Eyebrow Enhancements: Which Option is Right For You?
After undergoing chemotherapy, it is likely that you will have little to no facial hair and your eyebrows may not grow back until 4 to 6 months after finishing treatment. Fortunately, there are several methods of eyebrow enhancement that you can use to make these months easier, and we are here to help you choose which method is best for you!
What is Microblading?
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This story is part of Products We Love, a series on self-care for the breast cancer community.
microblading /ˈmīkrōˌblādiNG/
(noun) a semipermanent technique for enhancing the appearance of the eyebrows, in which pigment is scratched into the skin in fine, short strokes resembling hair, using a hand tool with a blade formed of tiny needles.
- Oxford Languages
Microblading is a technique that is used to create the illusion of natural, full eyebrows. It is performed by an aesthetician, who uses a unique hand-held tool to create very fine strokes that mimic the appearance of natural eyebrow hair.
First, a small blade is used to make tiny incisions that look like natural hairs, then the dye is deposited into the incisions. The blade only pierces the second dermal layer of the skin and the process is relatively painless because a numbing cream is applied beforehand.
You should experience little to no bleeding during a microblading treatment and the pigment should stay within the tiny incisions, so no color bleeding occurs. The recovery process is quicker than eyebrow tattooing because this technique causes less damage to the dermis.
The results of microblading can last up to 1-2 years before fading, but many patients return for touch-ups periodically so that the effects last even longer. The semi-permanency of microblading also allows you to change the appearance of your eyebrows as trends and styles change. There are also several colors to choose from, in addition to organic and inorganic options.
Microblading ink does lighten over time, but the tone typically stays the same, so the appearance will still look natural until it either completely fades away or is retouched. Microblading artists are trained to draw fine lines by hand so that they have the natural shape of eyebrow hairs. These lines can blend in with your natural eyebrow hairs as they grow back after you finish chemotherapy treatment.
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What is Eyebrow Tattooing?
Eyebrow tattooing is basically getting a tattoo that looks like your eyebrows. The tattoo artist uses a normal tattoo needle that applies ink to deeper layers of the skin. It is more painful than microblading and tends to bleed a little more because the needle penetrates further. The recovery process is usually a lot longer than microblading because the tattoo needle pierces so deeply into the skin. It is also very difficult to remove eyebrow tattoos, similar to other tattoos.
Eyebrow tattoos are more permanent than microblading, but the color may fade and it is possible that the lines may blur over time, depending on the quality of the ink and the amount of ink used. Tattoo ink tends to develop a blue or green tint around the edges of the tattoo over time because the red pigments fade the fastest. To avoid this, some tattoo artists will redo tattoos with new ink once they begin to fade. The process is simply adding a new tattoo over the old one, which will darken the original tattoo.
Tattooed brows tend to look more like makeup than natural eyebrows because it is still very difficult for experienced tattoo artists to make small, fine lines with a tattoo needle. If you are looking for eyebrows that look more filled and solid, then tattooing might be the way to go. Tattooing is also typically less expensive than microblading because it is more permanent and does not require annual touch-ups.
After making a decision on which method of eyebrow enhancement you prefer, search for an aesthetician that offers microblading or a tattoo artist that specializes in permanent makeup. Then, be sure to ask for before and after pictures of their past clients and look through their reviews before committing to the procedure.
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Eyebrow Makeup
If you’re looking for more temporary solutions for your eyebrows, daily makeup is the best way to go. There are lots of different brow options to choose from - powder, gel, liner, pencil, pomade, and more!
Brow Powder
Brow powder is easy to apply and tends to be very lightweight. It is typically applied with a thin eyebrow brush that is used for precision. Higher quality eyebrow powder will not leave dusty residue and will almost feel like a cream. We recommend the Farmasi Make Up Mono Brow Powder!
If you don’t have a lot of time to do your makeup every morning, the Kiss Brow Stamp is super easy to apply and creates perfectly symmetrical, natural-looking brows in seconds. The stamp powder is waterproof, so your brows will last all day without the need for touch-ups. The application is quick and very simple, so it saves a lot of time in your daily makeup routine.
Brow Pencils and Liners
Brow pencils can be used to perfect your brow shape and draw new eyebrow hairs to mimic the effects of microblading, while brow liners are usually used for increasing brow definition and filling in gaps. Pencils have a lighter effect than liners, which have a more gel-like consistency and can be waterproof. Try Beautycounter’s Color Outline Eye Pencil and Farmasi’s Make Up Eyebrow Liner!
Brow Pomade and Gel
Brow pomade is typically used with a brush or eyebrow tool to fill in gaps and define your brow lines. It is usually more difficult to use than pencils or liners but can last longer and have a more pigmented effect. Brow gel can be used by itself or paired with other brow products to groom your eyebrow hairs so that they look fuller and keep their shape. It is applied with a wand (similar to mascara) and gives you a very natural brow effect. We recommend Farmasi’s Eyebrow Pomade and Beautycounter’s Brilliant Brow Gel!
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