FAQs
What is the difference between Microblading & Powder Ombre brows?
Technique and overall look - Microblading works well on brows that are a little thin and it is performed using a special hand tool, the artist uses a very fine blade to create individual hairs to fill in any gaps, this style of brow is not ideal on all skin, the stokes can blur and fade on oily skin and do not stay, also not great on older skins. Powder/Ombre is done with a machine, the artist shades and contours carefully to create a shadowy effect - at first this looks darker but it lightens and powders to leave a natural tone to the brow area, this gives a more defined brow area - this technique works on pretty much any skin and lasts well.
A Powder brow can be light & airy or darker & more editorial.
Does it hurt?
To ensure maximum comfort your artist will pre numb the skin with a very good cream prior but also top up with a numbing gel throughout the procedure. There is very little pain you might feel pressure or a little stinging afterwards but your artist gives you soothing gel for afterwards.
Will I need to do anything to the brows afterwards?
Your artist will give you an aftercare pack with instructions as part of the process, you need to follow the instructions to keep them looking their best - that first week of aftercare will ensure the longevity of your brows.
Why two sessions?
Well some people actually require 3 (especially with very oily skin) the first session is to design and define your brow - you need the second to top that layer of ink up and fill in any lost ink during the healing process, your skin will flake and peel a bit and some people can loose as much as 30-40% ink in the first session - the 2nd session is really where the magic happens, where the brows are finished to perfection.
How long does it last?
It all really depends on your skin and aftercare, everyone is different, a Powder/Ombre brow lasts usually around 12-18 months before a recommended colourboost to refresh and Microblading around 6-12 months - Microblading any of these are only in the top two layers of skin so will fade gradually - some peoples skin may hold ink better than others and some medications like HRT can cause the ink to fade faster. Typically younger skin holds ink for longer.
How long will Microblading or Powder Ombre brow take to do?
Prenumb takes half an hour
Session 1 takes around 2.5 hours (includes predraw) artist allows 3 hours for this session including prenumb time.
Session 2 takes around 1.5 hours includes prenumb - artist allows 2 hours for this session including prenumb time.
What is involved with a colour top up?
A colour top up is simply to refresh your slightly faded brow after around 12-18 months. Fading is normal with Semi Permanent Make up, unlike regular style tattoos the ink is only in the top couple of layers of skin and therefore designed to fade gradually over time, it is important that a brow tattoo not be so deep that it lasts forever - the skin on your face is far more delicate. If you leave a colour top up beyond the 18-24 month timeframe you may be charged more as this will take longer than a top up session.
How do you know what colour ink to use?
We use multiple shades to get a perfect tone for our clients, we look at skin tone, hair colour, if you have cool or warm skin etc… this can be determined at a consultation appointment.
We ensure clients are happy with colour & design before going ahead with any work.
Why can’t I exercise or swim after my brow tattoo?
Exercise causes sweat and that will push ink out of your newly done brows, not only that it can cause bacteria that might invite infection and that is definitely not good.
No swimming due to chlorine or salt in water that you might swim in that can cause the ink to wash out of the new brows but again - it is mainly about keeping your brows clean! A week of keeping them dry and clean equals faster healing and little risk of bugs getting into them.
If you think about it you have invested in your brows so a week of taking care of them is not much of a sacrifice.
Will I still need to tint or wax my brows?
Tints will keep the brow hair tone even but not necessary if your hair and brow ink are closely matched, some clients still like that sharpness a tint gives to their brow hair, also if you have any greys it keeps them in check - we most definitely recommend a regular brow wax/tidy with us to keep the shape of your brows perfect even if you do have a brow tattoo your hair will keep growing!
What is the difference between a Henna and a General tint?
Henna is plant derived and all natural, it penetrates the hair follicle and stains the skin - Henna lasts slightly longer than a regular Brow tint. Henna lasts up to a 2 weeks on the hair and up to 6 weeks on the skin. Oily cleansers should be avoided - recommended to keep dry first 24 hours.
Brow Tints coat the hair superficially and still stain the skin they do not last typically as long as a Henna - we use vegan friendly tints with ingredients that do care for the brows, they can last nearly as long as Henna as long as Oily cleansers are avoided directly on them. Typically last 1 week on hair and a month on the skin.
We use the highest quality Henna and Tints at Hello Brows.