What is Microshading or Powder Brows?

Permanent makeup procedures are growing around the country. Many tattoo shops offer these services alongside their more traditional offerings, as they use similar types of pigments and inks that are found in your everyday tattoo design. Because of this, microshading tends to look very real, more so than any other type of makeup or procedure, as it more effectively replicates hair texture on the surface of the skin. These services can also be used in other areas of the body for people with skin disorders, but many people are going to be familiar with eyebrow microblading and microshading process, as both have become semi-permanent ways to treat the eyebrow area. Cosmetic tattooing has become the go-to for those who want the best look and value for the money. There are many tattoo parlors who are hiring individuals who only have experience in the tattoo industry through doing these cosmetic makeup procedures. This means you can find someone almost anywhere if you ask, and allows you to “shop around” for a person who you are comfortable with and has the experience you need to get the job done right. An investment in semi-permanent makeup can seem like a daunting one, especially if you don’t know much about the process itself. Permanent makeup as strictly cosmetic is relatively new, and techniques and technology evolve each day. Keeping up to date on the latest processes can be as easy as following an artist’s social media posts or looking at various lifestyle websites. For those looking to jump into the industry head first, there are also plenty of resources and artists that are willing to help you, as well as general information you can obtain through your own research.

What is Microshading?

Microshading eyebrows allows you to achieve the look of fuller eyebrows with the use of a hand held tool creating tiny dots of pigment by the artist. Typically, this is done in the brow area and replaces a traditional eyebrow treatment. This is also referred to as powder brows. The procedure is ideal for any skin type, and great for those with thinning brows and sensitive skin. Even oily skin is fine for the treatment, and microshading offers darker pigment and resulting thicker, fuller looking brow hairs. You can still use your natural hairs in your design, and have the artist simply fill in what doesn’t grow or what doesn’t grow right. This lets you utilize the best of both worlds in order to create your ideal brow shape and fullness. For people that have thinning hair or trauma in their brow area, microshading offers a way to recreate lost areas with darker pigment that look just like natural hair. It’s important to find someone who is knowledgeable of the cosmetic tattoo industry to do this procedure for you. Oftentimes, these are tattoo artists who are looking to diversify their offerings for a changing cultural climate, where customers are looking for a brow expert to create the ideal eye design.

Things to Know

The cost of getting a microshading procedure done can vary, but you can expect an experienced artist to charge more. It’s a good idea to look through their portfolio to see examples of their work. You should be able to see many different brow and skin types throughout in order to get the best variability between what they’ve done and what you want to see on your own face. You can use your natural hair in conjunction with microshading, and use the pigment as a filler to enhance your look without the most intensive. You can also combine this with microblading for a look that is referred to as combo brows. You’ll typically need to come back for more than one visit in order to get the whole treatment done. You can usually schedule your follow-up appointment a few weeks after the initial one, where you can get a better picture of what the healing will do to the overall design. Usually, you’ll just need a few small touch ups in order to get your brows where you want them to be. Aftercare for microshading is similar to that of a normal tattoo, where you’ll need to keep the area clean, and watch for signs of infection. These include swelling, redness, and any sort of awkward irritation. If you have any concerns regarding your skin, ask your artist if they have seen something similar, but make sure that you see a doctor if the pain or redness becomes more serious. There aren’t too many problems with this type of procedure, but these warnings shouldn’t be taken lightly, as infections on the face can be life-threatening if not recognized early. Microshading and feathering typically lasts anywhere from one to three years, and you can go back for touch ups as needed. If things aren’t turning out like how you wanted them to, have a discussion with your artist about what you’d like to see. The pigment will sometimes fade, but you can make sure it lasts by staying out of full sunlight for long periods of time and getting your touch ups as needed. If you are looking for thicker, fuller looking your artist will work with you to make sure that the end result is the perfect brows that you want and are happy with. You’ll finally be able to get the brows you want, for a value that works in your favor both cosmetically and financially.