Traditional Microblading Bellevue & Kirkland

Brow enhancement comes in several different forms. Waxing and shaping, threading, and microblading all can alter the characteristics of your eyebrows. Since many people are not born with the currently popular thick, arched brows, they seek out ways to obtain their ideal brows. Few options last longer than a few months. Microblading is the exception and can provide long lasting brow enhancements. Northwest Face & Body offers the best traditional microblading Bellevue and Kirkland provide.

Understanding Traditional Microblading

Traditional microblading refers to the most common technique for cosmetic eyebrow tattooing. A semi-permanent brow enhancement, it is a type of tattoo that can enhance the shape, thickness, and overall appearance of the eyebrows. Also known as permanent makeup, it differs from other types of microblading because it uses a basic hair-like stroke. It looks natural, but the hair strokes may be slightly thicker than your natural brow hairs.

This was the first microblading technique used and remains the most popular. It also tends to be the most cost effective and recommended for beginners. The traditional method can match any hair type, color, skin type, or brow thickness. Your microblading artist can discuss the various techniques and which may best suit you and your goals.

Semi-Permanent vs. Permanent

If microblading is a form of tattooing, why is it semi-permanent? There are several reasons why it was designed to be semi-permanent instead of permanent. On average, microblading lasts around two to three years. Whereas, a traditional tattoo lasts the rest of your life. 

The first reason why microblading is semi-permanent is to avoid unwanted color fading. Since microblading uses pigmented ink, this is more likely to fade and sometimes even change color over time. Therefore, keeping the results semi-permanent prevents this from happening. 

Secondly, eyebrow trends change. You may not want to keep the exact shape you have forever. Instead of having to go through an arduous removal and re-application process, microblading fades so that you can stay up to date with eyebrow trends.

Finally, laser tattoo removal is the standard for any type of semi-permanent or permanent tattoo. While possible to use laser tattoo removal to fade or remove microbladed brows, many clinics will not do it because it is so close to the eyes. Also, it does come with a slightly higher risk because of this. The laser may also target the hair instead of the pigment which could damage your natural brows. While possible, it is usually saved only for dire situations.

Benefits

Microblading comes with many benefits. It is one of the hottest permanent cosmetic and esthetic procedures right now because of the desire for a long term enhancement of the brows. Some of the benefits include:

• Uses the golden ratio for customized, symmetrical brows that fit your unique facial features
• Enhances brow shape and arch
• Improve brow thickness
• Highlight your eye shape
• May help stimulate hair growth of naturally thin brows
• Natural looking
• Saves money in the long run due to no longer needing to purchase makeup or other brow products
• Safe
• Little to no pain
• Long lasting results
• Ink is vegan and cruelty free
• Little to no maintenance is required beyond occasional touch-ups
• After the initial healing period, it is safe to swim
• No worry about perspiration in your brows (after healing)

Microblading vs. Brow Lamination

Many brow enhancements currently exist. It can be difficult to know which one is right for you based on your needs and preferences. Your master esthetician or microblading artist can help you determine this during your initial consultation. Another popular brow treatment is brow lamination. 

Brow lamination focuses more on reshaping using your existing brows versus adding anything to enhance them. It is essentially a perm of your eyebrows. The table below details more differences between the two treatments to help you make the best decision based on your needs.

Microblading

• A type of tattooing that enhances the look of the brows with hair-like strokes of ink
• Numbing cream applied
• May feel some discomfort
• Lasts 2-3 years on average
• Costs more
• Does not require a large amount of brow hair
• Takes 2-3 hours to perform
• Performed by a certified tattoo artist

Brow Lamination

• Applies various lotions and solutions to perm the brow hairs in the desired direction
• Numbing not needed
• No associated pain
• Lasts 6-8 weeks on average
• More cost effective
• Requires a good amount of existing brow hair
• Takes around 30 minutes
• Performed by a master esthetician
  

Microblading From Start To Finish

Consultation & Preparation

Before undergoing microblading in Bellevue at Northwest Face & Body, your microblading artist will need to meet with you for a consultation to ensure you are a good candidate. This may take place on the same day as your microblading treatment, or on a separate day. During this appointment, your microblading artist will ask about your goals for the procedure, medical history, aspects of your lifestyle, and other pertinent information. They may also perform a brief examination of the brow area.

Your artist will then conclude if you are a good candidate for Bellevue microblading. If you are, they will then discuss the specifics of your procedure. The brow shape you want, the right color, and provide some basic instructions for how to prepare and care for your treated brows.

Some preparation steps that your artist might give you include:

• Avoid caffeine the day of your treatment
• Do not wear makeup to your appointment
• Discontinue any unnecessary use of blood thinning medications or supplements such as ibuprofen and fish oil for a day before and after treatment
• No cosmetic injections, chemical peels, or retinol use for 3-4 weeks before
• Limit sun exposure before and after
• Other instructions depending on your skin type
  

Application

To begin your microblading treatment, your artist will first clean and disinfect your brows. This limits the risk of infection. After this, they will apply numbing cream which will sit for ten to twenty minutes. During this time, your microblading artist will review the plan with you and prepare their equipment.

Your microblading artist will also make marks to identify the golden ratio based on your features. This will help them create the ideal brows for your facial features as well as keep the brows symmetrical. They will often do this while you numb.

Once you are properly numb, they will wipe away the numbing cream and begin microblading. Using a single blade, they will embed ink into the skin. Typically, microblading only breaks about two to four layers of skin. It is deep enough to deposit the pigment, but not deep enough to cause major side effects or be permanent. As you can likely infer, this is not as deep as a traditional tattoo. You may feel some pressure, but it should not be overly painful or unbearable.

Aftercare

Microblading does not require a major recovery. However, there are some aftercare instructions you should follow for the best results and healing. Some common microblading aftercare directions include:

• Avoid getting the area wet and submerging it
• Do not pick at any scabs that form or the healing area
• Avoid wearing makeup and applying skincare too close to the brows
• Be careful of sun exposure and avoid it when possible
• Do not touch the brows
  

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does A Microblading Appointment Take?

Generally, a microblading appointment takes around two hours, more or less. The overall time depends on the starting state of your brows and the type of microblading you opt for. Two hours is the expected time for more patients. This includes numbing, brow mapping, and microblading. Though, if it takes longer to create your perfect brows, your brow artist will take all of the time necessary to do so.

What Can I Expect From The Healing Process?

The healing process of microbladed brows will look similar to a tattoo. You may experience some soreness and even scabbing within the first one to two days. It is possible to bruise or see some swelling, but this is less likely and usually not severe. After about three to four days, your brows will likely have settled down in appearance, but precautions should be taken for at least one week to promote the best healing. After about one month, some clients will come back for a touch-up appointment.

Some patients become concerned about the coloration of their brows. It is normal to see the brows darken during the healing process. However, usually within four to six weeks, they have taken on their true pigment. The ink and pigments we use fade naturally without turning another color. Many worry that their brows will turn green as you may have seen with microblading horror stories. However, with medical grade and new, specially formulated inks, this does not happen.

Will I Need A Touch-Up?

It is standard practice to have a follow-up appointment four to six weeks after your initial session to put on the finishing touches and make sure everything healed properly. This is only needed after an initial microblading session, subsequent touch-ups are usually done once or twice a year, potentially less.

If you decide to completely change the shape or look of your brows, your microblading artist may recommend another four to six week checkup. This will help enhance the arch and boost density. Along with this, our brow artists use perfected techniques, providing the best results in the industry. This may include a touch-up microblading appointment.

Can You Get Microblading Before Turning 18?

No, at least not at Northwest Face & Body. While in Washington State, minors 16 and over can get a tattoo with parental consent, we do not perform microblading on anyone who is not considered a legal adult.

How Much Does Microblading Cost In Bellevue?

Traditional microblading in Bellevue starts at $300. Other types of microblading will increase the price due to more intricate tattooing techniques or time needed. You can find all of our pricing on our price list.

Get Long Lasting Brows With The Top Microblading Artists At Northwest Face & Body

The microblading artists at Northwest Face & Body have years of experience and are skilled at creating customized eyebrows using different microblading techniques. Specializing in traditional microblading, powder brows, and combo brows, our microblading artists can give you the brows you have always wanted. Not only do they use scientific concepts to obtain results that complement facial symmetry, they also use a variety of artistic skills and knowledge to enhance facial structures and bring the eyes to your best features. Using the newest and most advanced techniques, our microblading artists offer the best microblading Bellevue and Kirkland provide.

Northwest Face & Body has provided the gold standard of plastic surgery, cosmetic injections, medical grade skincare, and esthetics for over three decades. Centered perfectly between downtown Bellevue and Kirkland, Northwest Face & Body is easily accessible from the entire Eastside. It is also near the 520 bridge.

To learn more and schedule a consultation, call us at 425-576-1700. You can also reach out online via Price Simulator, chat, or contact form.