Q&A:

What is microblading?

Microblading is a semi-permanent tattoo solution for fuller brows. It uses a small tool that has 10-12 needles at the end. Unlike regular tattooing, microblading doesn’t go as deep and just scratches the surface of your skin. Which is why it doesn’t last a lifetime like tattoos do. They make tiny hair strokes to achieve your desired look.

Does it hurt?

This was by far my most frequently asked question… and it was my main concern before starting this whole process. They will use a numbing cream which helps a ton and I asked her to keep reapplying it throughout the process. With the numbing cream I would say its probably a 3/10. I have a SUPER low pain tolerance so girlfriend… if I can do it, you can do it! I would compare it to allergy testing if you have ever had that done. It felt like someone scratching me super hard. Definitely something that you can handle. Don’t let pain me a factor in why you aren’t getting it done.

How long did the process take?

I was there for about an hour and 10 minutes total but we let the numbing cream sit on my eyebrows for about 20 minutes beforehand. The actually microblading only took about 30 minutes.

How many appointments do you have to go to?

Some places might do it differently but at Blade & Feather you have your initial appointment, a touch up appointment 4-6 weeks later and then they should last for about 1-2 years depending on your retention. After that you can go yearly for touch ups.

How long do they last?

1-3 years depending on how well your skin retains the pigment and your after care.

How much does it cost?

It all depends on your location and who you are seeing but I have seen it anywhere from $250 to $600. It is a semi-permanent tattoo on your face so it is worth the investment to get someone that you trust.

What is the before/after care?

Before the appointment

• No alcohol, fish oil, multi-vitamins, tanning, aspirin, and any rentinods (retain A), AHA’s, electrolysis 72 hours prior to the appointment. This can cause unnecessary bleeding that can cause poor retention.
• No brow waxing/tweezing 3 days before appointment
• No caffeine the day of the appointment

After the appointment

• Wash twice a day (morning/night) with dial antibacterial soap
• Apply a thing layer of After Inked Tattoo Moisturizer after washing

Would you recommend microblading?

100% hands down. It is so amazing to not have to worry about my eyebrows every morning when I wake up. I literally feel like beyonce when she sings “I woke up like this” She did an amazing job. The color and shape are perfect. With that being said… make sure that you do your research and find someone that you trust and that you have seen their work. Eyebrows are a big part of your face and you get one chance at it. If you are local to the Lansing area… make and appointment with Linsi! You won’t regret it.

What is the healing process like?

Before going to my appointment I did a lot of research and talked to some friends who I knew had it done previously. I was warned about the “micro blading emotions”.

I was fully preparing myself for these things. In my experience, the day after I did feel they were a little too dark but I think it was because I wasn’t used to them yet. I never experienced the crazy peeling that people talk about. Mine has flaked a bit but I never lost parts of my eyebrows. I think it depends on your skin and the after care routine. They are about 30% darker the second day and then start to fade as they heal. At my 6 week touch up appointment she will fill in any spots that didn’t retain the pigment and fix anything that I do not like about them. After that, I am good to go for a year or so.

How It Works

I was EXTREMELY nervous before my appointment. I’m pretty sure there were several times before she even started where I thought – I can’t do this – but I was very open with her about my concerns and how nervous I was. I didn’t want to be her first person to pass out on the table! She assured me that we would go slow and she could stop and take a break at any point. I REALLY appreciated how patient she was and she was super good at calming my nerves. I had my friend come with me for emotional support! (Thanks Ash!) I knew it would be worth it. My eyebrows have always struggled with shape. They didn’t fully grow on the sides so I always had to pencil them in and even when I did that they still didn’t look quite right or full enough.

Step 1: Map the brows

This is the part where you really want someone who knows what they are doing. She made all kinds of marks on my face to figure out where my eyebrows should be.

Step 2: GIVE ME ALL THE NUMBING CREAM

I definitely couldn’t have done it without  the numbing cream. It helped SO much. She applied the cream and we waited about 15-20 minutes. She also kept applying it throughout the process. When she was working on one eyebrow – she left the cream on the other.

Step 3: Fill them babies in

I fully trusted Linsi to pick the color. She showed me two swatches on my forehead and we went with the lighter option. She worked in sections and applied the tiny hair strokes. After both eyebrows were done she went back in and did some shading in a few areas where my hair doesn’t grow in as much.

Step 4: Feel like a queen

If I am honest – I had a few moments of panic right after getting it done but I think that is totally normal. Its a new thing on your face that you aren’t used to seeing. After a few days of seeing my new face in the mirror – I am in love with them. They make sure a difference and truly complete my look.