Microblading is the most popular brow enhancement method at the moment. Since it’s a form of a brow tattoo, there is a healing period after the treatment. During healing, brows go through different stages and certain aftercare is required.
Some aftercare tips are common for all artists, but there are also two types of healing: microblading wet healing and dry healing.
Sometimes, artists are confused and not sure which of these two gives better results and is more suitable for their clients. So, let’s discuss wet healing microblading, compare it to dry healing, list its pros and cons and define who it is for.
What Is Microblading Wet Healing Like?
To put it simply, wet healing means that you should use a healing ointment during the healing period, unlike dry healing where no healing cream is prescribed.
So, to clear up the confusion, both methods include cleaning i.e washing the brows. With dry healing, you clean your brows regularly, dry them and leave them to heal on their own. With wet healing, you also wash your eyebrows, dry them and then apply the ointment.
Some artists tell their clients that they shouldn’t wash their eyebrows at all, and describe it as dry healing. However, this method is risky, because the lymph and bacteria buildup can lead to an infection, more scabbing, and complications, so it’s not advisable.
Microblading Wet Healing Day by Day
Day 1 – remove the excess lymph 2-3 times a day and keep your eyebrows dry. Some artists recommend using the ointment on the very first day, and if your artist says so, follow their advice.
Days 2-3 – Your eyebrows are still a fresh wound, so make sure you clean them regularly. When you will start using the healing ointment depends on the artist’s aftercare tips, but most of them say it is on the 2nd or the 3rd day after the treatment.
Days 4-14 – Keep cleaning your eyebrows and applying the healing cream. It will help you through the scabbing stage and relieve the itchiness and tightness. After 2 weeks (or less) you can stop with the aftercare and let your eyebrows continue their healing process.
Extra Tip
It is important to apply only a thin layer of the ointment, and let the skin breathe. The size of a grain of rice is enough. Otherwise, you will clog the pores and slow down the healing process.
What to Avoid During Healing
You shouldn’t apply a new layer of the ointment before cleaning your eyebrows and removing the old layer. The brows need to be completely clean before the new layer – otherwise, they can get infected.
Also, avoid getting the brows soaking wet outside of cleaning, as well as excessive sweating and sun exposure.
Pros of Microblading Wet Healing
It’s more comfortable for clients
Applying an ointment helps relieve the itchiness clients usually feel while their eyebrows are healing.
There’s less scabbing
The skin oozes less lymph if it is moisturized, so there will be less scabbing. Also, the scabs won’t be thick and won’t pull out too much pigment, and the results may not be as patchy as they could be with dry healing.
Less risk of infection
An ointment works as a kind of barrier, preventing bacteria from entering the wound, so it decreases the risk of getting your eyebrows infected.
Better healing results
This depends on the skin type, but if the skin is dry to normal, most artists will prescribe wet healing microblading because it will give better results.
Image source: Instagram @highheelslowlife
Cons of Microblading Wet Healing
Strokes not very crisp
Some artists say that dry healing gives much better results when it comes to strokes. They are more crisps, while with microblading wet healing they can become slightly blurry. Others claim that this is not true.
Every experienced artist knows which of these gives better results for their method and they will recommend the one they prefer.
Microblading wet healing is not suitable for oily skin
People with very oily skin are not really good candidates for microblading, and only a very skilled and experienced artist can manage to achieve crisp and natural results. They usually recommend dry healing to clients with oily skin, because there is more sebum to moisturize the wound, so no additional moisturizing is required.
On the other hand, there are also those microblading artists who will prescribe wet healing microblading, even if a client has oily skin.
So, Which One Is Better – Microblading Wet Healing or Dry Healing?
A better question would be which one is better for you. Your microblading artists, if you choose a good one, will be able to tell your skin type and predict how it will behave during the healing period.
According to PMUHub’s survey, more microblading artists will advise wet healing to dry healing. The reason for this is that the skin tends to become very itchy and feels tight during healing, so an ointment should be applied to relieve the discomfort and make the whole process easier to deal with.
Cover image source: Freepik
