POSTED UNDER Microblading Reviews
Microblading of Eyebrows...surprised by journey. Worth it! Bay Area, CA
UPDATED FROM chocolatesmile
1 month post
Fully healed brows before touch-up (sorry out of order)
WORTH IT$450
I wanted to add a picture of exactly what my initial healed brows looked like before the touch-up.
My artist texted me before my touch up appointment to inquire about if I was happy with the color. I was happy with the color, and this is the photo I texted her that day.
It's interesting just how much the color changes throughout a month. It gets super dark, scabs, peels, leaves light patches inkless or your skin which may appear scarred when it's really not. Some of us also flake like crazy with dry skin...
I too thought that a scar was forming in my brow, however it went through the healing process & I realized it was simply a top thin layer of flaking skin, not the skin that would actually remain.
The inner part of my left brow peeled quickly early on (both times). Underneath it looked inkless. However, if you notice in this photo...that once inkless looking area actually does have color...
The color will rise to the top again as described. Isn't that amazing?!
This is a huge example of why not to assume things early on. If I went into full panic mode within the first two weeks, I may have, like many others on this site, attempted to lighten them myself. I've read comments on this site from people telling others that they're brows were done wrong, simply because their healing is different. We all have different skin & a trained artist will recognize that and tweak their technique from person-to-person. It's not a one-size-fits-all model. Some people may have fushion or shading added because of their skin type or lack of brow hair. Wait for your own personal results, please!
As the artists would tell us "Trust the process."
:-)
My artist texted me before my touch up appointment to inquire about if I was happy with the color. I was happy with the color, and this is the photo I texted her that day.
It's interesting just how much the color changes throughout a month. It gets super dark, scabs, peels, leaves light patches inkless or your skin which may appear scarred when it's really not. Some of us also flake like crazy with dry skin...
I too thought that a scar was forming in my brow, however it went through the healing process & I realized it was simply a top thin layer of flaking skin, not the skin that would actually remain.
The inner part of my left brow peeled quickly early on (both times). Underneath it looked inkless. However, if you notice in this photo...that once inkless looking area actually does have color...
The color will rise to the top again as described. Isn't that amazing?!
This is a huge example of why not to assume things early on. If I went into full panic mode within the first two weeks, I may have, like many others on this site, attempted to lighten them myself. I've read comments on this site from people telling others that they're brows were done wrong, simply because their healing is different. We all have different skin & a trained artist will recognize that and tweak their technique from person-to-person. It's not a one-size-fits-all model. Some people may have fushion or shading added because of their skin type or lack of brow hair. Wait for your own personal results, please!
As the artists would tell us "Trust the process."
:-)
UPDATED FROM chocolatesmile
1 month post
Touch up healing
I immediately went to work the next day after my touch up & people noticed them quickly. Even though they were dark everyone complimented the shape which made me feel great after almost not going to that appointment again.
Today is Day 9 post touch-up. I'm writing this review because I hope that it helps others to be encouraged and know that they are not alone. Look at my photos of the process, the process is hard, it's not pretty at all. For some of us it's even harder! People need to really know that and understand that before going into it...I didn't.
I still scabbed & peeled after my touch up, but nothing like the first go around since I switched to an ointment healing. I'm almost peel free today on Day 9 (Friday) & I think by the time I go to work on Monday I'll feel like I have great brows. This is even before the color sets in & I'm pleased. So 3 rough weeks for my initial healing vs. 1 rough week for my touch-up healing...
I can't wait to wash my entire face in the shower! I also desperately need a face mask with some exfoliating...patience, patience, patience.
Would I do it again?
Highly likely, but with a different artist. I want to be numbed more...there's no reason to feel that much darn pain (just my opinion). So I need someone with some strong topical numbing gel or someone who will just numb me with a shot- I have no time to play around with pain while other folks say all they felt was a pinch.
My artist works in a local spa...I had already gotten facials there. They also do microblading on lips, eyeliner tattoos, Botox, facials, etc. She had prior experience and her training is Phi Brows.
That's all for now. I'll try to give another update in 2 weeks, then again in one month. Hope this information really does help someone. Cheers to microblading eyebrows:-)
Today is Day 9 post touch-up. I'm writing this review because I hope that it helps others to be encouraged and know that they are not alone. Look at my photos of the process, the process is hard, it's not pretty at all. For some of us it's even harder! People need to really know that and understand that before going into it...I didn't.
I still scabbed & peeled after my touch up, but nothing like the first go around since I switched to an ointment healing. I'm almost peel free today on Day 9 (Friday) & I think by the time I go to work on Monday I'll feel like I have great brows. This is even before the color sets in & I'm pleased. So 3 rough weeks for my initial healing vs. 1 rough week for my touch-up healing...
I can't wait to wash my entire face in the shower! I also desperately need a face mask with some exfoliating...patience, patience, patience.
Would I do it again?
Highly likely, but with a different artist. I want to be numbed more...there's no reason to feel that much darn pain (just my opinion). So I need someone with some strong topical numbing gel or someone who will just numb me with a shot- I have no time to play around with pain while other folks say all they felt was a pinch.
My artist works in a local spa...I had already gotten facials there. They also do microblading on lips, eyeliner tattoos, Botox, facials, etc. She had prior experience and her training is Phi Brows.
That's all for now. I'll try to give another update in 2 weeks, then again in one month. Hope this information really does help someone. Cheers to microblading eyebrows:-)
Replies (3)
Thanks so much for documenting your journey so completely. It's a big help to know what to prepare for in terms of pain and time. Your brows look fantastic!
You're Welcome! I really hoped that my review would help others out. When I was searching out information everything out there tended to sound the same, either positive or negative...no real in between with documentation. Microblading is so worth it! You just have to be prepared Mentally.
Wow . . . your detailed explanations are so helpful. I really appreciate how you explained the healing process, especially the touch-up as I haven't been able to find much info. on the this part. You must be so pleased with the end result . . . your brows look wonderful.
Yes, I agree that there's not enough info out there regarding touch-ups. All I've ever found was people showing their "immediately after" pic of the touch-up which is not helpful. I guess if you have less hair stokes microbladed then you might end up looking like your "immediately after" photo, but if you have more strokes placed there's going to be tons of healing involved thus changing the appearance from the "after" photo.
I can't even find a photo of someone showing what it looks like a year after...
Best review I've read! So helpful and informative because you tried both a wet and dry healing process. I love the way your brows turned out by the way. I pray mine turn out more like yours after my touch up. So nice to see this done on someone with my skin tone. :0)
UPDATED FROM chocolatesmile
1 month post
Touch Up - 5 days
Like a crazy person I went back for the touch up. In my mind I convinced myself that the healing process would be better the second time around, even though I was unable to locate pictures online to verify this claim. I also was hoping that my artist would only go over the empty light spots, not my entire brows...of course I was wrong.
The procedure hurt way more than the second time...maybe because I wasn't as excited as the first time? In any case, I had the numbing gel on longer than the first time & it still hurt like H-E double hockey sticks during the first pass. My artist said that I have a low pain tolerance, but I disagree. I have regular tattoos, piercings and have given birth to three children...I simply was not numbed for the first pass. I'd appreciate an injection of some sort similar to a dentist numbing you.
I was told that I retained an average amount of ink so I'm glad that I survived the dry healing.
Changes for touch up:
1. Going to do an ointment healing along with coconut oil beginning day 1.
2. Will sleep with bandages on the tails because I'm a side sleeper & I need to rest at night instead of worrying about lying on my back. I lost my tail first the last time.
3. Will try to shade my brows from the sun, but I'm not hiding under hats every time I'm outside like the last time. I began to miss the sun.
4. I'm going to use a bit of more force when applying the ointment to really soften any scabs.
5. Allowing more hair in my face in order to camouflage harsh angry bird look vs. pulling hair back.
Check out the photos of this part of my journey. I never penciled anything in throughout this entire process & I don't tend to wear makeup.
The procedure hurt way more than the second time...maybe because I wasn't as excited as the first time? In any case, I had the numbing gel on longer than the first time & it still hurt like H-E double hockey sticks during the first pass. My artist said that I have a low pain tolerance, but I disagree. I have regular tattoos, piercings and have given birth to three children...I simply was not numbed for the first pass. I'd appreciate an injection of some sort similar to a dentist numbing you.
I was told that I retained an average amount of ink so I'm glad that I survived the dry healing.
Changes for touch up:
1. Going to do an ointment healing along with coconut oil beginning day 1.
2. Will sleep with bandages on the tails because I'm a side sleeper & I need to rest at night instead of worrying about lying on my back. I lost my tail first the last time.
3. Will try to shade my brows from the sun, but I'm not hiding under hats every time I'm outside like the last time. I began to miss the sun.
4. I'm going to use a bit of more force when applying the ointment to really soften any scabs.
5. Allowing more hair in my face in order to camouflage harsh angry bird look vs. pulling hair back.
Check out the photos of this part of my journey. I never penciled anything in throughout this entire process & I don't tend to wear makeup.
Replies (5)