The new brow trend that’s taken the world by storm, microblading is a refined practice that’s growing in popularity. Combining pigments of ink and a small blade, the practitioner carrying out the work makes small incisions with the aim of creating a subtle look. If you’re intrigued, now's the time to learn how beauty blogger Amy Lawrenson felt her experience went.

Why microblading?

Microbladinginvolves applying permanent makeup to create the perfect brow, without tattooing. Each swipe of the pigment-delivering blade moves in the direction of your hairs, allowing for a natural look. The results usually last up to one year, although sometimes they’re permanent.

A natural look that’s not for everyone

Unlike eyebrow tattooing, microblading delivers a natural look. The aim is to create a fuller-looking brow, without going against its usual contour. Skilled technicians usually deliver realistic results but their ability to do so depends on the brow hairs that are already there.

As beauty blogger Amy found, most technicians will assess your eyebrows on a case by case basis. If they feel as though microblading won’t work for you, they may recommend using a tattoo needle instead. Alternatively, if you already have a lot of hairs in place, tinting may work. However, it’s worth knowing that tinting will only change the color of existing hairs – it won’t change the shape of your brows or make them look fuller.

How does microblading work?

As the device used for microblading introduces lots of small wounds, many technicians will use a local anesthetic in the form of a numbing cream. At Amy's appointment, her eyebrow technician chose a pigment color, placed it onto the blade, and began working on her eyebrows.

To achieve a natural look, the technician moved the blade along the curve of her eyebrows. The aim was to make each pigment application resemble a hair stroke. The technician then allowed the pigment to sink into the skin, giving it a chance to set.

According to Amy, your appointment could last anywhere between 45 minutes and two hours. You may need a retouch appointment around 4-12 weeks later. Retouch appointments don’t usually last as long.

Preparing for your appointment

Some people choose to shape their brows before the microblading takes place. Doing so isn’t necessary, and if you choose to shape your brows first you should always discuss them with the person carrying out your microblading. Otherwise, you can just trust that your technician will remove any messy looking hairs to create the best results.

Finally, always make sure you use a technician who’s received adequate training. When you’re in the right hands, you’ll benefit from stunning results.