What you need to know about semi permanent eyebrows

1. Comprehensive Microblading guide When you've tried every pencil, powder, pigment, gel, and stencil and your brows are still sparse, microblading—a more permanent solution to thin brows—is the last-ditch-effort treatment that promises to change your brow life. The face tattoo technique isn't as scary as it sounds. Here you can find out everything you need to know about the treatment. Microblading is a form of tattooing Microblading is a form of tattoo artistry where pigment is implanted under your skin with a manual handheld tool instead of a machine. You need to draw hair-like strokes with the tool to mimic natural hairs in your brows. Even though it's not as deep as the regular tattoo, it's still a tattoo because pigment is implanted under the skin. You need to prepare

2. If you drink a lot, take aspirin, or use retinol, stop one week before your treatment. Retinol makes your skin thin and then you bleed a little more. Avoid blood thinners, aspirin, and alcohol. It doesn't hurt Pain is relative. Some feel more than others. Overall it feels like little scratches. You feel it, but it's not unbearable. It's not like having a baby. Microblading specialists prepare patients' brows with topical numbing cream and tops up throughout the process to dull the discomfort. Microblading takes time Allow almost two hours for the first time.

3. Microblading is an investment The first treatment can cost up to £300. While lower-priced services are available. Use caution against visiting inexperienced technicians. Remember, microblading is a form of tattooing. Aftercare is essential That means protecting freshly bladed brows from all moisture–no sweaty workouts or washing your face with water. Some patients experience itching and redness during the first week, which Vaseline can alleviate. Brows will look slightly darker at first, but the color will fade 30 to 40 percent. Aftercare ointments are provided during your first appointment. Overall they look great right away and you don't have to hide. Slight redness and mild swelling is normal. Results last up to three years Depending on the skin and lifestyle, microblading client needs to come back for touch-ups once every six months.

4. Real Microblading Story In short, here's how it all went down for one happy lady. To start, Microblading specialist asked me what I wanted to achieve with this experience. I told her I wanted brows that would rival the aforementioned celebrities, since brows are my thing. She then began to outline my brows and create the shape that she would eventually work within when she began microblading my arches. She then explained that she'd be using a state-of-the-art hand tool that lets her create thinner, more precise, hair- like strokes that aren’t as deeply ingrained into the skin (compared to, say, hair-like strokes created by a tattoo gun). These strokes also come out looking more refined because she has so much control. Once she was done explaining everything, it was time to lie down on her very sterile, hospital-looking bed. She immediately started creating the tiny superficial cuts in and along my brow, and then deposited a pigment over my arches so it would seep into the hair-like wounds she had just created. I realize this all sounds super-painful, but I promise it's not; if you've ever gotten your eyebrows threaded, manual microblading feels oddly similar.

5. The whole procedure took about an hour, since mid-process, she would show me a mirror to make sure I liked my results, and if I wanted another hair or two here and there, she made it happen for me. And then it was finally time for me to stand up and take a look at the finished product. Here's my reaction — you can decide whether or not I was immediately obsessed! Within the hour it took Microblading specialist to give me wow brows, I asked her a ton of questions, one of which was "how long will this last?" She told me that the results usually last around one to three years, and that I wouldn't need a touch-up for 12 months (though after four weeks, you do go in for a touch-up, which is included in the initial price of £350, to make sure you're happy). Before I skipped out of her super-clinical office, she made sure to go over the "after care" with me. "Do NOT get your brows wet or sweat profusely for a week," she told me, "and if you do work out, cover them with ointment!" This is to protect the pigment and keep the cuts clean and bacteria-free. She also told me to use an antibiotic ointment on my brows for the first 24 hours and then a Vaseline-like ointment for a week, not to pick any scabs that form from the tiny cuts, and to avoid using any glycolic acids since they could fade the pigments. After she was done scaring me into never getting my brows wet again (JK, just for a week), I took a 10 selfies, and off I went to spread the word of microblading to all who would listen.

6. Prepared from elle and cosmopolitan. Images from http://www.camillebeaute.co.uk