The success of the treatment depends to a great extent on proper microblading preparation. Unfortunately, artists don’t really have much control over this, so they need to highlight its importance as much as possible.
That’s why it’s always better to do consults separately from the treatment and explain microblading prep and aftercare a couple of weeks before the appointment. Some parts of microblading pre care start as soon as 4 weeks before the procedure, so the client needs to know what to avoid in advance.
But the mistake many artists make is that they list things to avoid, but they don’t explain why, so clients may not take the guidelines that seriously.
Here’s the rundown of microblading pre care, and explanations behind each point.
Why Is Microblading Pre Care Important?
Before we start, let’s explain why proper microblading preparation is so important.
Microblading is a form of tattooing, and the quality of the results and their longevity depend on how well the skin retains the pigments implemented. So the skin needs to be in the best possible condition for the treatment, and certain products can compromise it.
But it’s not just the skin. Although only a small area is treated, the body is a system. Each part of the body is connected to all other parts through the circulatory system, so any type of therapy can, surprisingly, affect pigment retention.
Then, there are some temporary states that can make the skin sensitive, and make the treatment problematic. Compromised skin is not only unsafe to work on, but it can also be very problematic.
Microblading pre care is there to make sure the skin is in the right shape on the day of the treatment. Let’s see how.
Basic Rules of Microblading Pre Care
Here are the key points of microblading pre care to highlight before the procedure, along with explanations behind each.
No Blood-Thinning Meds for 1 Week
Some people take blood-thinners as part of their standard therapy. Continued use is a contraindication for PMU, especially microblading.
If the blood is thinned out, it can’t coagulate properly. Therefore, there will be more bleeding when the skin is broken, and it will be very difficult to stop it.
Plus, the healing won’t go according to plan.
It also makes the treatment very difficult, and causes very bad pigment retention and patchiness. If each cut bleeds, the artist can’t see what they’re doing. The active blood flow pushes the pigments out of the cuts, and very little pigment is retained. The brows will heal patchy.
WARNING: Performing the treatment on a client who takes blood-thinning meds is possible is the discontinue use 7 days prior to the treatment. That said, an artist cannot advise anyone to stop taking their meds – if they suffer any type of consequence, the artist is responsible. So the client must consult their physician and get clearance to pause therapy. The treatment shouldn’t be performed unless the GP’s consent is provided in writing – word of mouth isn’t viable in court.
Note: The time it takes for the blood-thinning substances to leave the body depends on the dosage. Sometimes, 3 days is enough for the system to extract the thinners. This is something the GP should determine.
Image source: Instagram @phibrows_by_ana
*The image shows the normal amount of blood during a microblading procedure, the so-called pinpoint bleeding.
No Blood-Thinning Supplements for 48 Hours
Apart from prescription meds, there are certain supplements that thin out the blood even though the client may not be aware of this. 2 days are usually enough for the body to clear the blood of them.
Here are the most common blood-thinning substances people often take as supplements:
- Ginkgo biloba (maidenhair tree)
- Ginger
- Turmeric
- Evening primrose oil
- Garlic
- Fish oil
- Vitamin E
This list is not final, but these are the most common ones.
Apart from supplements, pain-killers like ibuprofen and aspirin also fall under this category and should be avoided 48 hours before the procedure.
No Caffeine for 24 Hours
Another not-so-widely known blood thinner. Clients should skip their daily dose of coffee to prevent excessive bleeding. The same goes for green tea and energy drinks.
Apart from the fact that it temporarily thins out the blood, caffeine can make people jumpy and nervous, so sitting still for 2 hours may be challenging. Best to avoid it.
No Alcohol for 24 Hours
Another blood-thinner that increases bleeding.
Plus, alcohol dehydrates the skin, and dehydrated skin is more difficult to work on, it’s more sensitive, and it doesn’t retain pigments well.
No Brightening Skincare Products for 1 Month
Retinol, Vitamin A, chemical peels no matter how gentle, niacinamide, acids – in one word, all brightening ingredients should be avoided 1 month before microblading.
The way these ingredients work is they remove the surface layer of the skin, thus thinning it out. Thinned out skin is more sensitive and it bleeds more easily. As a result, the treatment is more uncomfortable, there’s more bleeding, and retention is affected.
No Facials or Exfoliation for 2 Weeks
Facials most often include chemical or mechanical exfoliation, which thins out the skin. Again, more discomfort, more bleeding, less retention. The skin needs about 2 weeks or more to recover from such treatments, depending on how aggressive they are.
No Botox for at Least 2 Weeks
After Botox, it takes some time for it to settle and there could be some asymmetry until it does. So brows tattooed on during the settling period might end up looking asymmetric.
No Sunbathing or Tanning for 10 Days
Tanned skin is more sensitive and it’s harder to work on.
Plus, if the face gets sunburnt, the treatment needs to be postponed. Sunburnt skin hurts even to touch, let alone to microblade. The skin recovers from sunburn through peeling, and the treatment can’t be done on peeling skin.
Oh, and the temporary change in skin tone can lead to the wrong pigment color choice.
No Waxing, Tweezing, or Tinting Brows for 7 Days
Plucking out hairs in any way can irritate the skin and make it too sensitive for microblading. Tinting can cause irritation, but also allergies, which make the skin impossible to work on until they subside.
Any type of brow grooming before microblading should be avoided, because it alters the natural shape of the brows and prevents the artist from making the best possible outline for the features. Let them grow out!
No Exercise on the Day of the Treatment
Sweat contains salt, and salt affects pigment retention. It dries out the pigment and it can’t settle into the skin properly.
Even if the face is washed after the workout, traces of salt can stay on the skin and inside the pores, so it’s best to refrain from working out on the day of the treatment.
Final Word
If an artist doesn’t take the time to explain each of the microblading pre care points, clients may not take it seriously and ignore it or forget about it. To ensure proper microblading preparation, clients should be warned about the possible consequences of improper microblading pre care, the discomfort they may feel during microblading, and the risk of the results not turning out that great.
Cover image source: Freepik
