Microblading Aftercare: Day by Day

Find out all you need to know about microblading aftercare in order to stay safe and healthy and achieve the best possible microblading results.

Image source: Pexels

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in November 2019. Updated May 2021.

After you finish your microblading eyebrows treatment, your artist needs to get you familiar with the aftercare routine.

Microblading aftercare is extremely important and the success of the treatment relies on it to a great extent.

So you must take it seriously and follow the aftercare instructions religiously.

Microblading aftercare implies cleaning your brows, protecting them from contamination, and taking care of the skin in the area in a way prescribed by your microblading artist, following a special schedule.

The artist has done their part – now it’s your turn and you play a very important role.

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the microblading aftercare routine.

How Long Does Microblading Aftercare Last?

Generally, microblading aftercare lasts from 7 to 14 days.

The microblading healing process lasts 4-6 weeks, but the aftercare doesn’t require that much time.

It’s extremely important at the beginning stages of the microblading recovery process when you have to be extra careful. The most sensitive stage is the scabbing stage. After that, you can relax a bit.

Want to find out more about microblading? Follow the links:

Microblading Eyebrows – The Ultimate Guide

Microblading Cost

Microblading Before & After

What are the Basic Rules of Microblading Aftercare?

Here are the basic rules of microblading aftercare:

Wash your face gently and be especially careful around the treated area. Pat it with a clean tissue. Don’t rub your brows.
Only use the products prescribed by your esthetician. Don’t use skincare products on your own, because they may contain ingredients such as exfoliants and acids, which can affect the pigment.
Let the scabs fall off naturally. Don’t pick them because you can rip some pigment off and that is hard to fix.
Don’t sleep on your face and use a clean pillowcase, ideally a silk one.
Don’t wear makeup for at least 10 days. You may be tempted to wear makeup on the rest of your face avoiding the treated area, but artists advise against it, since the makeup and removal products can come in contact with the tender area when you remove the makeup.
Avoid sweating, saunas, swimming in the ocean and pools, and long showers.
Avoid sun exposure and tanning.

As you can see, the basic aftercare rules are very strict.

You are not allowed to wear makeup and use cosmetic products.

For this reason, plan carefully before you book your microblading appointment. Bear in mind that your brows need some time to heal, and you’ll also need to get the touch-up.

Therefore, it is best to have the treatment at least 2 months before an important event or a holiday.

What Types of Microblading Aftercare Are There?

There are two ways in which you can treat your eyebrows after microblading:

dry healing
wet healing

The difference between them is that the former means using an ointment after washing the brows, while the latter doesn’t.

The wet healing routine has several steps:

wash your brows gently with sterile water
dry them gently by blotting them with a clean cloth or a cotton pad
applying a thin layer of aftercare ointment

Some microblading artists recommend this type of healing explaining that an ointment acts as a barrier against contamination, has a beneficial effect on the cells and helps the skin regenerate faster.

When it comes to dry healing, there are two versions.

The first one is washing your brows gently, and then drying them, but the ointment is excluded.
The second one is a little more extreme and means no washing at all and no ointments. All you need to do is stay away from water and wait for your brows to heal naturally.

How to Know Which One to Apply?

Your esthetician will know which type of healing will work best for you, based on your skin type.

Internet articles and comments can be confusing. Some say you should wash your brows and use the ointment, while others recommend dry healing.

If your artist is experienced enough, they should know which method works best for the client. You should follow their instructions as closely as possible.

Image source: Instagram @newbrowsuk

Microblading Aftercare for Oily Skin

People with dry skin can be 100% sure that their microblading treatment will be successful.

Those with oily skin are not that lucky. This is because sebum i.e., natural oils the skin produces push the pigment out. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t have microbladed eyebrows.

They can, but microblading oily skin requires special aftercare.

Dry healing is usually recommended for clients with oily skin since there is no need for additional moisturizing. Microbladed eyebrows should be blotted a few times a day. You need to keep them dry.

Microblading Aftercare Day by Day

Day 1

Your eyebrows are very sensitive and swollen. They also appear too dark.

A few hours after the treatment, blot the lymph off of them with a cotton pad and just a drop of sterile water. Repeat this 2-3 times.

Days 2 – 4

Wash your brows with some sterile water on a cotton pad, or use antibacterial soap (follow your microblading artist’s instructions).

Repeat it 2-4 times a day to avoid the build-up of lymph in the area. Be very gentle and make sure your hands are clean.

After cleaning your brows apply a thin layer of an ointment if advised. You shouldn’t use too much ointment – your brows mustn’t look greasy.

Days 5 – 10

Usually, around day 5, the scabbing stage begins.

Let the scabs fall off naturally. If you touch them, you risk ruining your microblading.

Carry on with the aftercare routine – wash gently, dry, moisturize if advised. If you notice anything unusual, like heavy scabbing or irritation, contact your artist.

Days 10 – 14

You don’t need to apply the ointment any longer.

On the 14th day, you can go back to your everyday routine. You can wash your face normally and even apply some makeup if you have to.

When Can I Wash My Eyebrows After Microblading?

Microblading is a form of a tattoo, which means that the wound needs to be kept clean.

Keep them dry for at least two hours after the treatment. After that, you should clean your brows with a little bit of water on a cotton pad. Do it 2-3 times on the very first day. This has to be done to get rid of the lymph that will appear from the wound.

During days 2-10, you need to clean the brows gently with antibacterial soap and some water. Be very careful, don’t rub them, just pat them gently. Keep them dry after that and apply an ointment, if your artist recommended so.

How Do I Maintain My Microblading Once It’s Healed?

The longevity of your microblading depends on your lifestyle and habits.

If you sweat a lot, swim or expose the treated area to the sun, it is unlikely that your microblading will survive as long as 2-3 years.

If you want to prolong it, you have to schedule regular touch ups. Your skin type and lifestyle will dictate the frequency of touch ups. Don’t wait too long. If your microblading fades away, you will have to do the whole treatment all over again.

Also, if you want your microblading to last longer, protect your brows with sunscreen lotion and avoid using products that contain retinol, because it speeds up the fading process.

Image source: Instagram @beautyboss.usa

Which Ointment Should I Choose for the Microblading Aftercare?

If you trusted your artist with the whole treatment, you might as well trust them with the aftercare tips.

If your artist has prescribed wet healing, apply the aftercare ointment according to the schedule.

Use the ointment recommended by your esthetician. Most artists will provide you with the necessary aftercare products.

The aftercare ointment is usually a panthenol- and glycerin-based cream. Some cosmeticians recommend Vaseline, while others claim that it is not such a good option. A lot of them praise Aquaphor, a product tattoo artists use.

Other artists speak well of coconut oil and creams that contain virgin olive and avocado oil. An ointment that contains honey and propolis is a good antibacterial product. Some of the products may contain shea butter, cocoa butter, bee wax, etc. Let your artist know if you have any allergies.

What you need to be careful about is how you use the ointment.

Don’t clog your pores. You should use just a little bit of the recommended cream, not apply a thick layer of it. It is advisable to dip a q-tip in the ointment and apply a thin layer on each brow. Do this 3 times a day.

For best results, apply the ointment before and after a shower, to keep your brows protected.

Source: YouTube Screenshot – Brow Envy

What If I Mess Up My Microblading?

First of all, you need to choose your artist carefully. Your artist should be someone you can trust and feel comfortable with. You should feel free to ask anything you want before, during, and after the treatment. Also, your artist should be available to you during the aftercare routine, in case you feel worried about something or have extra questions.
If you choose an artist wisely and follow all the microblading aftercare tips listed above, there’s no need to worry. Be patient and wait for the healing period to finish.
If you scratch or rub your eyebrows by accident (in your sleep, for example), you might rip off some pigment. If you think this is the case, go and see your artist or send them a picture. The damage should be fixed at the first, mandatory touch-up.
If your microbladed eyebrows somehow get infected, ask your artist or even better, a dermatologist, for help. You might need antibiotics. Remember, this is not very likely to happen, especially if your microblading esthetician works in sterile conditions and you are especially careful during the aftercare.

What Do I Do When My Microblading Starts Fading?

If your microblading starts fading too soon, even though you followed all the aftercare steps, it might be your artist’s fault.

The incisions were probably too shallow and the pigment didn’t retain. Book another appointment, or ask for a refund and find another artist.

For better results and to stay safe and healthy, you need to warn your artist about any health conditions you have. The artist should be aware of them so that they can decide if you are a good candidate for microblading.

Also, this can tell them which type of pigment to use. For instance, if you are anemic, the artist shouldn’t work with iron-based pigment. The results will not be satisfactory.

If you have oily skin, your eyebrows will probably fade faster. Book frequent touch-ups. Touch-ups prolong your microblading, but at some point (after 2-3 years) the treatment must be repeated.

Microblading Aftercare – Main Takeaways

Aftercare for microblading brows is very important and the instructions are relatively simple and easy to follow.

If you are well-informed and follow the tips, you can expect great results.