To microblade or not to microblade?

[Cultclassicnotbestseller]

I'm looking for any advice on what to do with my eyebrows. They're quite sparse, not terrible but I have to fill them in with a pencil most days and I'm not the best at doing it. I like the look of my brows when they've been laminated (after a day or two) but I find that even after I've had this done I still need to make time to brush them and fill in any gaps with a pencil every day. I also don't like the way the process can almost perm some of my eyebrow hairs. Ideally I'd like something where I don't have to touch my brows day to day but I'm not sure if this exists!

I was looking at microblading and have found a practitioner that looks really good, but I'm worried about the long term implications - I've heard that they might fade a different colour and can look progressively worse with each touch up. Is this an experience anyone else has had?

If you've had microblading done - what was your experience? Is it worth it or should I just commit to getting mine tinted and shaped every month and investing in a brow serum? Do any of them actually work?! Thanks if you've got this far!

I recommend you don’t get it done. It can look really hideous, and then you’re stuck with it. I’ve also seen influencers who’ve had it done, and even when it looks lovely and natural at first, after touch-ups it starts to look like it was applied with a permanent marker. Too risky.

Yes, this is what I was worried about... all the before and after photos looked so good on the website though!

Don’t do it, please! Speaking from experience - it’s a permanent tattoo. I had it done and I would say mine are okay after a couple of years but certainly not great and as PP said I am indeed stuck with them! I honestly didn’t realise how permanent the permanent makeup is - it’s sold as a temporary solution which is absolutely not true.

I am slowly eroding my micro blading with retinoids and acids and waiting till brown nuances fade completely to have them removed with either laser or salt.

It’s so frustrating - micro blading looked like the perfect solution when it came out, albeit pricey. Now there are so many horror stories.

Theres a real gap in the market for something better than pencils and drawing your brows in that is semi-permanent.

UK Lash brow serum has made a big difference to mine.

I used to have them tattooed but they've faded to a naff pinky colour.

I had my eyebrows microbladed about 7 years ago. I did my research and went to someone who did them really naturally. I didn’t get them done again after and they lasted for over a year.

Microblading is individual hair strokes so should never look blocky or like permanent marker brows, although there are some methods where this is more of a risk (like nanoshading where they use a shading technique rather than individual hair strokes).

I’m having mine done again this year and I’m looking forward to having them look done everyday without having to do anything!

Hi OP,

I had this done. Started beautiful but now left with faded smudges. Luckily not very dark so I can go over with pencil. I don’t know anyone whose eyebrows didn’t turn to block colour eventually. Expensive and not worth it.

I’ve had microblading, it looked natural, lasted about a year before I needed a top up and I was impressed, but, it was painful/uncomfortable and the session seemed to go on forever. They are literally scratching into your skin with a scalpel so even the best numbing cream couldnt over ride the discomfort. A few years on I now swear by Rapidbrow or Uk lash brow serum, use it everyday until you see growth and then a few times a week to maintain. Threading and regular diy home dye have worked well for me.

Mine are not block colour (yet!) - I can see individual strokes but only up close and they have faded so much (from ash brown till nearly inky grey) that I have to fill them in with a pencil anyway. The only worse thing I have ever done in my life was to start smoking 🚬!

I’ve been an ex-smoker for many years now so hopefully I can also get rid of my brows soon!

I had mine done over three years ago and they are still looking very natural just faded quite a bit. I went to someone who had an excellent reputation and I knew quite many women who had been her clients. Sadly she’s switched careers now and I’m nervous to try someone else.

When I say faded, I just mean my brows look very fair, not blocky. They are fine as it is but I need to use a pen if I want more definition.

I have not had mine microbladed but cannot recommend the Charlotte Tilbury mascara stuff for eyebrows highly enough, there are lots of colours so if you are fair it isn't too obvious.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I was wavering and I think this is what I needed to hear, I think I was taking it a bit lightly but as you say it's literally tattooing my face!!

I haven't seen anyone happy with their microblading long term.

Are you going back to the same person again? Can you see anything now on your brows or has it faded to nothing?

I hadn't even thought about the pain aspect stupidly! I will have a look at the serums, UK lash has been recommended a few times so will check it out. I tried The Ordinary's serum but I think it was too cheap to actually work!

Great tip, thanks! I will have a look.

That's good to know that yours still look good while fading! I think this is what I originally imagine would happen but then I started to hear bad experiences like pps have had.

I second the eyebrow mascara @Cultclassicnotbestseller My eyebrows are much thicker since I started taking a Vitamin D supplement. I had a blood test that showed I was deficient. Also just having a normal eyebrow tint helps.I haven’t seen anyone with micro-bladed eyebrows that look natural.

Had my eyebrows microbladed twice by an excellent practitioner and they have always looked completely natural. Faded naturally after two years, no blocky appearance. Had them redone in autumn and as last time I love them and had lots of compliments. Finding someone good is key I would imagine.

I was not keen on microblading but my practitioner does nano/ hair stroke brows. They are absolutely amazing, I top them up every twelve months and there is no colour change.

Yes (just posted) this is the type of stroke I have.

I’d say don’t do it! I went to a really reputable person and saw loads of reviews and their work. They looked good at first but faded very quickly and went blocky as the individual strokes merged much quicker than I was told they would. As I’m fair they still look ok in terms of colour as they were a very light brown but I can really see the fading (and don’t like it!) and I would never get them done again! Make up is best I think.
God knows if they will ever disappear!!!

I’d advise you to be cautious with serums as well. A lot of them (including UK lash) contain prostaglandin analogues which can cause darkening of the skin, localised fat loss, and dryness/irritation.

Don't do it. In a few years sparse eyebrows may very well be in fashion.

Oh yes it’s brilliant but go with an incredible professional - stalk their socials, look at their awards etc. I went to an artist. But some are utterly awful, sharpie types.