What is microblading, does it hurt, and other questions answered
Photos taken 4 days after microblading | Dresses: VICI here and here c/o | Photos: Gabi Wells.
I first heard about microblading about a year ago. Anyone I talked to about it, raved about how incredible the results are. It totally piqued my interest because I am always down for beauty treatments that save time getting ready in the morning {#momlife}. Today on the blog I’m sharing my personal microblading experience, including before/during/ & after photos. After I go back for my touch-up in 5-6 weeks, I will update with more photos so be sure and check back.
If you aren’t familiar with microblading, it is basically an update to the eyebrow tattoo. Instead of a machine, a special microblading “pen” is used to create individual brushstrokes that mimic hairs, and the result is a natural looking brow. The results are semi-permanent and last around two years, give or take. I like that it is only semi-permanent, because I am not good with commitment. And also with beauty trends constantly shifting, if thin over-plucked brows make a comeback (please God no) I won’t be stuck with my currently big, beautiful brows (cause I just got my eyebrows microbladed 5 days ago!!!).
On a side note, my husband and I have been watching Lost on Netflix (completely obsessed), and it’s funny because the one detail that ages the show to the early 2000’s is how over-plucked the female cast members’ eyebrows are. It struck me immediately from the first episode. I am constantly pointing this out to Chad. He loves it. hehe
I wanted to share my microblading story and do a Q + A format to address any questions you guys may have. I posted a few sneak peeks on my Instagram and am already getting a lot of questions and feedback. I basically am just going to answer all the questions I had going into the process. If you have a question I didn’t get to, feel free to comment below.
Make sure to scroll all the way down for before + after’s…
Before microblading. Got ready in like 5 minutes that day. Kind of regretting that decision. But at least I worked out that morning and was clean.
Brows in their natural state
I considered getting my brows microbladed off and on for the better part of a year. I bet many of you are in the same boat (especially if you are reading this). I like keeping my look as “natural” as possible. I am weird about that. It might be because I live in Orange County, and I don’t want to look too fake. I laugh as I say that with my lash extensions, hair extensions, and bottle blonde, but hey… you know what I mean! A few of my blogger friends got their eyebrows microbladed so I saw in person how pretty and natural it looks. I just thought they had naturally amazing brows or penciling technique.
Then the question is… where do you go? I wanted to go to the best. When I first heard about the procedure, I planned on driving to L.A. to get it done, but that seemed daunting in itself. The best way to find someone is to get a referral from someone you trust. And if you can’t get that, then do your online research. One of my good friends who I trust completely referred me to Ashley so I was lucky that way. Ashley’s work is beautiful… you can check out her recent work on Instagram here. And if you are a Southern California girl interested in getting your brows microbladed, you can find her website with pricing details here.
One of the first questions I get is…
Does microblading hurt?
One of my mom’s favorite quotes when I was growing up was- it hurts to be beautiful. I think this was her response whenever I was complaining that my shoes hurt my feet. Which was… all the time. Luckily, in the case of microblading this saying is only partially true. A topical numbing cream is applied to the brows before the procedure, but I am unsure of how well it works. The numbing cream is continuously reapplied throughout the process. Some of the brush strokes literally felt like nothing. Zero pain. But there is one area of the brow that was definitely more sensitive, and the pain made my eyes water and tear up. It is tolerable and lasts only a second or two. But I am not gonna lie, it kind of hurt. It’s gross to think of it this way, but it’s like a tiny paper cut to the skin.
My pain tolerance is average, and the pain from the microblading session is not something that fills me with dread or anxiety. It wasn’t that big of a deal. When I go back in 5-6 weeks for my touch-up (which I hear is the icing on the cake), I won’t be nervous or stressing it. But yeah I am sure there will be a second or two where it stings. Let’s end this with the saying no pain, no gain. Okay, I think I’ve reached my annoying cliché quota for the day.;)
What is the microblading process?
My entire appointment took around two hours. This includes the consultation, waiting time for the numbing cream to kick in, and the actual procedure. Ashley probably spent around 40 minutes with the actual “tattooing” part. When I first met with Ashley, I showed her pictures of eyebrows that I liked (always have an inspiration photo ready!). We talked about the inconsistencies of my current brows- the sections that were more sparse, etc. We also discussed coloring for the tattoo ink. I wanted a soft brown, suitable for blondes.
Then Ashley taped a measuring film to my face. I really LOVE this because beauty is symmetry, and I knew my eyebrows were going to be perfectly symmetrical.
After she mapped out my brows, I looked in a mirror to make sure I liked the shape. I wanted a more natural, what she calls “fluffy” brow with a soft arch versus a very defined, dramatic arch. Once she started the process, she bounced between eyebrow to eyebrow which allowed time for the numbing agent to settle in. She warned me ahead of time that the brows will seem dark and may feel overwhelming at first.
As your brows heal and the skin grows over, the color lightens up. As you can see from the photos, there is some slight redness around the brow area, but nothing crazy. I felt no pain afterward and required no recovery or down time. I had a slight headache, but I think it was just from the stress of have someone take my photo while getting my eyebrows tattooed. haha! And I looked like crap that day!
How much does microblading cost?
The cost for microblading varies, depending on location and level of experience. If you decide to go with Ashley who works out of Costa Mesa (and who I highly recommend!), the cost for the session is $450. This includes one free touch-up at 5-6 weeks. More details on her pricing can be found here!
Can you exercise after microblading?
This was the first question I asked Ashley. Priorities right? I Googled this very question before my appointment. One website said no strenuous exercise for 10 days! Holy Moses! You should definitely ask your microblading specialist and follow their instructions. My brow girl Ashley said it was probably best to avoid high intensity exercise for at least 3 days. The issue isn’t really the exercise, it’s the heat your skin creates when exercising. When body temperature rises, it sweats and may affect the ink and your results. I have talked to people who exercised the day after, but I played it safe and waited 3 days. It was kind of nice actually to take a little break. Just me and my pretty brows. ha!
How do you like it? Would you recommend?
You guys, I am absolutely in LOVE with the results! If I am being real, on the morning of my appointment, I had a small niggling of self-doubt. Do I really want to do this? Do I need this? What if I don’t like the results? My eyebrows were nothing to scream about, but they were decent. I didn’t wake up in the morning with no brows. I didn’t have to stress about filling them in before going out in public. In high school, I had extremely bushy brows, but after a few waxing sessions à la Lost style, the big bushy look never came back. I had some sparse areas, and my brows weren’t as thick as I wanted. I also wanted a little more drama and arch.
Anyway, I am SO GLAD I did it! I wake up in the morning feeling so much more put together and ready. It’s crazy. After you first get your brows microbladed, the brow is shades darker than it will settle into being. I was worried that I wouldn’t like the initial result because I am weird about my eyebrows being too dark in contrast to my light hair. I was shocked to find that I absolutely LOVE IT. In fact, I don’t want them to lighten at all. As a bonus, my husband told me that I look so much younger. My new brows have given me life! I am completely obsessed!
Before Microblading- sparseness in arch area
Immediately After Microblading
Taken 5 minutes after microblading outside of studio. Minimal redness, no swelling. Find my top here.
Photography of microblading process thanks to Sara Tinnelly!
Eyebrows microbladed on Friday, selfie taken on Sunday. Results 2 days after treatment!
4 Days After Microblading
I hope I answered your questions, and you enjoyed following along on my experience. It has been less than a week since I got my eyebrows microbladed, and I literally want to fast forward to my touch-up appointment because I heard it takes your brows to the next level. And okay, I may be a little addicted. Please guys, leave questions below or message me on IG. I am happy to answer any questions. Also make sure to check out Ashley’s brow work on Instagram. She is such a talent!
And check back to the blog later this week for my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale picks. Early Access starts tomorrow Thursday the 13th!
xoxox,
Missy
