Today’s topic is a complete shift from my usual posts. I documented my microblading journey (complete with SnapChat filters, ha!)! After thinking about getting it done for a couple of years, I took the plunge in December. As a young gal in the 90’s, I tweezed my brows to death because that was desired at the time. As a result, my brows have bald spots and are on the thinner side. I longed to wake up on race day with pretty brows and not worry about sweating them off! Here is my experience with microblading, from the perspective of an active person.
Ever wonder what the process for microblading is like?
- After signing waivers, your technician will hopefully apply numbing cream! I’ve heard horror stories of some places not numbing clients! I think that is cruel.
- The technician will perfect your brows via measurements, lines, and marks.
- After you’re numb enough (hopefully), the tech will make feather-like cuts into your brows with a razor.
- Once the cuts are made, the tech will apply semipermanent ink to the brows. Steps 3 (cutting) and 4 may be repeated until the desired look is achieved during the session.
After every session, I loved my dramatic, perfect brows! Unfortunately, the bold look only lasts a couple of days. There is an extensive list of what not to do after the procedure, including NO working out or getting brows wet for 7-10 days. Your tech will let you know if she wants you to do the” dry healing method” vs another method. Regardless, all healing methods say no sweating allowed!
As an active person, the recovery period stinks. If you’re an athlete or hot yoga practitioner, you’ll have to find other ways to move without sweating; or you can use the week for rest/recovery, so plan accordingly. Aside from resisting the urge to scratch them (they will itch), I had to avoid the sun and hot, steamy showers.
HOW I WENT ROGUE DURING THE HEALING PROCESS:
- While I healed, I practiced yoga and did a a few barre type workouts with a fan blowing directly at my face.
- I patted a little coconut oil on the brows when the itchiness was too intense after both sessions (note: some tech’s allow this). I noticed I lost a lot of color when I didn’t do this. The brows would scab up and fall off in clumps and take the eyebrow hairs with it.
WHAT I DID “WRONG” AFTER THE FIRST SESSION:
- I didn’t wear a hat when I ran outside.
- I didn’t apply sunscreen directly on the brows to help protect the color.
- I didn’t control the oiliness around the brows with blotting papers (this wasn’t recommended but I can imagine that it could help).
The microbladed brows should last 1-3 years, but if you’re like me and have oily skin and spend anytime outdoors, the results could fade quickly. At my second session, my technician said my brows were faded 20% more compared to the average client BUT I did go 3 months between sessions. If I think I can handle another week of healing, I may go back for one more color boost a couple of weeks before I start training for the Chicago Half Marathon . I love the results, I just wish the brows were permanent so I wouldn’t have to go a week without sweating after every session!
Have you ever tried microblading? If not, would you consider it?
I think this is the first time I have seen a review about microbladed brows while living a fitness/athletic life.
I have the same issue.. they also don’t last nearly as long the more you sweat as well. I have had them done 3 times and each time it lasted less and less. The last time only made 3 months and I now refuse to have it touched up and I am now looking into a more permanent method and researching a ton.
I don’t fully regret having them done because unlike you. I have pretty much NO brows. And I can’t even get away with not drawing them in especially they way they are greyish blurred faded look. It’s really upsetting and looks awful unless covered now. But either way I have no brows or ugly brows without drawing them in.. 🙁
Did you figure something else out?
I’m probably not going to get them microbladed anytime soon. I cover them up now using Wonderbrow but hopefully we can find another solution!
Have you ever thought about a powdered brow tattoo? I’ve heard that’s a better option for oily skin types than microblading.
I’d definitely consider it!
I do 30 to 45 minutes of cardio 4 to 5 days a week and strength training for 45 minutes to an hour 4 -5 days a week as well so you can imagine I definitely sweat.
I had my eyebrows microbladed 4 weeks ago and I kept aquafor (Vaseline works too) I did coconut oil as well and left the cream or oil on it basically all day for nearly two weeks
The thing is, I did not forgo my workouts and I was really worried about what it would do. So, I toned down my cardio so instead of keeping my hr near peak I took it down to the “fat burning level.”
I still sweated but not nearly as much. I decided that I would just take a towel lol. So every minute I would blot my forehead and the immediate area surrounding my brows. I am purchasing a sweat band for this second session and will see if it contains the sweat so there is less blotting with the hand towel.
My brows so far look fine. (Knock on wood!)
I hope it will be a good outcome next time as well.
I just can’t go without the workouts. =[
Hi ladies!
I had powdered brows done yesterday (I tried microblading + shading a couple of years ago and it didn’t really work well – I too have oily skin). I am worried about my workouts as I do 30 mins HIIT 4 times a week and really break a sweat! So scared that stopping for 7 straight days means all my muscle turns to fat, lol. I think I must also try the yoga with a fan blowing on my face 😀
I too have basically no brows (thanks to the 90’s. And my genetics I suppose). I am so envious of women with
naturally thick and dark brows, they have no idea how lucky they are! Eyebrows really mold the face and a face with really thin/light brows makes us look washed out. Anyway, thank goodness for these procedures! 🙂
Would be great to hear your updates. Good luck and take care all! X