished results. Alternatively, feel free to read up on eyebrow SPMU frequently asked questions on my service pages.
I firmly believe that you should never feel ‘pushed’ into any procedure, but you should be provided with all the information you need to make the decision that is right for you.
Passionate therapists like myself do this job because we instantly see positive results (and this truly drives us), so rest assured you will never leave my treatment room without a smile on your face.
~ Simone
