Those who already have some eyebrow hair and just want a lil fill-in or enhancement to their natural brows can get a very natural look with microblading, says Capparelli. However, microblading might not be good for someone with lots of natural eyebrow hair, because all it will do is make your brows look fuller, not brushed up or groomed (only a brow gel or brow lamination can do that). What is the downside of microblading? You’ll also need to skip anything that could have a thinning effect on your blood, so avoid taking aspirin or vitamin E for 48 hours before your appointment, and skip drinking any caffeine or coffee the day of. Not only that, but if you're on antibiotics, you'll need to wait 14 days after your final dose before getting microblading, as antibiotics can make the pigment change color while healing. Generally speaking, no, microblading won’t ruin your eyebrows, as long as your artist uses proper techniques—i.e., not tattooing too deep into your skin and creating accidental scar tissue, which “can damage the hair follicle,” says Capparelli, and in rare cases, prevent new hair growth. Dr. Evans also notes that, although very uncommon, it’s also possible to have an allergic reaction to the dye that could cause a rash or an infection, which—if severe enough and left untreated—could affect your hair growth in the future. And, unfortunately, microblading can take anywhere from 1-3 years to fade on its own, so if you’re someone who tends to adapt your makeup to current trends, you might want to reconsider microblading, or instead opt for a really soft, natural brow that you can still fill in and change up whenever you want. How painful is eyebrow microblading?

Then you may not be a great candidate at the moment, since microblading will initially cause some inflammation that can exacerbate skin conditions and affect your tattoo’s healing process. Similarly, oil can make microblading fade faster, so you’ll get less time with your microbladed brows if your skin is very oily.Microblading is a type of tattoo, but it’s not permanent like a true tattoo. Not only do the two use different “inks”—traditional tattoos use concentrated tattoo ink, while cosmetic tattoos use smaller pigment particles—but they’re also applied differently. With microblading, the pigment is applied superficially to your skin (so your body eventually metabolizes it until it fades away), rather than placed into your skin’s deeper layers (where it becomes permanent). Tip: Avoid showering or sweating six hours after applying, and wear loose clothing to bed on the first night to prevent the tattoo from imprinting on another part of your body or your bedsheets.

Because of the pigment used and the way it’s applied to the skin, microblading produces a semi-permanent “tattoo” that looks soft and subtle, instead of opaque and bright as with traditional tattoos. Over time, the pigment on your brows will also lighten a shade or two from its original color, whereas a tattoo on your body can have a blue-green tint on the edges when it starts to fade. Who is a good candidate for microblading? Before your microblading appointment, reach out to your studio and ask how to prepare ahead of time, as each artist can have different guidelines. Capparelli, for example, asks clients to not groom their brows for 6-8 weeks so she can do a full reshaping along with microblading. You should also stop using retinol, chemical exfoliants, and physical exfoliators at least one week before microblading, since they can make your skin extra sensitive. Alixandria Capparelli is a brow artist in Orange County, CA. She is the founder of Hairy Little Things, a semi-permanent makeup studio for microblading, nanoblading, lip blushing, and brow shaping in California. She’s worked with celebrities like Paris Hilton, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Robin Roberts. In my opinion, design is the most important decision to make when considering the best temporary tattoos. Do you think it’s cool? It’s going on your body, so you’d better. If you’re purchasing a tattoo set, you’ll need to like a few to make it worth it. Because some temporary tattoo brands like Inkbox and Momentary Ink offer mostly single designs, you’ve got to really love it before you buy. How long it lasts Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with four years of experience researching, writing, and editing skincare and makeup stories that range from the best magnetic eyelashes to under-eye bag treatments. She’s an authority in all makeup categories but is an expert when it comes to microblading after years of researching and trying it out herself. She regularly tests and analyzes makeup products and treatments for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top makeup artists and dermatologists to assess new formulas and brands.So, unless you have a reaction, you shouldn’t worry too much about your eyebrows being negatively affected by microblading. In fact, microblading may even help your hair growth, because the “little micro-trauma to the brows brings fresh blood to the area and stimulates lymphatic fluid, which can encourage the hair follicle to potentially help support some hair growth,” says Caparelli. How do I prepare for a microblading appointment? Size matters when it comes to temporary tattoos. Several brands offer tiny, delicate tattoos that are less noticeable at first glance. Some are much larger, which is something to consider if your workplace is a factor, for instance. Sets are great for variety and sharing with friends. How To Care For Your Temporary Tattoo Microblading can be somewhat painful, but the level of pain you may feel will depend on your own natural pain tolerance. The upside? Your brow artist will slather on a numbing gel before they begin, and may also add an extra layer of gel between each pass. Microblading can be great for those with thin, sparse brows to get some definition and fullness, but Capparelli warns it might not look as natural as someone who does have hair behind the draw-on strokes. But if you’re worried about your microbladed brows looking too drawn-on, your brow artist can add shading behind the hair-like strokes so the empty spaces between the strokes isn’t so noticeable.

As for showering, avoid exfoliating the tattoo and surrounding skin. Once you get out of the shower, pat the tattoo dry with a towel, don’t rub. You want to keep the tattoo in as pristine condition as possible. Microblading aftercare is very important if you want a good result, says Capparelli. Every artist is a bit different, but in general, you shouldn’t sweat heavily, get your eyebrows wet, or be in the sun for seven days after getting microblading. Basically, now’s the time to hit pause on your workouts. If you’re, like, a professional athlete and you absolutely need to work out, Aava highly recommends covering your brows with antibiotic ointment first to protect the pigment and keep the cuts clean and bacteria free. Tracy Evans, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in San Francisco, CA. She is also the medical director of Pacific Skin and Cosmetic Dermatology, and she has expertise in melasma, non-surgical skin tightening, and laser treatments. Easy To Remove: The colour can be removed with an oil-based makeup remover. The pen will not work well with oily skin.

But in general, Capparelli (and many others) likens the pain of microblading to a cat scratch, noting that “on a scale of tweezing your brows to getting a bikini wax, microblading is more like tweezing your brows.” Basically, expect the pain to be a little uncomfortable, but not unbearable. How long does microblading last? Brooke Shunatona was the senior beauty editor at Cosmopolitan for nearly five years and has eight years of experience writing about beauty and lifestyle across print and digital, including the best mascaras and castor oil for eyelash growth.