Microblading – Everything You Need to Know

Long gone are the days of thin, sparse, overly tweezed brows. Those may have had their heyday back in the early 2000s, but in today’s beauty landscape, the thicker the better eyebrows are crucial. The thick and bushy brows have been a rage and we owe this eyebrow trend to model cum actress Cara Delevingne. Lilly Collins and other celebrities have been rocking this trend since then. However, if you have spent your teens and early twenties over plucking, your brows may not have grown back fully and they look sparse, thin, and weedy. We are sorry for you, but you needn’t worry, there are a dizzying number of brow products and services at your disposal aimed to help fill in thin brows and sculpt arches into perfect, identical shapes you always yearned for.

Full eyebrows are all the rage, and we all have that friend who shows up with flawless eyebrows, every single time. It looks like she either woke up like that or nailed an Instagram tutorial or is really good at using a brow pencil. However, in reality, the secret to her effortless brows might actually be the microblading procedure.

If you have tried every pencil, powder, pigment, gel, and stencil at the makeup counter, but your eyebrows are still sparse, then eyebrow microblading is what you can turn to. This procedure promises to change your brow life and has gradually grown in popularity over the past few years that everyone now knows about this once under-the-radar service. If you are few amongst us who do not know what it is, then read on.

Here in this article, we will let you know everything you need to know about this beauty trend.

What is Microblading?

Microblading is a semi-permanent form of tattooing of the eyebrows for women with very less or no brow hair. Eyebrows can change the way a woman looks, full eyebrows can define the face, make it look beautiful as well as enhance its features. Many women have very thin brow hairs or have lost brow hairs due to Alopecia or medical reasons, microblading is perfect for such women. It is a cosmetic treatment that helps fill in thin eyebrow areas to make them look fuller naturally.

For most people in San Diego and other areas, using an eyebrow pencil to fill in those sparse areas does the trick and creates an illusion of thick eyebrows. But if you do not want to spend the extra time getting ready in the morning or simply want thick brows without the worry of them fading throughout the day such as during the workout or at the beach, then San Diego microblading is what you need. The brow artist uses a pen-like tool outfitted with 12 to 15 micro-needles to deposit the pigment in the skin. The microneedles used are very tiny that they can’t be seen by the naked eye. The artist uses a technique known as shading that involves plucking the skin to deposit the ink manually.

How Does Microblading Work?

Eyebrow Microblading, also known as eyebrow embroidery or 3D Microblading uses a specifically designed tool that helps the eyebrow artist to implant pigment into the small scratches on the epidermis to create fine lines mimicking strokes of hair. The overall look is natural and realistic. Unlike the traditional tattoo, the pigment in microblading is placed into a higher layer of the skin, so the look is only semi-permanent, lasting from one to three years and in some cases, it even lasts for about 5 years with proper care.

Let’s take a look at what the eyebrow microblading process involves.

Step One – Analysis of your natural brows

When you visit the Microblading salon in San Diego, the experts will first analyze your brows. You need to visit the salon with your natural brows with any makeup. The technician then will brush back the eyebrows to look at the sparse patches that need filling in. This is also a consultation phase, where you can ask the technician the questions you may have about microblading.

Step Two – Measuring of the brows

After the analysis phase, the next step is measuring your brows. After putting on a fetching hair net, you have a ruler stuck to your brow area, to show where your brows should start and end. Your technician will ask what natural look you are after, like do you want a bold look or just fill in the sparse patches. The technician also assures you that you won’t leave the salon with a Scouse brow, which is something all women are afraid of.

Step Three – Pencil in your new brows

Once your brows are measured and you are satisfied with the look, the next step the technician follows is penciling in your new brows. Penciling is not done with an exact color match, so it looks a little weird, heavier and blockier. However, this won’t be the case with the actual outcome as pencil fills the shape in, while microblading is done with feather strokes.

Step Four – Tattoo them on

After the penciling, comes the actual method. A bespoke pigment is made to match your current brows and then filled into the tool (microblade). The technician then applies a numbing cream onto your eyebrows and then etches tiny hair-like strokes onto the eyebrow. This step hurts but is worth it.

Microblading is done in layers. The first layer is quite painful as your skin is being cut. Also, you hear scratching sound, which makes the pain worse. However, if your technician is an expert and has had formal microblading training, then the pain you feel is a little less and they are always ready to tackle any situation. This means that you are in safe hands. The final result of microblading looks slightly different.

This is how a microblading process looks like and after this, further steps come in are the healing process and touch-ups. We will discuss these steps later in the guide.

Here let’s talk about the cost of 3D microblading, are you the right candidate, does it hurt, pre and post-care instructions, the risks involved, and the best place to get the procedure done.

How Much Does Microblading Cost?

Microblading is a non-invasive semi-permanent cosmetic treatment that is done to give eyebrows a natural look. It helps transform the eyebrows in just a few hours. You can select the style of eyebrows you want and customize the procedure as per your needs. A stylist will work closely with you in selecting how your eyebrows should look and give you all the inputs that you want regarding the procedure.

Regarding the microblading cost, first, it is important that you are satisfied with the stylist from the moment you get in touch with them. You need to select a reputable and experienced 3D eyebrow microblading specialist who works closely with you and listens to what you want to have done. As it is a cosmetic procedure done on your face, you want results that enhance your beauty, so, it is important that you feel comfortable and if you feel your stylist is not listening to you, move to another brow expert. In addition to this, ensure the prices are clear and that all pricing is talked about before any work is started. The salon you have chosen should be able to give you an estimate for the process and how many additional touch-ups you might need.

The microblading cost ranges from around $350 to as high as $1000 depending on the specific style, procedure, and specialist doing the procedure as well as the length of time that it takes to complete the treatment. You can expect to pay an average of $450 to have your microblading done. Microblading costs can also vary with location and places like Los Angeles, San Diego, New York, and Miami can be a bit more expensive than other areas.

Touch-up microblading price

Microblading treatment needs a touch-up and if you don’t plan on going to the follow-up treatment, don’t even bother spending money as you will be disappointed. The touch-up or follow-up helps retain the dye as well as fill any spots that have faded. It is recommended not to miss your touch-up as it is really needed to have that perfect look for a couple of years to come. The touch-up cost ranges from $50 to $200 depending on what your specialist charges. Many times the touch-up is already included in the initial payment, you need to ask your specialist for this.

Microblading correction prices

There are times when you have got your microblading done, followed-up and did not like the results you wanted. You want to get the correction done but from the other microblading specialist, so, a consultation will be required. This is because correcting someone else’s work is not easy and your stylist would want to analyze whether it can be corrected and saved or not. Many times your eyebrows can be corrected, but in some cases, nothing can be done. That is why it is important to look at plenty of before and after pictures before selecting your eyebrow micro needling expert. The price of microblading correction can vary from $150 to $900 depending on the area, charges of the salon, and the amount of work needed.

Microblading consultation cost

Although eyebrow microblading consultation is free of cost, however, some artists do charge a consultation fee. Typically the price for consultation ranges from $50 to $200 depending on the business policy of the salon. Microblading artists who charge a consultation fee will put the charges towards the actual microblading procedure while few will charge a separate fee for the consultation and another for the actual service. If you are required to pay a consultation fee and end up not wanting the service, do not expect to get a refund.

Don’t fixate on cost, as microblading is quite affordable in the long run without the extra cost of makeup and is well worth the investment in you. Look at the price you spend on makeup each year and the pain and time to apply it each morning. Microblading is worth the investment as it not only saves your valuable time but money as well that you spend on those eyebrow pencils, powder, pigment, gel, stencil, and other products to get perfect looking eyebrows. A few extra minutes you save daily will make things easier especially with most people being so busy.

Who is a Good Candidate for Microblading?

Eyebrows are the main focal point of the face and are essential to uniquely shape our facial features. But what if you are not blessed with the eyebrows that you see in fashion magazines and Instagram? Are you condemned forever to have sparse, patchy, asymmetrical eyebrows? Will you have to start on your makeup an hour early just for your eyebrows to be on fleek and while doing your eyebrows fear that if you make one wrong move, you’d have to wipe them off and start all over again? All thanks to microblading, you no more have to live with sparse, patchy, and asymmetrical eyebrows. Microblading is a specialized hand-controlled cosmetic treatment that implants pigment into the superficial layers of the skin to resemble eyebrow hair. This procedure is ideal for someone who has experienced some hair loss and wants to achieve very natural looking eyebrows.

However, for the process to be effective and get the best possible results, it is crucial to know if your skin’s sensitivity and quality are fit for the treatment. This relies on your skin being healthy, strong, and calm. Unfortunately, some pre-existing skin conditions and skin treatments can heavily compromise the effectiveness of microblading. So, before you book an appointment, read below to find out if microblading is for you.

Constant Shedding

If your skin is constantly flaking, itchy or aggravated, it won’t hold the pigment well. Skin conditions that cause shedding and flaking include psoriasis, eczema, keratosis, pilaris, and dermatitis.

Chronic Skin Conditions

The same goes for conditions like chronic acne and rosacea. The characteristic nature of this skin type is it easily bleeds, which once again means your skin will not retain the color very well.

Oily Skin

This is a huge one. Extremely oily skin can cause those tattooed hair strokes to blur together and give off an unwanted solid effect instead of a naturally feathered look. So, if you have oily skin you are not a good candidate for the procedure.

Deep Wrinkles

Not only do wrinkles age you, but they make it difficult for the tattooed hair strokes to lay properly on the skin. Skin with deep wrinkles is difficult to work with and makes the overall look appear uneven.

Raised Skin

Eyebrow’s skin that is raised from scarring, moles, piercings or breakouts will have trouble retaining pigment. So, if you have raised skin, you are not a good candidate for microblading.

Tanned Skin

If you are considering getting microblading done but have got a sunburn, it’s best to wait until your skin has resumed its normal color and has healed before booking in for a procedure.

Previous Microblading

As discussed above, it is not easy to correct the existing work. While microblading is not permanent as traditional tattooing, the remnants of what you have done before will always be there. A consultation will help determine if a correction is a viable option.

Use of Topical Acne Medications

The use of harsh exfoliates and acne medications such as Aczone, Retinol, etc. will not make you a good candidate for microblading. This is because these medications thin your skin and put it in a constant inflammatory state. You need to consult your doctor if you are thinking about undergoing the microblading procedure.

Medical Conditions

There are certain medical conditions as well which do not make you a good candidate for the procedure. If you are suffering from thyroid conditions, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disorders, and heart conditions, you need to consult your artist and your doctor as well, as you may have trouble healing.

In addition to this, it is important to note that women who are pregnant or nursing will not be good candidates. Also, those undergoing chemotherapies are recommended to finish treatment as the risk of infection could be much greater. Those being treated by a physician or taking medications such as blood thinners are recommended to speak with their doctors to make sure the procedure is right for them.

So, if you are thinking to get the procedure done, it is important to know that the results will be based on the health and quality of your skin. As every person is unique and will react differently to the procedure, it is important to check whether your skin is in good physical condition or not and if yes then you can start researching for the San Diego microblading salon near you or check out A. Samara Beauty salon.

How Long is the Microblading Appointment?

Microblading is a two-step process, usually done 6-8 weeks apart. It is important to complete both the initial procedure and the touch-up.

Step 1 – Microblading Procedure

The initial procedure takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. During this time consultation is done and the desired brow look is discussed, color tone is chosen, and the initial outline of the procedure area is drawn for your approval. Once you are satisfied with the shape and symmetry of the eyebrow, the area is then traced over and the semi-permanent pigment is applied. The procedure uses a manual hand tool to deposit the pigment giving natural hair strokes.

Step 2 – Touch-up

The second stage of the procedure is a touch-up appointment. This step usually takes about 1 hour. Touch-ups are done no earlier than 5 weeks of your initial procedure and not later than 10 weeks. If you do not show up for the touch-up, the results you get will not be as expected. Color fades significantly within 4 weeks as the skin heals, peels, and fades. The touch-up step corrects irregularities in the microbladed hair strokes, color tones, and finishes the process.

How Long Does it Take to Heal?

Microblading is a non-invasive procedure with no downtime. However, the eyebrow area will be slightly red after the procedure and color will appear very dark. This is normal and a part of the healing process. Your eyebrows will continue to be dark and you will notice slight scabbing. Do not scratch or touch the area as this may damage the skin and the outcome. The eyebrows will eventually lighten up in color as it heals. The healing process takes approximately 7 to 14 days and about a month for the color to fully set in. You will notice that the color is very light right after two weeks of healing and the skin will have an opaque milky texture. This is due to the tissue still healing from the inside and the true color will reveal itself once healed.

How Long Does Microblading Last?

As microblading pigments are not implanted into the skin as deep as traditional tattoos, the area will naturally fade over time. Typically, microblading lasts for 1 to 3 years, depending on the skin type and age. Skincare routine also affects how long it lasts. Patients who tan, use products with AHA or Glycolic Acid, the microblading effect will fade faster as your skin will resurface faster. Each individual’s color retention power within the skin varies. To maintain the desired look, a touch-up is necessary every 12 to 18 months.

Microblading touch-ups are similar to getting root touch-ups for your hair. if you go for the touch-up when the microblading effect starts fading, you can simply have the color filled in. However, if you wait longer than your artist recommended, you may have to have the whole procedure done all over again.

Does Microblading Hurt?

Microblading produces a natural looking feathery brow and results can last for up to three years. As the name suggests, microblading has hundreds of tiny cuts made on your brow line. Just the traditional tattoo, these little cuts break the skin which is then filled with the pigment. As most microblading artists apply topical anesthesia to numb the area and also reapply during the procedure, so, rather than actually feeling the pain from the cutting of the blade, you will most likely only feel the pressure from the tool or you might feel a scratching sensation.

During the process, you also hear loud scratching or crunching sounds similar to feet crunching on compact snow. You can expect some minor discomfort and skin irritation during the process.

Pre and Post Care Instructions

The right microblading pre and post-care can have a massive difference in the results, allow your brows to heal properly and help lessen the discomfort during the procedure. Follow the below-given pre and post-care instructions and get better results with your microblading procedure.

Pre Care Instructions

• Avoid caffeine or alcohol 24 hours before the procedure.
• Do not workout 24 hours before the procedure.
• Avoid sunbathing for a few days before the procedure.
• Don’t tweeze or wax your brows for a few days before the procedure.
• Avoid chemical peels, laser treatments, and other facial treatments for a few weeks before the procedure.
• Stop using retinol for a month before the procedure.
• Do not use AHA skincare products close to the eyebrows area two weeks before and 2 weeks after the procedure.
• Do not have Botox 3 weeks prior to the procedure.
• Discontinue the use of blood thinning supplements or medications such as Ibuprofen, aspirin, fish oil, vitamin E, NSAIDS up to 72 hours prior to the procedure.

Post Care Instructions

• After the procedure, gently blot your brows carefully with lightly dampened gauze or q-tip or clean tissue to prevent lymph fluid buildup and scabbing.
• Gently wash your brows daily with a mild soap and lukewarm water, pat dry with a clean towel or tissue. Do not rub the area and when the area is dry apply your aftercare product with the q-tip.
• Do not rub, pick or scratch your eyebrows as it can cause scarring and pigment loss. Let any scabbing or dry skin naturally exfoliate.
• Avoid sleeping with your face down and keep your hair pulled back from the treated area for the first 10 days.
• Avoid direct sun exposure and tanning beds for a minimum of 4 weeks. Direct sunlight can cause the pigment to change color as well as cause a burning sensation.
• Avoid pool, sauna, steam rooms, hot showers, and hot baths for up to 3 weeks after the procedure.
• Avoid any strenuous physical workouts or activity that may cause sweating. This expels pigment from the dermis producing poor results.
• Do not apply makeup or other skincare products for at least a week after the procedure.
• No facials, chemical treatments, Botox, and microdermabrasion for 4 weeks.
• After 10 days or when the area has healed completely, use a sunscreen when going out to stop the color from fading.

After the procedure area heals, a touch-up appointment will be needed. The microblading process is not considered complete without it.

What are the Risks and Complications with Microblading?

Microblading is a semi-permanent eyebrow filling and contouring method for people who seek fuller and precisely shaped eyebrows. Although this procedure is becoming commonplace, the typical procedure is not without risks. With the rapid rise in popularity, the procedure is being offered everywhere. Salons offering this service are springing up at malls, tattoo parlors, and even private homes. Such unregulated places offer low-cost procedures but lack sanitary conditions. As the microblading procedure process involves numerous tiny cuts in the skin’s surface, and the equipment used if not properly sterilized, may put you at risk of contracting an infectious disease such as hepatitis B and C, HIV, and skin infections. So, it is vital to pay attention to hygiene practices when choosing a microblading salon.

As each individual is different, so is the outcome of the procedure. Some people’s skin may react adversely to the pigment used in the procedure. This is considered as an allergic reaction. Redness and mild pain are expected when you undergo the procedure, however, if the area becomes raised or puffy or if you notice a yellow discharge or excessive redness, this may be a sign of an infection. Immediately seek medical attention, as infection of the eyebrow area is particularly concerning if it reaches the bloodstream it could potentially affect your vision.

These are a few of the risks and complications that you need to be aware of when considering microblading.

With that said, one of the most important things to think about when considering microblading is the salon that will carry out the procedure.

How Do you Choose the Right Microblading Salon?

Microblading is a skilled technique with which eyebrows are reshaped by a makeup artist giving a fuller and natural look. So, when choosing the salon look for the following things.

Licensing and Training

One of the key factors to look for when choosing the right microblading salon is to look for a licensed and highly skilled technician with proper microblading training. Your eyebrows play a significant role in defining your face and features. Many people booking eyebrow microblading end up with a new set of eyebrows with a drawn on look. Great looking eyebrows are defined by a natural look with a visible eyebrow hair stroke. This type of eyebrow can only be accomplished by a well-trained technician/artist.

So, it is important to check whether or not they have official training from a reputable institution. With adequate training, you would feel much more confident with the potential end results. In addition to this, you would want to check the licensing required by the state they are operating in. Some states do not require any type of licensing while some will require specific first aid and bloodborne pathogen training as microblading artists might be classified similarly to tattoo artists.

Check the Reviews

Another major thing that you will want to consider when choosing the microblading salon is to check the past client reviews. Think like this, would you visit a new restaurant without consulting a friend or Google reviews? Probably not, so how could you choose a microblading salon and artist without checking the reviews. Reviews give you an insight into the salon and how well trained their microblading aestheticians are.

You should also look up or ask for any testimonials they have with before and after photos. Being able to look at photos of previous clients can help you gather much more information than you would be able to get from reviews without photos. This can give you the confidence you might need to make your decision on which artist to go with.

Visit the Salon

Once you have narrowed down your options based on the specialized training and which microblading artist has the best reviews, you should visit the salon and see whether or not you would be comfortable getting the procedure. While visiting the salon, you would want to monitor the cleanliness of the location as well as the tools used. That way, you can tell whether or not they reinvest in the business and have a priority placed on cleanliness. Ensure they use top quality products to top-notch tools to give optimum results.

Also, this is your chance to test the knowledge of the staff. They should be able to answer any questions you might have about microblading. If they can’t, move on to find another salon.

Choose Quality over Price

While investigating different prices for eyebrow shaping treatments by a salon, people tend to move to the ones that are priced low or are on offer. However, this is not what should be done as your eyebrows play a key part in defining your face and a cheap microblading treatment can turn out to be a costly mistake if you end up with the results you do not like. Additionally, ending up with unnatural looking brows can’t be rectified or altered.

It is advised not to choose your microblading salon and artist based on price or bargain offers. You will regret it. Choose a salon with an artist who is able to draw portrait style natural-looking eyebrows on paper with natural looking individual hairs, taking the shape of your face and your preferences into account just like the artist at A. Samara Beauty Salon in San Diego.

By following the tips above, you should be in an excellent position to choose the right microblading salon.

Which Celebrities Have Undergone the Microblading Procedure?

How many times have you scrolled your social media feed and discovered a picture of a top celebrity with amazing looking eyebrows? Cara Delevingne, Lily Collins, Kim Kardashian, the list goes on and on. Celebrities have been getting on the microblade train for years. Here are some celebrities who have said goodbye to bad eyebrows.

Gwyneth Paltrow – Celebrity Microblading

Academy Award-winning actress, Gwyneth Paltrow has gorgeous blonde eyebrows. She got her eyebrows microbladed in 2017. Paltrow became world famous for her role in the film “Shakespeare in Love” (1998). She also plays love interest Pepper Potts to Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Cara Delevingne – Celebrity Microblading

British model, actress, and owner of the world’s best eyebrows, Cara Delevingne started the trend of microblading. Cara has full, dark eyebrows and has inspired us all to ditch the tweezers and reach for the eyebrow pencil and embrace a fuller brow.

Mila Kunis – Celebrity Microblading

Mila Kunis’s eyebrows are the same gorgeous color as her dusky brown hair which is a result of microblading. She is known for starring in “That ’70s Show” and also for her beautiful, big eyes. Have you noticed that one of her eyes is brown while the other is green?

Lorde – Celebrity Microblading

The New Zealand-born singer-songwriter showed off her incredible new eyebrows in 2017. She is the winner of two Grammy Awards at the young age of 21.

Mandy Moore – Celebrity Microblading

The American songwriter and actress, Mandy Moore has great eyebrows which she keeps super fit with eyebrow microblading. She starred in many films such as “The Princess Diaries” (2001) and “A Walk to Remember” (2002). She has also been starring in NBC’s “This Is Us” since 2016.

Megan Fox – Celebrity Microblading

American actress and model, Megan Fox began her acting career in 2001 with several television and film roles under her belt. She made her film debut in 2004 with a role in the teen comedy “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen”. Megan’s sexy badass look is enhanced with microblading.

Coleen Rooney – Celebrity Microblading

Coleen Rooney took to social media to share a before-and-after photo of her newly microbladed eyebrows, one of the many stars to swear by this popular beauty trend. The mother of four kid’s new brows was noticeably darker and fuller, and she received a mass of compliments from her fans, with one complimenting her on just how “natural” they looked.

Michelle Keegan – Celebrity Microblading

She also took the dive to try out microblading. She wanted to grow out her eyebrows for years, something she said: “just wasn’t happening.” Documenting her experience in her HELLO! column, the former Coronation Street actress revealed that after a lot of research, she finally visited the microblading salon to get her brows done.

These are a few of the celebrities to undergo the microblading procedure in the recent past.

Follow the footsteps of these celebrities and get the perfect looking eyebrows you always wanted now by booking an appointment with one of the best salons in San Diego, A. Samara Beauty Salon. They have over six years of experience and trusted by over 1500 clients. They offer the best microblading service where your eyebrows are first measured based on your facial features to get the most natural, realistic, and clean results as possible. The salon keeps up with cleanliness, professionalism, and intricate details offering the best outcome for your procedure. A. Samara Beauty Salon also offers eyelash extensions and makeup services.