Frequently Asked Questions

This is the process of infusing pigment into the skin to simulate the appearance of natural hair. It is considered a tattoo, and permanent makeup but it does fade over time. A touch up  is recommended every 1-2 years in order to keep the color fresh and shape precise. 

Microblading is meant to be a subtle natural enhancement, and to create fuller more beautiful brows. It looks most natural on clients who already have semi-full brow hair and are wanting to perfect their shape. The more hair you have, the more natural it will appear. Microblading heals best on young, healthy and dry/normal skin. Oily skin and mature/thin skin is not recommended for microblading. Results will not heal as well, or look as natural. If you are in this category, you would be a better candidate for ombré brows with shading. If you have “mature” skin, please send me pictures of your brows to determine if you are a good candidate for any permanent makeup procedures. 

The initial session takes about 2-2.5 hours total, depending on the service. This includes the consultation, taking before/after pictures, mapping the brows, numbing and the actual procedure. The 6-10 week touch up and annual appointments only take 1-1.5 hours. 

Topical 5% Lidocaine and secondary numbing are used to make you comfortable during your permanent cosmetic procedure, however pain tolerance varies for each client. Having the procedure done during your menstrual cycle may increase your sensitivity. 

You cannot receive microblading/PMU if you are: 

• Pregnant/breastfeeding
• Diagnosed with epilepsy or seizures
• Currently using Accutane or have used Accutane within the past 12 months
• Freshly tanned/sunburned face
• Taking blood thinning medications or antibiotics (Must be off antibiotics for at least 2 weeks before your appointment)
• Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, acne or irritation in the procedure area
• Currently undergoing cancer treatment (Must be off Chemo or Radiation for 6 months and get a Doctor’s approval)
• Sick/cold/Flu- if you are ill or have been in contact with someone who is ill, please reschedule your appointment.

If you show up to your appointment and have one of these conditions, I will not perform the procedure and you will charged for the full price of the service. 

If you have reference pictures of brows you like or how you fill them in, please feel free to bring these to your appointment. You can also come with your brows done so that I can see in person how you like to shape/color them. This will help me to have a better idea of what style, shape and color you prefer.

If you thread, wax and/or tint your brows, you will want to do so at least 72 hours before your appointment.

You must NOT use any Retin-A, Retinol, anti-aging or acne products around the brow area for at least 2 weeks before or after your appointments.

No Botox/wrinkle relaxers, fillers, chemical peels, microneedling, laser treatments, tanning beds, spray tans or anything of the like for at least 2 weeks prior to your appointment, and also 2-4 weeks after.

I will be taking many before/after pictures. You can wear whatever makeup you like- I want you to feel comfortable having your picture taken. I will be removing any foundation and eyeshadow around your brow area during your procedure, feel free to bring your makeup with you to touch it up before I take after pictures if you’d like.

Doing any of the following will cause excessive bleeding during your procedure and will hinder your final result:

• Do not exercise the day of your appointment.
• You should not take any medications that may thin your blood (i.e. Aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, fish oil, diet pills/fat burners, etc.) 72 hours before or immediately after your procedure.
• Do not drink alcohol within 24 hours of your procedure.
• Avoid caffeine for 12 hours before your procedure. (Caffeine increases blood pressure and will effect your healed results) 

Cosmetic tattooing is designed to fade over time. Factors such as skin type, lifestyle, age, metabolism, medications and pigment color affect the longevity of the tattoo.  The sun and some kinds of lighting (tanning beds) can affect the rate at which these pigments are broken down.  To take care of your brows, follow the aftercare instructions and have your annual touch up done every 10-18 months (as needed). Touch-ups are normal and expected for Permanent Cosmetics.

*Please note that final results vary and CANNOT be guaranteed due to the nature of skin as it heals. A follow-up appointment is recommended at 6-10 weeks, where we can assess your pigment retention and make any changes necessary. A second touch up (at an additional cost) may be needed for completed results, depending on your skin type and healing. 

• Oily Skin/larger pores: Increased oil production will cause hair strokes to blur and heal light/patchy. Combo or ombré brows are more suitable for this skin type.
• Smoking: The brows will heal very ashy, patchy and fade quickly. This service is not recommended if you use any type of nicotine or tobacco products.
• Anemia: Your body will absorb these pigments quickly and you may need a touch up sooner.
• Sun exposure: Increased exposure to the sun will cause premature fading. You will want to use a mineral SPF with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient on the brows once they are healed to prevent premature fading.
• Age and metabolism. The faster your metabolism, the faster the pigment will fade. If you are very active, you can expect your brows to not last as long.
• Bleeding during the procedure: Excessive bleeding during your procedure will greatly affect how your body retains pigment. While this is not entirely in our control, it is important that you follow before care instructions to help minimize bleeding. This includes avoiding blood thinning medications, alcohol, and caffeine 24 hours before your procedure. 

In the hours following your procedure your brows will appear much darker and bolder than it will heal due to oxidation in the surface layer of your skin. Your brows could also appear warmer in color. You may experience some redness or swelling around the treated area, this typically disappears within 48 hours. Around day 5-8 you may notice some flaking or light scabbing on the treated area, DO NOT PICK AT IT, doing so can result in loss of pigment in those areas. Brows may appear spotty or patchy until the entire brow has finished healing. You may notice that some areas may appear very light or even to have lost pigment entirely after they have peeled, the epidermis will be thicker causing muting, hiding or diffusing of pigment underneath. The epidermis will normalize over the next 4-6 weeks and softened pigment should appear more clearly on surface of the skin. At 4-6 weeks, your brows will be fully healed. Whatever pigment that does not return will be addressed at your touch up appointment. If you’d prefer darker, bolder brows we can always add more color or shading during that appointment! 

Yes! All Permanent Cosmetic procedures require 2 sessions. During your 6-10 week touch up, we can assess your pigment retention and make any adjustments needed. This touch up is also called the “perfecting visit” and it increases the longevity of your brows by adding additional strokes and pigment. 

I require that anyone who has previously tattooed/microbladed brows by another artist send me clear pictures in natural light and with no brow makeup on them before booking an appointment. After I see pictures, we can discuss if I am able to touch up/correct them, your options and schedule the correct service. Any client coming to me from a different artist is considered a new appointment at my full price for an initial session with a required 6-10 week touch up. Typically the previous work needs to be 80-90% completely faded, a symmetrical shape and no scarring for me to feel comfortable taking you as a client, being able to do my best work and give you beautiful results. I may suggest that you have sessions of removal done to lighten the pigment before moving forward with a cover up.