How Microblading and Semi Permanent Tattooing Works

The art of the cosmetic tattoo is one that has come a long way from humble beginnings. Most people recognize tattoos as a form of self-expression that helps to showcase the personality of the wearer. Cosmetic tattoos are helpful in keeping that more natural look through the use of tattoo-like appliances. Microblading in particular is a new form of that same natural expression, allowing for a more beautiful brow area through the use of hair strokes that deposit pigment with a tattooing needle. This needle only punctures the superficial layers of the skin, versus multiple like a traditional tattoo. This means that microblading only lasts for a few months instead of the rest of your life. Because of this, you can switch up your brow style each time you come in, or you can stick with something that looks more like your natural hair. The choice is up to you, and there is plenty of information to help you figure out the right path to take.

Choosing a Microblading Artist

Finding a brow artist takes time and research if you want to get the best of the best. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to find the perfect shop in your area, with a professional artist willing to work with you to create something amazing. Social media can serve as a portfolio for the artists you’re looking at, so be sure to look around the various sites in order to see what they’ve done before. Tour the business during some free time and talk to the employees. If you don’t feel comfortable, go somewhere else that is more willing to work with you and your needs. Ask any questions you may have. It can be helpful to bring some notes in order to jog your memory once you make it into the shop. Check out the social media presence of the shop you’re looking at to read reviews and see their services. A lot of places will have a traditional tattooing front but also include microblading and cosmetic artists that offer those services. Be sure to get in contact with the shop beforehand to make sure that they offer the microblading treatment you want.

Preparing for Your Appointment

Microblading treatment doesn’t require a ton of preparation, but there are a few things that you can do in order to make things a bit easier for your artist to work with. If you’re wanting to use more of your natural brow hairs, you’ll want to spend a few weeks growing it out so that there is more of it to utilize during the microblading process. The way that the pigment shows up will depend on your skin. Whether you have oily skin or a more dry skin type, microblading pigment can slough off sooner than later, or look more faded than you might expect. The important thing to remember is to not use any exfoliants. Your artist will probably use a numbing cream in order to prevent or lessen most of the discomfort you will feel, but you should never anticipate having a lot of severe pain, as the superficial layers of skin are much less painful to go through than a traditional tattoo.

Things Not to Do

There are a number of things that you should also keep in mind before booking your appointment and right before you go in, so take note of them in order to make the process easier for you and your artist: Don’t drink alcohol a day before your treatment. If possible, stop taking blood thinners or aspirin before you appointment also, in order to lessen the chance of extensive bleeding and infection. Ensure that your brow area is clean and free of makeup or anything else, and if you want to shave your brows, do it the day before your treatment so that they have a bit of time to heal up.

Taking Care of Your Brow Area

Once you get your treatment done, the important thing to remember is to keep your brows clean and free of debris. Using a sensitive skin soap without a lot of perfume is important. The first week or two after your treatment is going to be the best time for you to get an infection, so needless to say this is when you need to be on particularly high alert for any signs and symptoms. Don’t wear makeup for a couple weeks after your treatment, as this can cause issues with healing by hiding the scabs from the air. Don’t pick at or remove the scabs that form around your face, as these are crucial to the healing process. Keep your brow area dry for a few days after your treatment, as moisture can exacerbate any issues with healing for this crucial time period.

Watching out For Infection

Infection is probably the biggest risk in getting a microblading treatment, but as long as you follow these few rules and keep the brow area clean, you won’t experience anything of the sort during the healing process.

A few things to look out for:

Severe itching or flaking skin that doesn’t go away after a few days or gets worse over time. Redness, especially if it streaks out from a scab or wound and is accompanied by severe pain that doesn’t go away. Scabs that weep or look unsightly and are accompanied by both pain and redness. If you do happen to experience any of these symptoms, your best bet will be to talk with your doctor about getting on some antibiotics in order to remedy infection. It’s not the end of the world if you see an infection starting to form, and antibiotics are cheap and widely available. The worst thing you can do is turn a blind eye to any of these symptoms and allow them to get worse. Luckily, it’s in your hands to make sure that the healing process goes smoothly and quickly.