Warning about semi-permanent makeup, microblading, etc... (please read if you want to get it done)

[nomicroblading]

I made the mistake of getting microblading done. It's too late for me and I'm in the middle of laser removal process, but if I can help a few people it will not all be for nothing.

Was told by numerous PMU artists that it is not a tattoo, that it uses pigments not inks, not implemented deep into the epidermis, that it would fade away to nothing etc... etc...

The truth is microblading, micro-shading, lip blushing and the like are NOT semi-permanent. They will ALWAYS be on your skin.
They will fade, but they will fade into a merged blurred solid block of ashy/pink tattoo. They will never fade into nothing. Unless your PMU artist made a mistake and didn't put it in enough, which you would know because they would disappear in the healing process within a month, so not the case for 99% of people.

It won't fade nicely because grey and pink residues are just the way our bodies work.
Micro-blading is a tattoo, it's a tattoo that needs maintenance, you need to get the strokes drawn back on every year or so. And after four or five times, your skin will reject it and will stop taking and you will have no choice but to go through laser removal.

Lasers are not advanced enough today to get rid of yellows. Brown contains yellow and once you decide to get them removed, chances are you'll end up with permanent yellow eyebrows.

Please don't listen to PMU artists who tell you that people who got permanent eyebrows just didn't go to the proper place, that their PMU artist went too deep, the quality of the ink wasn't good enough, that it needs to be vegan or whatever. None of this is true. It doesn't matter how good your PMU artist is, this is just how our bodies get rid of these inks.

Stick to henna, tint and lamination instead. Please.

Thanks, OP, this is really useful. I won’t be going down that route after reading your post. Having said that, I don't think I’ve ever seen micro bladed brows that look natural.

If someone posts a picture of their eyebrows inviting comments 'fuckers', you can't really complain if you get an honest response.

Replace the word 'chav' with looking like Lauren Goodyear (sp) if it helps but that is what those large blade eyebrows look like. Its a certain type of reality TV look.

It's not a look I'd invest in and especially not for a tattoo but each to their own. If others like them, crack on.

Exactly this! I have alopecia and no brows at all..Microblading has given me back my brows! They have faded slightly after 18 months but still look fantastic.

I haven’t had my brows topped up for about 3/4 years and I always get compliments on them that they look lovely and natural!

I had a fairly full brow but wanted some definition and got a combination brow and really regret it.

My sister had over plucked brows and got a combo brow and loves them. So I think it's different for everyone.

I will say though that most of my friends and I have had lip filler and all of us regret it and some are getting it dissolved. I've only had a little so I'm letting mine go down naturally but several of my girlfriends lip filler has migrated out of their natural lip lines and it creates like a mustache effect. Never doing that again.

I have ombré brows and they’re amazing! I’m a huge fan of PMU!

Wow some really judgy people.. I too have had my brows done, they were one of the best decisions I have made.. also have lip blush and my lash line done too.. I must be a proper chav or just someone who wants to wake up and go in the morning with minimal effort!!

No regrets as lost eyebrows menopause. Happy to have permanent tattoos . Microblading is fantastic.

I think the pics posted look really good. It's not something that's ever crossed my mind really... But... Stupid question:

If you still have eyebrows, do they not grow back? Do you need to shave them or something?

Thanks, just wondering!

My friend has got eyebrows with a orangey tint from years of micro blading. The only way of covering the orange tint is with eyebrow make - up which was the whole reason why she got them done in the first place so she didn’t have to use make up every day. I wonder if it’s the quality of the ink or does this eventually happen to everyone?

It’ll happen to everyone, to some extent

I agree that it’s wrong to call this “semi” permanent

And I always thought that someone came up with a new name for it because if you called it what it is - a facial tattoo, people would think about it differently.

(I would never get it done, because fashions change)

@WetBandits Your eyebrows look good, I'm not sure what planet the person is on who said they are super thick and chavvy, they look natural. Some people just love to put others down I guess.

Thank you, I love them 😊 I was so self conscious about my thin eyebrows but these have given me a lot of confidence back about the way I look 🙂

I last had mine done in 2019. There is still
Some residual colour but it's the same colour it was in the first place, not orange or pink. I expect they will continue to fade this way. They look absolutely fine and you wouldn't know I'd had them done now.

Mine were tattooed though, not micro bladed. My practitioner is very very good and very expensive and she said she wouldn't touch micro blading (as in the process done with a blade by hand) as it is so easy to get wrong. She charges over £400 for the first visit and said to be wary of people charging much less, the equipment and training etc is worth paying for.

I suppose my point it that if you get them done properly by someone experienced and skilled, who's work you can see (and work at all stages, not just fresh), then it's much less likely to be a problem.

Agreed.

Lash line, powder brow and lip blush with dark pigment neutralisation. And, yes it's as expensive as it sounds.

It is 100% a tattoo. Its done mechanically with a tattoo gun/pen. It doesn't go as deep as micro blading.

Tou need to do alot of research and find the right. You get what you pay for. My artist won't work over microblading. She is known to turn away quite of bit work ot won't turn out optimal. She uses tints thay are compatible with your skin tone and explains tops ups and what happens to the dermal layers. She refuses robuse certain tints ie) blackest black because no matter the brand etc it always fades blue. She also advises on what colours are more prone to migrate. After care is essential.

I've been having mine done for the 6 years as well and I fucking love it. It's a subtle natural enhancement, using my skin tones as a pallet working with it. I won't be without it now.

Oh and lips can last up to 5 years and for all tattoos facial or not its best to keep them out of the sun, stay hydrated, moisturise and massage the area.

Because you've had a bad experience (which is ashame) please don't slate an entire industry. There a plenty of reputable and talented artists available and stat away from microblading it's pushed into the skin too deep and because it's done by hand it's hard to stay consistent with it.

Sorry about typos

Thank you. I was thinking of getting PMU and it did say on the website (not english) that it fades away. I won't do it now.

I don't know why people are nasty about your warning. I didn't know and much appreciate it. Better to make an informed choice.

I had semi permanent brows and you’re right, I’ve had them about six years now so not semi permanent at all 🤣. VERY luckily they look really good still. They’ve faded and I touch up with eye brow pencil but it takes me less than a minute now whereas beforehand it took me ages to draw on a shape each morning.

I didn't actually know this so thanks OP!

I had mine done in summer 2018 and they still look amazing.

Mine have faded to a horrible orangy colour so I always have to fill in over it with pencil. My technician is apparently one of the most sought after in the uk and australia, I did so much research... and they still faded to looking like crap! Not to mention how sore the procedure is, I've actually never felt pain like it and I've had 2 babies. So I'm not going back, orange toned brows it is... (luckily I'm a red head so it doesn't look too bad but I'm conscious of it)

Fuuuuck me, you’re a truly horrible person!!!! 🤣

I got mine done about 5 years ago, never got round to top ups. They probably lasted well for about 2 years. I have a very faint red/brown tinge which you can only see if you drag my eyebrows backwards and so far, nobody has done that to me. I’d get it done again if I had the time and money.

There a plenty of reputable and talented artists available and stat away from microblading it's pushed into the skin too deep and because it's done by hand it's hard to stay consistent with it.

Are you saying stay away from micro blading? @OneMoreCookieMonster, why is that ok but not what the OP is saying?