If you’re on social media, chances are you’ve seen friends, colleagues, and maybe family members come out and flaunt new rich, full, fabulous brows. Maybe you’ve followed along with their microblading journey or maybe they’ve only shared the end result and you’re now wondering what the process entails, how long it lasts, how much it hurts…Well, you are not alone in these questions. Like you, most women are seeking darker, fuller brows that they no longer have to color in every morning.

So, what is microblading and what are the deets?

Microblading is a type of eyebrow architecture in which a microblading artist uses a tiny blade to make featherlike strokes with medical grade pigment on the epidermis of the skin, creating natural-looking hair like strokes. Unlike a tattoo, the procedure is semi-permanent and lasts about one to two years depending on your skin type.

When you go in for your procedure, your artist will draw the brow on to create the perfect shape and shade for your face. Once you have the perfectly sketched brow, she will then make tiny hairlike cuts in the skin to create natural-looking strokes. Each stroke is basically a small cut in the skin where the pigment can settle in.

Does it hurt?

A topical numbing cream will be applied before the procedure starts. You may feel a little pull similar to a tweeze, but it should not be painful.

What happens after the procedure?

After the initial procedure, you should expect a healing process of about 4 to 6 weeks. Once you are fully healed, you will go in for a follow up procedure to correct any fading and to finalize the perfect brow shape. The first couple days you can expect to be a little red and uncomfortable. Around day 5-7 you will experience some good scabbing and peeling. The color will fade and change during the healing process and your brows may look patchy, but don’t panic! This is just how the skin heals.

Once the skin is done healing, you will go in for a follow up so the artist can add in any needed pigment and strokes to create the most fabulous new brows!

How long does it last?

Depending on your skin type, microblading should last for about 1 to 2 years. After that you will need touchups to keep your brows’ shape and robust color.

How do you know what shape of eyebrow you should go for?

Look through pictures of people that have similar face shapes as yours and see what eyebrow shapes they have. It is also important to look through pictures of your artists’ clients to make sure you like their work. Your artist will be able to help you pick the perfect shape for your face that goes along with your unique natural beauty.

Ready to schedule a consultation to discuss your microblading needs?

If you’re interested in microblading and have more questions, we would love to help you! Come see us at A. Samara Beauty for a private consultation. We serve people throughout San Diego and beyond with their microblading needs and would love to help you achieve the rich, full brows you desire!