The Truth About Microblading

Microblading: the newest trend to make you feel bomb from the second you wake up.

Thanks to celebrities like Lauren Conrad, Cara Delevingne and Karlie Kloss, thick, full eyebrows are officially the new sign of beauty. They are EVERYTHING. But not all of us are naturally gifted with perfectly full eyebrows (um, ME!) so there’s a service that can help: microblading.

If you have considered hopping on this cosmetic trend train, I would highly suggest you do your research. I am here to share my experience with you guys, but am by no means an expert. I think the biggest factor when deciding if you want to get your eyebrows microbladed, is finding someone who is a certified professional and extremely experienced. Look through their portfolio of before/after pictures and make sure you LOVE their work. If you don’t like the work they have done in the past, you more than likely won’t like it on yourself.

I had been contemplating microblading for months before Carrie Hunt of The Browtique reached out about hooking me up with microbladed brows. I had been searching and searching for someone who I felt I could trust in the Houston area, but was having no luck. I HATED filling my eyebrows in every day, but I could not for the life of me get my eyebrow hair to grow in certain spots (and believe me, I tried a lot of products). So today I thought I would answer all of your questions and share my experience with you guys.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is 3D Microblading?
Microblading has quickly become one of the most sought out procedures in the world. It’s basically a tattoo for your eyebrows, except not really. While gaining the appearance of restored volume to thinning eyebrows, the hairline strokes blend in with the natural hair follicles. Even though over 40% of women will experience a thinning brow without an underlying medical condition, it doesn’t mean a resolution should mean an unnatural appearance. While also referred to as eyebrow embroidery and 3D Microblading, the artist performs a “feathering” application with the hand-tool (blade) while simultaneously placing the pigment into the skin.

What was my mission?
To achieve more symmetrical eyebrows to frame my face that didn’t need any upkeep in the morning.

Who was your artist?
Her name is Carrie Hunt and she is the owner of The Browtique (@theofficialbrowtique) in Fort Worth, Texas. She is literally the best in the biz. I just have to brag on her a bit because she truly is so incredible. She has people fly in from all over the country to get their brows microbladed and also teaches other professional microbladers. When you are trusting someone with your face, you want the best, and Carrie is that girl. She is also absolutely freaking beautiful and has the cutest style, so that doesn’t hurt. She works with her sisters and best friends who are all adorable and they have the cutest shop. They also just opened a location in McKinney, TX. You can book an appointment on their website or email them (info@theofficialbrowtique.com) for any questions you have.

Even though I live in Houston, it was definitely worth the drive to Fort Worth. If you can’t get to their location, just make sure you do your research a TON before booking someone.

How many visits are required?
It takes two visits under the knife, but with a lasting promise that you’ll wake up with gorgeous eyebrows every morning for a year. You will come in for your first appointment and then follow up about 6-8 weeks later.

Why do you have to come in for a follow up?
In the healing process, you will lose a bit of pigment because it’s not very deep in the skin. Pigment falls off when your eyebrows start to scab over and the second appointment is used to go in and re-fill the areas that lost their color.

What is the process?
Carrie spent the first part of the appointment mapping out my eyebrows with threads marked in ink. This allowed her to shape my eyebrows how I wanted and clearly identify where they needed filling in. I was able to approve everything and make any changes to the shape of the brow before she moved on.

Next came the good stuff: the numbing cream. (I was terrified of the pain, because let’s get real, I’m a complete wuss.) They apply a topical anesthetic to help with the pain.

Then she started drawing the incisions.

After making the first strokes, Carrie added more anesthetic that works a lot deeper in the skin as the skin is punctured at that point. After the second bit of anesthetic, you don’t really feel a whole lot after that.

Once the incisions were made, Carrie quickly went over them with a dye she had created to match my brow color. After a few minutes of allowing it to settle into my skin, she wiped the excess away and I was free to go about my day with my new and improved eyebrows.

How long does the procedure take?
About two hours (give or take).

How much does it cost to get 3D Microblading?
The price completely varies depending on where you go, but at The Browtique it ranges from $500-$700 depending on your technician. I got mine done by Carrie (the owner), who is AMAZING, but all of her technicians are certified and highly experienced. I would say anything under $400 is a huge red flag. Do not choose because of the price, choose because of the results.

Does it hurt?
I’m not going to lie, yes. It does hurt. But not the entire time! Sometimes I didn’t even feel it, and sometimes I really did. If you have ever had your eyebrows threaded, I would compare the pain to that. It really did feel exactly how you’d expect tiny blades scraping your skin to feel. But the numbing cream helps, a LOT. The beginning is honestly the worst, so once you get past that point, you’re golden.

What tools do they use?
In microblading, they use a manual tool unlike in tattooing where a machine is used.

How long does it last?
Some websites say it last 1-3 years, but I think they’re pulling your leg. I was told by Carrie that it will last one year. While it’s similar (and easier to explain) to a tattoo, microblading only penetrates the first layer of the skin. As the bottom layers of your skin regenerate, they push out the pigment. It is therefore semi-permanent, unlike tattooing that pushes the ink much deeper in the skin making it more permanent. I honestly think it all depends on your skin type, pigment and how well you care for them the first 2 weeks after the procedure.

Do you shave your eyebrows before the procedure?
Nooooooo, absolutely not! The hair-like strokes fill into your natural brows.

What to expect after the procedure:
– They will look VERY dark for the first few days, but don’t worry – it fades!
– Expect them to scab up, but do NOT peel the scabs! Let everything fall off naturally.
– They will start to itch after the second or third day, but that just means they’re healing.
– Do not get them wet or wear make-up around the brows for 10 days. Say goodbye to your shower for a while and hello to the bathtub!
– No exercising (or heavy sweating) for 10 days. This was a hard one for me. I actually continued to work out even though I wasn’t really supposed to, but I made sure not to sweat too much.

Caring for your beautifully crafted brows is honestly the most important part. The healing process lasts around 10 days. After the procedure, I never had any pain and no down time.

Was it worth it?
100 times YES. As you can see, the ink has faded significantly and it’s not near as dark as it was after the procedure (I’m an idiot and should have taken progress pictures along the way). But I LOVE the way they look! The longest (and most annoying) part of getting ready every day is applying mascara and filling in my brows. This has easily cut my time in half because I do not have to sit there and carefully try to draw in individual hair-like strokes. I do still fill in areas I feel have faded a lot, but it has been a night and day difference and I would do it over again in a heartbeat.

Here’s my before/after picture:

If you have any other questions or if I missed something, please ask me in the comments below! Have you had your brows microbladed? I’d love to hear your experience as well!

Photography by Kate Elizabeth Photography

*This post was created in collaboration with The Browtique. All opinions & product selections are my own.