What is Permanent Make Up?
There are a lot of ways to get your brows done these days, and lots of names for the same procedures can be confusing. I'll break down the top three brow techniques that are most requested by clients.
Microblading is a type of permanent makeup that creates the most natural looking brows. We will create tiny, paper-cut like scratches on the skin and apply pigment to create the illusion of hair strokes on the brow. This technique is perfect for a natural everyday brow and gives you a template to fill in when you prefer a bolder look.
Ombre/Powder/Shaded brows are different from microblading because they create a powdery shade of color, rather than a hair stroke pattern. This technique is for women that don't want to fill in their brow, as this technique creates the illusion that you always have a bit of makeup on. They are very bold at first and will fade 30-40%.
Combo brows are a combination of the two. It is still natural with the hair stroke pattern, but dense enough to not have to fill in your brows. Its the happy medium!
First, you must make sure you are a good candidate for permanent makeup. The best way to do this is with a phone consultation. Please text a few clear pictures of your brows without make up to (813) 444-3204 with your full name, email address and the procedure you'd like.
How long does it take and what is included?
We start the appointment with a short consult to make sure we are both on the same page about your brows. Then we spend 30-60 minutes mapping your brows to find a shape you love. Once the shape is confirmed, you will numb for 20 minutes. Once you are relaxed and numb, we dive into the actual procedure. All together the appointment can last for 2.5-3.5 hours. The touch up 4-6 weeks later shouldn’t take more than an hour.
A touch up is included for all brow procedures. Touch ups are extremely important to the longevity of the brow because it almost always takes two sessions to make perfect the shape and color. The touch up will be done 4-6 weeks after the initial procedure to let the brows completely heal. If you miss that time frame, you will be charged for the 3-6 month touch up.
How long do they last?
Many artists claim that microblading is semi-permanent, however no one can make that claim. If you stop getting touch ups, your microblading will mostly likely leave some sort of smudge or stain on the skin. microblading is referred to as "semi-permanent" because it does fade considerably and need touch ups annually to keep the brows crisp and dark. Oily skin types will need more frequent touch ups as well as clients that spend a lot of time in the sun, as the sun tends to bleach out the brows. Avoid chemical peels, retinol, anti-aging creams, and other harsh treatments to prevent the brows from fading prematurely.
Am I a candidate for Microblading?
Healthy, clear, and dry type skin is ideal for microblading and shading. If the skin is not healthy, it will not heal well and not take pigment correctly. Skin with acne, rosacea, keloids, scars, and previous tattoos need a consult to determine if you are a candidate. Oily skin types with large pores are rarely a candidate for microblading and are better suited for ombre or shading. Pregnant or nursing need to wait before having the procedure. The numbing creams used can leach chemicals into your system that has unknown effects to your baby. Chemotherapy patients need to be off chemo and radiation before having the procedure. Clients with alopecia are welcome to have the procedure at any stage of their hair loss.
I already have my brows done, can I come to you for a touch up?
The simple answer is, it depends. A lot of artists do not touch up work from another artist simply because it isn't a "touch up", it is a correction. Many different styles could have been used on your brows, along with brands of pigments that I'm not familiar with. The problem with that is I may not know how to color correct the pigments that have been used and you may need more than one session to correct the previous work. Moreover, if I decide to touch you up that means I have responsibility over how your brows will turn out and if the previous pigment ever turns a strange color over time (pink, red, orange, green) I will be held liable. Also many times there are tweaks that need to be made to the shape so I need to do a full brow mapping on you before we get started. A lot of the time it can take 2-3 hours to "touch up" other artists work, that doesn't mean its impossible, but it does mean you'll be charged accordingly for the new artists time and effort.
Who is a good candidate?
general good health
no severe acne
no botox or facial within 2 weeks
no sunburn
no accutane
not pregnant or nursing
no cancer, diabetes, autoimmune
no bloodthinners
no alcohol the night before
no recent brow tint or lamination
What is the Healing Process?
You can read through the following instructions to ensure the brows heal as well as possible.
Day 1- Gently press the brows with the provided tissue every few minutes on your way home. Wipe your brows with a damp cotton round, press dry, then and apply a THIN layer of aftercare ointment to the brow. This should be no more than a rice grain size. Do this once an hour for the rest of the day. This will prevent the formation of scabs.
Day 2-7- Gently cleanse your brows with the provided cleanser, press dry, then apply a rice grain size of ointment to the brows. This should be the only contact with water they will have for the day. You can apply another rice grain size of ointment if they are feeling tight or dry in the afternoon.
no long steamy showers
no exercise
no sweating
no direct sun
no picking or itching
no pools, oceans, saunas, hot tubs
no facials or skin treatments
no products other than the ones you're provided
no brow makeup of any kind during healing
