Eyebrows - should I have expected numbing cream for this?

[Paragon86]

Or am I being a wimp?

Recently had my brows digitally machined (similar to microblading).

I’m pleased with the result but on the first session the initial machining was done without numbing. The beautician then went over each brow again with more colour and I commented that on this second run it was a different feel (I meant far less painful). She said this was because the numbing cream can only work once skin is broken, but I’m wondering if it was because it had been given time to take effect. I’d been told the session would last 1.5 to 2 hours, I was out of there in 40 minutes. I was her last appointment and she was full of what she’d be doing with her free time for the rest of the day.

At the follow up session she went over each brow once with colour but no numbing cream, same pain as before. Basically felt like clumps of eyebrow were being ripped out the wrong way. My eyes were watering which she knew because she kept wiping them.

Everyone I speak to talks about numbing cream being applied and given 20/30 minutes to take effect before the procedure starts.

I paid £400. The beautician is high profile in this city. So, is it me, or is she getting too cocky with her fame and fortune to care?

When I had micro blading I had numbing cream and I waited 20-30 minutes before the treatment started - to give it time to work.

It was painful enough so I can’t imagine how awful that was for you.

£400 is a lot! Mind you, you’ve said you’re happy with the result, so that’s good.
Different people have different pain thresholds and cope differently - I find microblading quite uncomfortable, but I wouldn’t call the lady who does it “cocky”.
My eyes water too, and I get a bit sneezy, apparently that’s very common - which could explain why your therapist wasn’t too concerned and just wiped your eyes for you.

A non medical person will not be able to apply a prescription medication such as numbing cream to you. Council licensing can be strict about this.

Although I suppose you can purchase Elma cream and it apply it on yourself.

My microblading lady doesn't numb when doing the shape as she says it alters the texture of the skin which can sometimes make it swell and can affect how the pigment takes. She numbs to infill though.

When I had micro-blading I sat with cream on for 20 minutes, I was told that the numbing cream wasn't that great but she would apply a different liquid based one after the first pass and that one would work well, and it did, so maybe your beautician has just done away with the not great cream.

Same. I had digital machine (was yours Manchester way?) and they said it's because the skin has to be broken first

I'd say that's bollocks. It's because she couldn't be arsed to wait an extra half hour for the numbing cream to kick in.

I recently had mine tattooed (with someone very expensive!) and yes, the first pass is done without anaesthetic. I was numbed for the subsequent 3 or 4. I didn't find the first pass at all painful, it just felt a bit scratchy. Mine took over 2 hours in total.