Nowadays, there is such a big amount of different eyebrow trends that it is hard to stay on track of which one is which. Especially when all of them start with the word “micro”, they appear to be all the same! But don’t worry, microblading, microfeathering, and microshading are different and have their purpose, depending on what look you’re going for. Keep reading to see the breakdown of all three techniques, and which one is right for you!
Microblading eyebrows
Who is it Best For?
Microblading eyebrows is best for anyone who wants to achieve a full, natural looking brow which will last a long time.
What is Microblading? Microblading is a technique where a licensed tech uses a pen with 10-15 needles to put pigment onto the skin. This method uses ultra-precise strokes to form brow hair-like lines that look very natural. Your artist will apply numbing cream to the area so that you don’t feel any pain during the appointment. The whole process takes about an hour and a half from start to finish!
What you Should Know
If you’re looking to get your eyebrows microbladed professionally, the appointment can cost you anywhere from $750-$1,000. We know that may seem a little pricey, but keep in mind microblading lasts 8-12 months depending on your skin type. It’s important to not exercise, be in direct sunlight, or apply makeup for the first week after your appointment. These activities can actually cause the pigment to fade prematurely, and no-one wants that!
Keep in mind that your brows are going to be about 40% darker during the primary week, and then after that, they will fade to their true color. It’s totally natural for your brows to scab and peel, but you should not pick them at all. You run the chance of picking off the pigment that’s not supposed to peel off during the healing process.
How Long Does Microblading Last?
You usually schedule a follow-up appointment about a month after your initial one, which is included in the total cost. This appointment is to touch up the areas where the pigment didn’t stick. During the follow-up, you can also make your brows darker if you weren’t satisfied with the color before. After a year, it’s recommended that you make an appointment to touch up your brows. This is because the method is semi-permanent and will eventually completely fade if you don’t get a touch-up. And what if you decide that you don’t want microbladed brows anymore? No worries at all! You can skip the 12 months enhance and allow them to fade naturally.
Microfeathering
Who is it Best For?
Microfeathering is best for those that have already got a decent amount of brow hair and just want their brows to be lightly filled in.
What is Microfeathering?
Did you know that microfeathering is simply a different sort of microblading? This system was created by eyebrow artist Kristie Streicher, who is known for her fluffy, natural looking brows. Kristie uses very fine strokes, similar to microblading, to form tiny incisions that mimic actual brow hairs. The key difference between microblading and microfeathering is that the microfeathering technique is way finer and lighter than microblading.
Although microblading remains very natural looking, microfeathring is nearly undetectable due to its ultra-fine strokes. Microfeathering also focuses on the brows hairs you have already got and uses them as a guide for the technique.
What you Should Know
Because Streicher is the only one who performs this method, it can cost a pretty penny. A consultation is required before your actual appointment so that she can assess your brows. If there aren’t enough brow hairs for her to work with, you’ll have to wait until your brows grow out more. If she decides your brows are optimal for microfeathering, you’ll be able to continue on with the method.
The first appointment is when Streicher fills within the denser areas of the brow and gets the overall shape down. During the second appointment (6-8 weeks later), if needed she will add additional pigment to the areas where it is needed. Since no one’s brows heal the identical, it’s better for Streicher to see how yours personally heal before she adds any more pigment. The cost of the entire process is $1,000.
How Long Does Microfeathering Last?
As we mentioned before, the microfeathering technique involves extremely fine strokes. Because of this, microfeathing unfortunately doesn’t last as long as microblading. You can expect your feathery-looking brows to last about 8-12 months max. Just like microblading, your brows will fade faster if your skin is more on the oily side.
Microshading
Who is it Best For?
Microshading is best for anyone who wants a thicker, more filled in brow look.
What is Microshading?
Out of the three, microshading is the technique that resembles filling in your brows with brow powder the most. Either an electric or manual tool is used to create a very soft, powdery look. This is achieved by stamping the pigment onto your brows in a stippling motion, unlike microblading or feathering. This method is great for anyone who wears makeup on a daily basis and doesn’t want to waste time trying to get their eyebrows perfect!
What You Should Know
Usually, microshading is offered alongside microblading to create the perfect natural yet made up looking brow. If you’re trying to choose between the two, the best way to choose is to look up photos on Instagram. This will give you the best idea as to how you’ll want your brows to look based on everyone else’s results. Plus, you’ll be able to find an artist whose style you resonate with!
Usually the price is the same whether you want just microblading or microblading and shading. So lucky for you, if you decide you want both it won’t be any extra cost to you! The average price can be anywhere from $750-$1,000 depending on the experience of your artist.
How Long Does Microshading Last?
Thankfully, microshading lasts just as long as microbladed eyebrows do! So after your follow up appointment, you won’t have to worry about a touch up for about a year.
