My Microblading Experience as a Black Woman (VIDEO)

If you have really thin or nonexistent eyebrows, this post is definitely for you. I have, for YEARS, suffered from overwaxed and thin brows. Mind you, I haven’t waxed my brows since 2005, so I basically had eyebrow alopecia. No matter what I tried, my brows simply wouldn’t grow back. I was forced to pencil them in everyday. While I’ll admit I have had some fabulous brow days, for the most part, my brows were a constant thorn in my side.

Then I met Mila of the Brow Muse at an event I hosted at Vega Vitality Wellness Center this past winter. Mila is an esthetician and permanent makeup specialist. She is also a certified microblading specialist and assured me she could rid me of my brow woes for good.

What is Microblading

Wikipedia defines microblading as  “a semi-permanent makeup procedure that allows you to dramatically correct or fully reconstruct lost eyebrow. It was first introduced in Asia…Microblading is performed by manually depositing pigment in the basal layer of the epidermis by a special pen…The blade of microblading pen contains numerous pins that are 3 times thinner than the needles used for tattooing. When performed correctly, the procedure is almost painless.”

I had always been aware of eyebrow tattooing, but hadn’t heard of black women doing it. Besides, I have a tattoo that I got when I was 19 and after more than 10 years, it’s turned a greenish shade. Needless to say, I was a bit skeptical. However, I threw caution to the wind and did it.

microblading-dark-skin-black-woman

If you’re considering getting this done, I would recommend that you seek out a professional who is accustomed to performing the procedure on ethnic skin. I spoke with Atlanta-based Cosmetic Tattoo Artist, Heidi Carney, who offered some further insight into how her approach is different for women of color,

Ethnic skin heals differently. The pigment tends to blanch out more quickly, so I make sure to  separate the stokes a little father because I know it’s going to blanch out and bleed on darker skin tones. It also tends to cool down and turn a shade or two darker once it really settles into the skin, so it’s important not to go too dark. You can always make it darker and bigger.

What To Expect

  • The technician fills in your brows with brow pencil
  • The technician applies a numbing solution for a few minutes
  • Technician begins the procedure by dipping the blade into the ink/pigment and then creating hair strokes.
  • More numbing solution is applied
  • Technician goes over the brows once more for the second pass
  • Pain level is individual, however, for me it was a 2 on a scale of 1-10
  • This is a 2-step procedure. The brows must heal for 4 weeks after which you will return for your second treatment.
  • Since everyone’s skin heals different, the second appointment allows the technician to see how much the color has faded from the previous appointment. Most people will need a few extra strokes, but some people lose so much pigment the procedure has to be reapplied entirely.
  • Water cannot touch your face for the first 3 days after the procedure, and no makeup can be applied for 10 days
  • If you have very oily skin, it is recommended that you use blotting sheets (after the 3 day no-wash period) to keep the brows as free from oil as possible, as oil eats away at the pigment.
  • The results will last about a year, requiring one touch up every year
  • Prices for the procedure will vary by location as there are more people who want this done than there are trained professionals who can do it. Prices vary from $250-$800 depending on location.

 

To see the procedure watch this video

Would you consider Microblading? Share your thoughts below

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4 Comments

  1. Tamieka G. says:

    Hello how are you? Girl this is heaven in ink. I lost some of my hair due to medication. I would love to have this done. I’m going in a week for a consult, thank you for filming this because I never seen a dark skin girl like me do this. I will keep you posted. Oh girl I’m a hot mess when it comes to my brows lol.

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