Microblading Aftercare Ointment - All the Info
Find out why the right choice of microblading aftercare ointment is so important, how to use it, what ingredients to look for and which to avoid. And see our recommendations!
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After microblading, the skin goes through a healing process which closes up the incisions made to implement pigments. The incisions are thin and shallow, and they heal like any other superficial skin wound.
Since the micro-injuries made are right on the face, it’s important they close properly, without any permanent damage to the skin, while retaining as much pigment in the skin as possible.
That’s where the microblading aftercare ointment steps in.
Here’s all the info artists need to know regarding which microblading aftercare cream they should prescribe their clients, along with the best wet healing practices.
Oh, and our picks!
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Why a Good Microblading Aftercare Ointment Matters
The microblading healing period can be tricky, and because the quality of the final result depends on how well the strokes heal, the artist should do their best to prescribe a good aftercare routine, and the clients need to stick to it.
An ointment for microblading is there to make sure that the healing process goes well and without complications. Its main functions are:
- Providing enough moisture to minimize scabbing, thus reducing the possibility of patchy results
- Minimizing itchiness and preventing the client from scratching their brows, thus reducing the risk of ripping off the scabs, patchy results and permanent scarring
- Providing a protective barrier that prevents the contamination of the wound
- Boosting the healing process
- Soothing the skin and preventing it from feeling dry and tight
Check out our Comprehensive Guide Through Microblading Healing for more info on how the brows heal after the treatment.
Is Wet Healing Always Better than Dry Healing?
There are 2 types of microblading aftercare routines: dry and wet healing.
Dry healing implies cleaning the wound from lymph regularly, but excludes the use of ointment after microblading. For years, this was considered the best option which leaves the marks made crisp and saturated.
But wet healing emerged as a much more comfortable option for the clients.
It implies keeping the wound moisturized after cleaning to reduce the annoying symptoms of wound healing, prevent clients from touching their brows, and makes sure the results don’t heal patchy.
Most artists prescribe wet healing nowadays, but not automatically – it all depends on the client’s skin type. For clients with very oily skin, there’s no need for a microblading aftercare ointment – the sebum provides enough moisture.
It’s down to the artist to assess the skin of their client, and prescribe the best aftercare routine – whether to use a moisturizer or not, which one, when to start using it, how often to apply it, etc.
How to Use Microblading Aftercare Cream
If a microblading aftercare ointment is not used properly, it can actually do more harm than good. That’s why it’s extremely important for artists to emphasize the following points to their clients, and for clients to take them seriously:
- Microblading cream should only be applied onto clean skin. If the area isn’t cleaned before application, lymph gets mixed with the product, dust and sebum that piles up on the skin, becoming breeding ground for bacteria.
- Microblading cream should only be applied to totally dry skin. If the area is wet or moist, and ointment is applied over it, the moisture gets trapped and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.
- The cream should only be applied with clean fingers or a sterile q-tip to prevent infection.
- In terms of amount, less is more with microblading cream. A rice grain-sized drop is enough for both brows if it’s a thicker formula. If it’s a serum-like formula, then they need a bit more.
- If coated brows look shiny or glossy, they’ve used too much. A thick layer of cream prevents the wound from breathing.
- Before reapplying the cream, all residues from the previous application should be removed. If new cream is layered over the old, a thick film can form and bacteria can develop.
These general instructions go hand in hand with the rest of the microblading aftercare routine, which you can find in our Comprehensive Guide Through Microblading Aftercare, explained in detail.
Image source: YouTube Screenshot Boss Brows
Which Ingredients Are Desirable in a Microblading Ointment?
In general, the most important function of the microblading aftercare cream is to provide moisturization, so the most desirable ingredients are deeply hydrating without affecting the settling and retention of pigments.
But different ingredients can also offer different additional benefits.
There are so many options available on the market it can be hard to decide on the best ointment after microblading.
That’s why it’s important to be knowledgeable about the ingredients so you can judge the quality of a formula and choose the best option.
Here are some ingredients to look for in a microblading ointment:
Natural Extracts
Extracts of various plants can be very useful during microblading healing. They can boost the healing process, reduce inflammation, soothe the skin and eliminate itching.
Look for blends of natural extracts, but always ask your client if they have any known allergies to plants or foods (citrus extracts are known to cause allergies in a portion of the population).
Certain Natural Oils
Natural oils are great moisturizers generally, and artists claim they work quite well as ingredients in microblading aftercare ointments, but also in their pure form.
Pure grapeseed oil is a good option – it moisturizes the skin without preventing it from breathing.
The same goes for jojoba and coconut oils. However, many clients don’t like the feeling of pure oil on their skin, so creams with these oils as ingredients are perhaps a better option.
Shea Butter
An overall great moisturizer that has manifold benefits for the skin, and well-moisturized skin means no dryness and flaking, which in turn ensures that clients don’t pick at their brows or scratch them.
Hyaluronic Acid
The same goes for hyaluronic acid.
NOTE
This list is not final – there are many other beneficial ingredients. But there are also some potentially problematic ingredients which make their way into microblading aftercare ointment formulas.
And Which Ingredients Should Be Avoided?
Here’s a list of ingredients which should be avoided in a microblading aftercare ointment, along with brief explanations why:
Petroleum
Although for microblading aftercare Vaseline used to be the go-to option, petroleum jelly is now considered outdated as a healing product.
The thick consistency of petroleum jelly prevents the wound from breathing, which slows down the healing process, and the physical barrier causes sweating underneath and traps dirt and bacteria.
That said, small amounts of petrolatum in a formula shouldn’t be a problem. It’s the pure stuff that’s so notorious.
AHAs, BHAs, and Other Exfoliating Acids
Exfoliating acids do a type of chemical peel, which removes a certain amount of skin from the surface.
With it, it can remove a portion of pigment, especially during the healing process, but also from older microblading. This is why clients can’t just use their go-to moisturizer.
Retinol
Apart from acids, retinol or vitamin A is a powerful brightening ingredient that works through exfoliation. Therefore, a no-no for a microblading ointment. This is why clients can’t just use their go-to moisturizer.
Rosehip Oil
There’s been some talk over the years that rosehip oil can actually fade microblading, due to lycopene and beta carotene which are said to be brightening ingredients.
While there’s no definite answer as to whether it can remove pigments, it’s best not to risk it and avoid rosehip oil.
Corticosteroids
This is a type of steroid often used to eliminate the itching sensation.
Although brows that are healing from microblading can be quite itchy, reaching for steroids is far too extreme – it’s unnecessary exposure to synthetic hormones. Natural soothing ingredients are always a better option.
Artificial Fragrance
Synthetic perfume is to be avoided in skincare in general. They contain alcohol most of the time, which is notoriously drying. Brows healing from microblading can feel dry anyway and additional dryness is definitely not desirable.
Synthetic Ingredients in General
Exposing a relatively fresh skin injury to often harsh synthetic ingredients poses a risk of skin irritation.
It’s always better to choose formulas with predominantly natural ingredients, especially since there are so many options available nowadays.
So, What Is the Best Microblading Aftercare Cream?
The best way to choose a good microblading aftercare cream is the so-called turn and learn method – look through the ingredients list and see what the formula contains.
There’s no one correct answer, but a huge portion of artists use and recommend the following:
Microblading Aftercare Ointment – Final Word
Whichever microblading aftercare ointment is chosen, it’s extremely important clients use it properly. The artist has to lay out the aftercare instructions clearly and emphasize their importance, and the clients have to be aware that following them down to the T is the only way to ensure smooth healing and good pigment retention.
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