What is the Difference Between Microblading And Eyebrow Tattoos?

Your eyebrows play an important role in the beauty of your face. The framing your upper face and highlighting your eyes will greatly depend on the fullness, shape, and symmetry of your brows. The good news is, if your eyebrows are thin or uneven, then you can take advantage of this non-invasive treatment which can quickly improve the appearance of your eyebrow area. This is known as microblading.

Microblading is a well-known technique for eyebrow enhancement. It can help in improving the definition, shape, and thickness of the brows. The microblading process uses a special type of hand-held tool which includes a tiny blade for storing dye into the layer of the skin. Fine strokes will be created to imitate the look of natural eyebrow hair.

Most people believe that microblading is a type of tattoo. While the methods used may sound the same, eyebrow tattooing and microblading are quite different.

What is Microblading?

Microblading is a procedure done by an aesthetician to achieve fuller, natural-looking eyebrows. The first step is to apply a numbing cream to the area. Tiny incisions are then created in the brow to imitate your natural hairs. Afterward, a pigment will be embedded into the incisions. There is no need to worry since microblading is not painful at all. This is because of the numbing cream being applied prior to the procedure as well as the shallow cuts. Minimal to no bleeding will be experienced. A small amount of pigment will be used, and the color will remain within the incisions for quite some time, without any bleeding on the outside.

Unfortunately, microblading can fade over time. Microblading can typically last between one to two years. Nevertheless, if you want to extend the results of your microblading for a longer time then you can opt to undergo periodic maintenance treatments.

What is Eyebrow Tattooing?

Well, eyebrow tattooing is similar to any other type of tattoo. The tattoo artist will use a special kind of needle designed for tattooing. This needle will be filled with ink. Once the device is turned on, the needle will penetrate your skin over and over again, embedding the ink into the deeper layer of your skin. It is important to remember that tattooing is permanent, even though the lines will blur, and the colors might fade in the long run. After having your eyebrow tattooed, it will be difficult to try to remove it.

Microblading Vs Eyebrow Tattooing

If you are still a beginner in the field of permanent makeup, then you might not be aware of why eyebrow tattooing is not the same as microblading. While microblading can technically be considered a type of tattoo, there are some key differences between these two techniques. If you want to know which of these two procedures is the best for you, then you need to understand the difference between them.

Do You Prefer a Permanent or a Temporary Eyebrow Enhancement?

For many people, the most obvious difference between eyebrow tattoos and microblading is the length of time that the result stays on your skin. Eyebrow tattoos are permanent. This means that after the ink is tattooed on your skin, it will stay there forever. However, there is a possibility that the ink will fade. The eyebrow tattoo will remain on your skin for there. The only way that it can be removed is through tattoo removal treatments.

This is quite different from microblading, where the results can only last from six months to one year. The reason behind this is that the pigment is not inserted deeper. So, it will typically fade away when the skin cells will turn over. Although you have the option to have some touch up treatments every year if you want to maintain your enhanced brow. One of the greatest advantages of microblading is that it is semi-permanent. This means that it allows you to alter the look of your brows based on the latest styles and trends.

Is It Better to Use a Tattoo Ink or a Microblade Pigment?

Generally, tattoo ink is primarily used for eyebrow tattooing. On the other hand, microblading uses a special type of pigment. Tattoo ink differs from a specialized pigment that fades over time. As the tattoo ink fades away, a blue-green-colored tint will often start to develop. It will usually appear around the edges of the tattoo ink. Black tattoo ink is known to turn into blue or green since the red pigments which keep it darker will likely fade faster. This can result in peculiarly colored eyebrows that looks as if it were drawn on with a permanent marker, which makes the eyebrows will look more unnatural.

Microblading pigments can either be organic or inorganic. Also, there is a great variety of colors to choose from. As the microblading ink starts to gradually fade, it will become lighter. However, the tone will remain the same. With microblading pigment, it is designed to fade into the lighter version of the color. This means that you can still retain its natural look. Hence, the result stays natural until such time that it completely fades away.

Which is More Painful – Needling or Blading?

A machine is used for tattooing. It will penetrate deeply into your skin, which is why tattoos are more painful compared to microblading. Since the punctures are deeper, more ink will be needed. As a result, the color will bleed into the surrounding area. Due to these deep needle punctures, the recovery time will be longer since the skin needs to heal from the injury.

With microblading, a hand tool will be used for creating small cuts on the uppermost layer of the skin. Aside from being less painful compared to tattooing, there is also less damage to the skin. As a result, you will go through a quicker recovery time. At the same time, it only requires less pigment, hence, bleeding in the surrounding skin cells can be prevented.

It is important to consider that getting a tattoo can be painful, especially if they are placed on the face, which is a sensitive area. However, with the microblading technique, you will feel less discomfort. This is especially true if lidocaine was applied to numb the area before the treatment. Most people say that microblading feels like tweezing.

Which One Looks More Natural – Filled Brows or Fine Lines?

No matter how well-trained your tattoo artist is, they will still have difficulty in achieving the fine lines of microblading with the use of a tattoo needle. Tattooed brows will typically have a solid look that looks more like a brow filler than a natural brow.

On the other hand, trained microblading artists are more experienced in drawing fine lines which imitate the natural shape and look of every eyebrow hair. These lines blend perfectly with the natural eyebrows, creating a look that is often unnoticeable from the real thing.

The microblading technique can provide you with a more natural look than eyebrow tattooing. This is because the brows are flat and look like they were drawn on. In microblading, individual hair-like strokes are created, and it looks similar to the hair growth pattern of the adjacent eyebrow hair. A well experienced microblading technician can make your brows look like the thicker version of the natural brow hair.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Microblading?

Microblading can make your brows look more natural, is less painful, has a quick recovery, and, most of all, its color won’t change. On the other hand, microblading is semi-permanent. It will require touch-ups as it gradually fades. It is also typically more expensive.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Eyebrow Tattoos?

Eyebrow tattoos are permanent, are generally less expensive, and this technique is ideal for those who want a mid-brow fullness. If you are planning to get an eyebrow tattoo, then you should be aware of its drawbacks. The recovery period of tattooing takes longer. The ink used for the tattoo could bleed, causing its color to change over time. It will look more like make-up rather than a natural eyebrow.

Which One Should You Choose?

It is important to know that both eyebrow tattooing and microblading have their pros and cons. Reviewing them can help you in making the best decision when it comes to the technique that you will be using for your eyebrow enhancement.

Once you have decided, choose either a tattoo artist that specializes in permanent make-up and eyebrows or an aesthetician that is an expert in microblading. Be sure to request some before and after photos from their previous clients. This can help you determine if you are making the best decision. Read some customer reviews before you commit to the procedure.

If you want to be a permanent make-up artist yourself, then you can consider enrolling in the Beauty Techniques Institute of Permanent Cosmetics. There are different courses that are available. You could either choose one on one training or in a small group which is composed of two students. For more information, you may call us at (832)654-4595 or send us an email at beautytechniques@gmail.com.