The period after microblading is…interesting. Your brows go through different healing stages and look too dark, scabby, and even “disappear”. Even though you know you shouldn’t, fixing them with makeup can be so tempting. Why would you let them look disheveled when there’s an easy solution?
But do you know what applying makeup to a wound can cause? To avoid a microblading gone wrong, it’s important to know the answer to how long after microblading can I wear makeup.
But first, let’s see the reasons why you shouldn’t be applying makeup before the healing process is over.
Why You Shouldn’t Wear Makeup After Microblading
Seeing as microblading is a form of tattooing, your skin has to be opened up in order for pigment to be deposited inside. That means that injured skin needs healing. And special care.
The microblading process is mostly painless so you might not think of your skin as stressed and damaged but you need to allow it to properly heal. You wouldn’t apply makeup to any other wound, would you?
To promote optimal recovery, the microbladed area should be kept clean and dry. So, skip using makeup until your skin has gone through the healing process.
Makeup (even vegan and natural products) can clog pores and cause the skin to produce excess oil. That, along with constant touching of sensitive skin with dirty hands are most often reasons for infections. To avoid endangering your health (and to prolong how long your results will last) you need to follow your artist’s recommendation for proper aftercare carefully.
Image source: Freepik
So, How Long After Microblading Can I Wear Makeup?
Ideally, you should avoid wearing makeup for 14 days after the treatment. Or at least when your eyebrows stop peeling.
The whole healing period is around 6 weeks long. By that time your eyebrows will be completely healed. The wound is closed after 2 weeks, after which you may start applying makeup again.
The peeling and scabbing stage usually starts around days 3 to 5 and it typically lasts up to 10 days. However, this stage is different for everyone – some people might experience just slight flaking while others will be scabbing much more, and a bit longer.
To help your healing process, you need to follow the artist’s aftercare instructions. Even though aftercare advice sometimes differs from artist to artist, avoiding using makeup and skincare products on the treated area for 2 weeks is universally accepted by all technicians.
If the eyebrows look patchy after 2 weeks and before touch up, some clients fill them up with makeup. As the healing process is not done yet, you need to be careful when removing makeup from your brows. Avoid using oil-based products as they can affect pigment retention.
Check out our aftercare during the healing process day-by-day guide if you wish to learn more about the healing process.
Other Microblading Brows Healing FAQ
Let’s answer some additional questions you probably have.
When Can I Wash My Face After Microblading Treatment?
You can wash your face as long as you avoid the microbladed area. Be extra careful to keep the soap away from your eyebrows, especially in the first couple of days.
Over time, about a week after the appointment, you will be allowed to wash your face as you normally would, but try to be gentler when going over the microbladed area. That means no rubbing!
When drying your face make sure you always use a clean towel, or better yet, tissues or cotton pads as they are disposable and guarantee no bacteria buildup.
Image source: Freepik
When Can I Wash My Eyebrows After Microblading Treatment?
As with any other wound, it needs to be cleaned. Eyebrows mustn’t get wet at least 2 hours after the treatment but after that, washing them needs to be done as part of the aftercare.
You should wash your eyebrows gently with sterile water, then pat (no rubbing!) them dry with a tissue. After that, depending if you are prescribed wet or dry healing aftercare, you apply the ointment if needed.
On the first day, you need to blot your eyebrow 2-3 times, to get rid of the lymph from the wound. After that, from second to day 10, you should wash your eyebrows gently using antibacterial soap.
Check out our detailed brow-washing guide that answers all your questions regarding getting your eyebrows wet.
When Can I Work Out After the Microblading Treatment?
While the eyebrows are healing, you need to avoid getting any sweat on them. At least 2 weeks after the treatment there should be no exercising or other sweat-inducing activities like saunas. Excessive sweating could affect the quality and longevity of your permanent makeup results.
Read our When Can I Exercise After Microblading and Other PMU? article to learn why.
How Do I Take a Shower or Wash Hair After Microblading Treatment?
This may seem like a weird question, but actually, there are some limitations to this as well. Your shower routine should be shorter and the water shouldn’t be too hot. This helps prevent steam, which is something to avoid at least at the beginning of the healing process.
You need to avoid washing your hair for at least 3 days after the treatment and after that pay special attention to not wetting your eyebrows.
Hair washing without wetting your eyebrows can be especially tricky. A lot of artists recommend protective patches. If you are not doing it at a salon, another hack you can try out is using swimming goggles to protect the area from getting wet. It sounds funny but hey, it works!
Image source: Freepik
When Can I Get Back to My Skincare Routine?
During the healing process, use only the products your artist has prescribed. Don’t use any products on your own because they may contain ingredients that can affect the pigment. You should avoid exfoliants and acids because they cause pigments to fade.
In Conclusion
If you are looking for a specific date, the answer to how long after microblading can I wear makeup is 2 weeks after the procedure. However, you need to take into account the healing process and at which stage you are at the moment. If you are someone who had a severe peeling and scabbing stage, wait until it’s over before applying any products. Also, don’t forget to be gentle with this sensitive area and keep it clean and dry.
Cover image source: Freepik
