In the late '90s and early '00s, tweezing your eyebrows to within an inch of their existence was all the rage, then threading became the coolest method to tame unruly brows, and now microblading is the newest eyebrow trend. Thus, you may be wondering: Does microblading eyebrows hurt? Because if you're a beauty obsessed babe, this is one popular trend you don't want to miss out on.
Eyebrow microblading is basically a method of tattooing tiny, hair-like, inked strands into your brows — the overall aim is to give you the full and luscious eyebrows of your dreams. If you ponder for a moment the amount of time it takes you to groom your brows everyday, then imagine that time is suddenly freed up due to your eyebrows looking perfect 24/7, you can probably see the allure of microblading.
However, if the thought of a blade (no matter how miniscule) cutting your skin and leaving the tiny tears filled with ink freaks you out somewhat, microblading might not be for you. Gals who've never been tattooed may want to opt for more traditional methods of achieving beautiful brows, especially if they're afraid of needles. On the other hand, if you're someone who's fine about getting inked, no matter the location, you're likely wondering if microblading is painful because different tattoo spots hurt more than others.
So is the brow bone area a particularly painful spot to get inked? I asked the experts if microblading hurts.
Hibba Kapil, founder of Hibba Beauty Studio and microblading expert, tells Bustle over email, "It's not painful but it's uncomfortable. Most places, including Hibba Beauty Studio, will numb the area beforehand to prevent discomfort. If you don't numb you can feel the scratches. I find that for most people its the screeching noise that is the biggest problem."
"Numbing cream is typically used so that the procedure is not very uncomfortable," says Dr. Janet Prystowsky, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Livad Skincare, in an email to Bustle.
"Overall," adds Kapil, "it's not a painful experience and the results are worth it! If you are someone who wants fuller brows, or [you] even over-tweezed, or if your brows just don't grow in certain spots, you should consider microblading. You won't have to fill them in for at least one year! The results are amazing!"
However, Dr. Prystowsky has a word of caution, "The results are much more natural looking than when a uniform color is used. It is important to have someone who can color match to your skin tones and follow a natural outline for your eyes. The worst results are when the eyebrows are of the wrong shape or misplaced, so do your research and find someone who is artistically trained and evaluates your face/eyebrows properly." So make sure to do your research and ask your beautician any questions you may have before the procedure.
All in all, it seems microblading is more uncomfortable than painful, although this will of course depend on your pain threshold. But, with numbing cream applied, you'll probably be able to deal with it — just remember not to get freaked out by the noise!
Images: Luca Iaconelli (1), freestocks.org (1), Atikh Bana (1) /Unsplash
