Eyebrows are a very important part of our face for science, beauty, and aesthetics. Factors such as brow shape, fullness, and symmetry balance the face, highlight the eyes, and gently wrap the upper part of the face. Because of this, many of them put more effort into ensuring their brows are always flexible and effortless, 24/7. In recent years, a cosmetic tattoo technique has become increasingly popular among men and women who want to achieve this goal. That’s microblading.
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What is microblading?
Microblading is a beautician’s method to achieve natural, full eyebrows. After applying the anesthetic cream, a small incision is made in the eyebrows, like natural hair. These incisions are filled with pigment. Microblading is relatively painless due to the pre-applied anesthetic cream and the shallow cut of the microblade.
There should be little or no bleeding. A minimal amount of pigment is used, allowing the color to stay at the incision site without bleeding. Microblading fades over time, and microblading results can last 1-2 years. However, patients can prolong the results longer with regular maintenance procedures.
What is an eyebrow tattoo?
Microblading and eyebrow tattooing are two concepts that are often confused, and there are significant differences between these two procedures. Eyebrow tattooing is a permanent feature that manually and mechanically injects ink into the dermis, and there are 3 main types.
Feather Brow: As the name suggests, a feathered brow is a cosmetic tattoo that mimics hair’s natural shape, like microblading. This technique creates “thick, full brows that look even, soft and beautifully arched,” although the lines aren’t as subtle or sharp as microplastic brows.
Soft or Powder Brows – Soft makeup is generally recommended for people with oily and mature skin, as it gives a silky feel. Usually, the tail is darker and the upper part of the eyebrows lighter, giving a subtle impression.
Hard or crisp eyebrows: These are the typical tattooed eyebrows, recognized by sharp, defined lines that look like permanent versions of eyebrow pencils or markers.
Microblading vs eyebrow tattooing
When considering which suits you, it’s helpful to understand the differences between these two eyebrow enhancement techniques.
Permanent and temporary
For many people, the main difference between microblading and eyebrow tattooing is the durability of the results they provide. Eyebrow tattoos are permanent, and when tattooed on the skin, it lasts a lifetime. Eyebrow tattoos stay forever unless they are removed through a tattoo removal procedure.
Microblading is very different from microblading, where results usually last 6 months to a year. Because the pigment doesn’t penetrate as deeply, the skin cells turn over and disappear naturally. If microblading patients want to maintain their enhanced brows, they can have a simple “tweak” procedure every year. The semi-permanent nature of microblade allows patients to change their brow shape as trends and styles change.
Microblade Pigment vs Tattoo Ink
Microblading pigments are available in organic or inorganic varieties in various colors. As the microblade ink fades, it becomes lighter but retains its color. Microblading pigments are specially formulated to be brighter versions of the colors used to give patients a natural look. So the result will remain natural until it disappears completely.
Tattoo inks are used for eyebrow tattoos, while microblading uses special pigments. Inks are very different from pigments, which fade over time. Tattoo ink fading often results in a turquoise tint, especially around the edges of the tattoo. Black tattoo ink is notorious for turning blue or green because the red pigment that keeps it dark wears off faster. These people often have oddly colored eyebrows that look like they were painted on with a Sharpie, which can lead to unnatural eyebrows.
Blading vs Needling
Microblading is performed with hand tools that cut only the top layer of the skin. It is much less painful than a tattoo and causes less damage to the skin and a faster recovery. Also, because less pigment is needed, the color does not “bleed” into adjacent skin cells. Tattoos are made with machines that penetrate deep into the skin and usually make tattoos more painful than microblading. The depth of the hole causes the color to “bleed” into the medium using more ink than necessary. Recovery time is also longer as the skin has to heal from deep needling.
Fine lines vs filled brows
Experienced microblading artists are adept at drawing fine lines that mimic each eyebrow hair’s natural shape and form. This line blends with natural brows to create an almost indistinguishable look from the real thing. Even the most experienced tattoo artist finds it difficult to create fine microblading lines with tattoo needles, and tattoos differ. Tattoo Eyebrows are thicker than natural brows and look like brow fillers.
Natural-looking Outcome
Microblading offers a more natural result than eyebrow tattoos, making the brows appear “raised” and look smoother. It is because microblading technology creates individual hair movements that mimic the hair growth pattern around the eyebrows. An excellent microblading technician can make the treated area look like a dense version of natural eyebrow hair.
pain
Tattooing can be relatively painful, especially tattooing on sensitive areas like your face. Microblading technology minimizes discomfort, especially if the eyebrow area is numbed with lidocaine before treatment. Most patients describe microblading as feeling like a tweezer.
Final verdict
Choosing an eyebrow tattoo or microblading is a matter of personal preference. However, we hope that the information provided in this guide is enough to make your choice much easier.
