Years of over-plucking to achieve the sort of pencil-thin eyebrows that were in style for what seemed like decades resulted in… overly styled, anemic brows.
No real surprise there, but now that bushy brows and thick arches are back with a vengeance — thanks to the likes, looks and locks of Lily Collins, Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, Cara Delevingne and more — many of us are hoping for a do-over.
So what are our options? Penciling is exhausting and the chances of smudging are pretty high. Tattooing or permanent makeup is, well, permanent, and as we know, styles change. Enter the latest craze: microblading. It falls somewhere in-between and is being offered everywhere from med spas to plastic surgeons’ offices. It was even dubbed the procedure of 2017 by one of the hottest online beauty sites in the biz, Byrdie.com.
What Does the Microblading Procedure Involve?
During Microblading, pigment (the application of which resembles eyebrow hairs) is implanted beneath your skin by an expert using a handheld tool. Microblading differs from traditional tattooing in that the pigments are not placed as deep, which keeps the ink from “bleeding.” The process takes around two hours to complete, but results can last up to three years. (Touch-ups may be needed down the road.)
Experts say microblading is great for people with no, sparse, or uneven eyebrows, or really anyone seeking to enhance theirs. After treatment the brow area will be slightly red and the pigment color will appear very dark at first. Some slight scabbing also may occur. It can take up to two weeks to heal, with the full color developing in about a month, on average.
Microblading isn’t the only eyelash enhancement game in town. Eyebrow transplants are an option — albeit a pricey one that does involve some downtime. Some people also see benefits from off-label use of Latisse (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03%, the very same drug used to lengthen eyelashes.
Concerned about your brows or lack therof? Check in with a facial plastic surgeon to see what options may work for you. Find one now http://www.facialrejuvenationsurgeons.com