Microblading - please give me your advice and tips before I go for it!

[tigerbear]

Just that, really.
I’ve chosen someone to go it, and her instagram pictures of clients look good, although she hasn’t been qualified that long (about 9 months)
90% sure that I’m going to have it done, so from people who’ve had it - what’s your advice?
My biggest concern is the healing process - I’m scared of having to go out and about afterwards with massive slug brows that are flaky and scabby (although the therapist assured me they shouldn’t be too bad with correct aftercare).

Here's mine. Excuse the psycho stare, I was trying to see if they were even lol. They took five treatments over about 3 months and in the days after each treatment were horrid and scabby so I kept them moist with bepanthen. Unfortunately, I do have to pencil them every day, I seem to reject the ink very quickly, but at least I have a clear guide for pencilling.

Have you ever had them tinted, OP? Deoendkng on the current thickness and shape of your brows you might find that's a good compromise. If it's not far enough for you, as it were, then you could have them tinted and fill any patches in with something like Boy Brow or the Rimmel equivalent to get them exactly as you'd like then take a photo for the microblading salon?

AnduinsGirl 5 treatments over 3 months??? Why? The normal protocol is one first session and then a top up session 4-6 weeks later. Why FIVE session?

It hurt more than I was expecting, and I had tight, itchy eyebrows for weeks afterwards. I've got oily skin and the pigment has faded significantly. But, they look miles better than they did before I had them done. Here they are after the first appointment. Brush stroke technique.

Here they were about a week later. Completely faded (apparently due to my oily skin)

And here they are now, 6months later. I had a colour touch up. The pigment has faded again but my eyebrows now have a lovely shape and can easily be filled in. I had little to no eyebrow before the microblading. I will be getting them touched up again.

Mine

Thanks so much for all the pictures everyone, much appreciated. Really interesting to hear about all your experiences.
@Laquila i already draw my brows on with a semi permanent brow pen, so the consultant can see the kind of look and thickness I’d like.

@MrsPworkingmummy I also have really oily skin in the t-zone, so suspect I’ll have some fading.

How did everyone cope with not getting the brows wet for 10 days after/hair washing etc?

I looked into it. A couple of friends have had it done with mixed results. One of them has an iron deficiency, which effected how the pigment was absorbed, leaving her with a dull grey colour, instead of brown. Her practitioner didn't tell her this beforehand. She was told it would fade after 18 months, but it's still there 3 years later.

When it goes bad it goes SPECTACULARLY bad. It's very difficult to fully remove. It's a tattoo: www.realself.com/review/removal-bad-microblading

If I were doing it, I'd pay top dollar and go with the most experienced expert I could find.

I would research it a bit more and go with someone who has been recommended and has been practicing a lot longer. I had mine done 3 times before I found someone fabulous and now wouldn't go to anyone else. What area are you in?

@BorneoBabe and @mrsjackrussell oh no, you’ve given me The Fear! 😬🤣
I’m in SE London

The first time I had them done was one of the worst decisions of my life, they were terrible and the person doing them had no fucking clue what they were doing.
I then went to someone who removed her work (with saline injection) and did it again much better this time so it all worked out but my natural eyebrows were wonky anyway from over plucking in my youth so it was worth the gamble. I'm pleased with them now but if my natural brows had been better I'd have left well alone.

I have oily skin so my practicioner said she does not recommend microblading, because it would fade too quickly. Mine are tattoo brows in powder techique - I think it's called ombre as well? Very happy with them. Had a little touch up 6 months later as I wanted to adjust the shape a little, but otherwise very happy. Oh and didn't hurt at all, no bleeding or anything.

I have the powder brows too! Love them. Makes me look so much better. I wouldn't like the micro blading as I prefer the filled in look. Preference I guess.

MrsPerfect12

Where did you get them done ?

Here’s my before and after. I went to someone who had only recently qualified because she was recommended by a professional MUA I know. The MUA had been to her and was delighted with the results as was I. I’ll have them topped up soon.

@tigerbear Oh no sorry not my intention. The lady I go to is in South Essex.

I had my eyebrows microbladed on 3 years ago, as I lost mine due to stress induced alopecia.

They are a complete game changer and stopped me from looking like an alien!👽

Thanks for your advice and input for everyone who has posted, it’s so helpful.
I think the only thing putting me off now is deciding when would be the best time to do it, and worrying that I won’t be able to exercise for 10 days after (I’m on a strict plan with a personal trainer as I’m getting married soon)

My advice is don’t do it!! Sorry...

Re the not washing your face, I'm not going to lie it's tough. Face wipes are your friend for the first ten days. I washed my hair immediately before microblading and then had a wash and blow dry twice a week for the next two weeks but I'm lucky in that my hairdresser only charges £12 for a blow dry and I figured it was worth it to protect my brows. You can wash your face as normal once your scabs have come off.

But yeah, stock up on face wipes and dry shampoo.

Thought this would also be a helpful picture to share. The top photos are 15 months after my first lot of microblading, and the bottom pictures are following a top up. I have combination skin, but I didn't think mine faded too badly.

inherdefence they look bloody miraculous. I'm totally deceived they're totally natural looking, you're lucky to have found someone who does them so well.

@ReginaGeorgeous yours look fab, this is def the look I’m going for, where you can see actual individual line strokes as opposed to a very filled in look.