How painful is microblading compared to actual tattoos

[CattingTime]

I'm considering having my eyebrows done.

How painful is it compared to normal body tattoos? I have back and wrist tattoos, so pretty painful areas, but nothing on my face.

Just wondering if I'll be able to hack the pain.

It's much less than a tattoo. They use a numbing cream and once that's on you can't feel much at all.
It makes your nose go a bit tingly like you need to sneeze.

The numbing cream is amazing, however I find it wears off quickly on me then it's quite painful, a different pain to a tattoo though. I've not explained that well but overall nothing to worry about!!

Is it emla cream or lidocaine? They don't seem to work on me!

Neither does bactine, I've had that sprayed on my by tattooists mid-session before and it made zero difference.

Never had a tattoo so can't compare but Microblading I would describe as more scratchy/nippy than outright painful. I've had mine done 3 times and I'm an absolute wuss so it can't be that bad 😂

Nowhere near as bad as a tattoo - and a far less unpleasant sensation. Do it. It’s one of the best beauty-related things I ever did.

I'm very tempted. How often do you have to have it topped up?

It's not that bad. Usually they do use emla or similar. You normally get invited back for a top up a few weeks later and it lasts a while. Mine have lasted over a year before I had another top up and they werent really fading, I just wanted a bolder look. Definitely do it, it's one of he best beauty things I've ever done.

Had mine done in October and haven't had to touch my brows apart from using brow gel ever since- game changer!

I would throughly research the type- I had ombré rather than micro blading as apparently it lasts longer. On my first session mine faded quite a bit so the clinician used a different needle the second time and is much better

Micro blading is cutting the skin and using the dye in the "wound" of you like

I had micropigmentation so a single tattoo type needle. Ow until the skin was broken then they could apply numbing cream. I didn't contemplate stopping half way through so it wasn't that bad

This is after about 3.5 years, I've never had a top up

@QueenPaw who did yours? I'd really like some London-area recs for a natural look

It's the most painful thing Ive ever had done. The numbing cream did not work and my oily skin has sucked up the dye and left pink patches.
I imagine there are far better practitioners out there than who I used, but I wont rush to get it again.

@bunglebee ah mine were Manchester way!
Done here (by her trainees then finished by her)
https://www.olivia-naylor.com

[quote QueenPaw]@bunglebee ah mine were Manchester way!
Done here (by her trainees then finished by her)
[[https://www.olivia-naylor.com]][/quote]
Ah, shame! Yours certainly look both good and very natural.

I didn’t find it painful. Just the noise/feeling, which I described as “like dressmaking scissors cutting through fabric”

I thought it was way more painful than a tattoo but just grit your teeth and bare it kind of pain, not cry or moan type of pain.
I got it done in October 18, topped up in March 19 and it still looks the same.
I expected to have to top it up this year but so far no need.

A PP said it's less painful than a tattoo. Well, I have no tattoos and I certainly couldn't have any as I found it SO painful. Saying that, it's the best thing I've had done and I'm booked in again after 2/3 years for a top up. Such a time saver. I'm looking forward to seeing whether it still seems as painful after having given birth last year.

Also, agree with a PP re the sound it makes 😬

Definitely less painful that an ordinary tattoo. Mine did not last, which I was glad about. Uneven and very obvious looking.

Its a sickening type of scratching, pulling, stinging feeling.

Any recommendations in the East /South East as I'm interested and looking for someone able to do a natural look?
Thank you 😊