Eyebrow Cosmetic Tattoo Pre and Post Care: What’s Involved and Why It’s so Important

Let’s be honest, it takes a certain skill level to get the perfect brows using just makeup. Your brows frame your face and getting it just right every time can be challenging.

This is where cosmetic tattooing comes in! This treatment can give you the brows of your dreams with little to no effort required on your part. But as with any tattoo, there is some care required both before and after the procedure to ensure optimal results and minimize the risk of infection or complications.

If you’re curious about getting an eyebrow cosmetic tattoo, keep reading to learn what to do before and after your appointment to ensure the best results.

What Are Eyebrow Tattoos?

Eyebrow cosmetic tattoos, also called microblading, permanent makeup, ombré brows, or powder brows among many other names, are a type of tattoo where pigment is deposited into the skin using a fine needle/s or blades. This creates the desired eyebrows, be it fuller, thicker brows.

The results are typically lasting anywhere from 12 to 36 months before fading. And unlike traditional tattoos, eyebrow cosmetic tattoos are usually not as deep in the skin, so they tend to fade more quickly.

What’s Involved in the Procedure?

Before getting an eyebrow tattoo, your technician will start by shaping your brows to determine the desired look. Once you’re both happy with the shape, they will apply a numbing cream to your brows to minimize any discomfort during the procedure. Although sometimes this process can be skipped when gentler methods are chosen and clients can handle the initial discomfort.

After numbing your brows, your technician will use a handheld tool or a tattoo device to deposit pigment into your skin. The type of tool and needle they use will depend on the desired look and skin conditions. For instance, if you want natural-looking brows, they will use a microblade or a single needle. This creates fine, hair-like strokes in the skin to mimic the look of real brows.

If you want a more filled-in look, they may use a machine with a needle to deposit pigment into the skin. Or sometimes they use a handheld tool with a bunch of needles. This is called shading and can give you a more defined brow or a very softly defined powder shadow look.

Once the tattooing is complete, your technician will clean the brows with a soothing and healing lotion.

How to Prepare for Your Procedure

As we mentioned, there are a few things you’ll need to do to prepare for your eyebrow tattoo procedure. First, you’ll need to avoid sun exposure for at least two weeks before the treatment. This means wearing sunscreen and a hat when outdoors.

You’ll also need to avoid blood thinners such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and fish oil, garlic supplements for at least 3 days, preferably a week, before the procedure. These can thin your blood and increase the risk of bleeding during the tattooing process. Other precautions to take include:

• Don’t work out the day of your appointment
• No caffeine the day of your appointment
• No alcohol 24 hours before your appointment
• No anti-aging products such as Retinol or AHAs/BHAs around the eyebrows one week before your appointment (Retinoid a month before)
• No waxing, tweezing, or other brow treatments one week before the procedure
• No suntanning, botox, or any facial procedures two weeks before the procedure

Post Eyebrow Tattoo Care

After your eyebrow tattoo procedure, you will experience some liquid excretion, redness, and swelling. Blot your brows every 15 minutes for the first few hours so that this liquid does not get the chance to crust over. To help with the healing process, we recommend:

• Do not touch or pick at your brows
• Sleep with your head elevated on pillows
• Gently clean your brows with a mild cleanser, free of fragrance, twice a day
• Blot your brows completely dry immediately after cleansing
• Avoid leaving your brows wet
• Apply a very thin layer of ointment to your brows morning and night
• Avoid sun exposure and saunas for 2 weeks
• Do not work out for a week or until the scabs are all gone
• Avoid chlorine pool and salt water for 2 weeks
• No makeup on and around the brows for at least 3-5 days after the procedure or until all the scabs or flaking is gone

Why Is Aftercare So Important?

Aftercare is important for all types of tattoos, but it’s especially crucial for eyebrow tattoos. As previously discussed, the brows frame your face. We want nice and clean brows as possible.

Following aftercare instructions helps to minimize the thick scabs, the risk of infection, and other complications, such as scarring. It also helps ensure that your tattoo heals properly and lasts as long as possible.

What Are the Immediate Expected Results?

You may notice that your brows are much brighter and redder than you may have expected immediately after your procedure. They may even look wet like they have just been painted on. They can also get darker as the pigments are oxidized. This is normal and will fade once the skin begins to heal over the next few days.

The final result of your eyebrow tattoo will not be visible for 4-6 weeks. This is because it takes time for the pigment to settle into your skin and your skin heals properly.

Most technicians require you to come back for a touch-up procedure. It’s normal for this process to be completed in 2 steps. Keep this in mind when first scheduling your appointment as you will be more sensitive to pain if any of these appointments fall within a menstrual cycle. Follow-up appointments are usually done 6-12 weeks later. Sooner than that can also increase sensitivity and scarring since the skin may not be fully healed.

Long-Term Care for Tattooed Eyebrows

Once your brows have healed, you will need to take care of them just like any other tattoo. This means using sunscreen and being careful not to expose them to too much sun.

You should also avoid using products that contain glycolic acid or Retinol as these can fade your tattoo over time. If you must use these products, be sure to apply them carefully around your brows so as not to irritate the area.

If you are getting a chemical peel, laser procedure, or MRI scan, tell the technician about your cosmetic tattoo. This is because these procedures can cause fading or change the color of the ink, and increase the level of discomfort for MRI.

Expect to get your brows touched up every 1-3 years, depending on how well they hold color and how light or dark you want them to be. Though you should also consider waiting until they are light enough. Your skin can only hold so much ink.

Get Your Perfect Eyebrow Cosmetic Tattoo

Vita Felice Medi Spa is your go-to eyebrow cosmetic tattoo partner in the New Westminster, BC area. We offer several types of permanent eyebrow tattoo services ranging from microblading to hair strokes to powder brows.

Come see why our customers love our qualified and experienced technician and the services we provide. Contact us today to book your appointment. We’re eager to help you meet your beauty needs.