How Long Does Microblading Last?
If you’re considering investing in the most popular semi-permanent makeup treatment – microblading – you must be curious about how long does microblading last. Read on for information about the longevity of microblading results.
Image source: Instagram @bbrows.studio
Microblading has become the go-to solution for eyebrow enhancement for many people around the world.
It can do wonders for anyone’s eyebrows – maximum volume, modified arches, sparse or bald patches camouflaged, or entire brows created from scratch for people who suffer from alopecia or other conditions.
The other reason microblading is so popular is the fact that it is very long-lasting. But just how long does microblading last? Keep reading to find out.
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How Long Does Microblading Last on Average?
The average longevity of the results of microblading is 12 to 18 months without additional touch ups.
That said, there are many factors that can make your microblading fade quicker, just like there are cases where microblading can last up to 3 years.
That’s why it’s important to be aware of all the factors that affect the longevity of microblading, so that you can decide if the treatment is worth getting, and what to expect if you do get microbladed brows.
What Is Microblading?
Microblading is a form of eyebrow tattoo which enhances the look of your natural brows by drawing additional hairs on the skin. The hair-like strokes are created with a multi-needle microblading tool that makes ultra-thin incisions on the surface of the skin, which are then filled with pigments of natural origin.
The results are enhanced eyebrows that look very natural, and can’t be removed like regular makeup is. This makes microblading a waterproof, sweat-resistant way to improve the look of your brows, and your appearance overall.
Learn all about this treatment in our ultimate guide.
Image source: Instagram @microblading.amsterdam
Wait, Isn’t an Eyebrow Tattoo Permanent?
Although microblading is often called an eyebrow tattoo, it’s important to note that new-generation cosmetic tattoos are not permanent. They don’t use tattoo ink, but rather special pigment formulas meant to last a limited time and fade away gradually, as they are broken down by the body.
What Factors Determine How Long Does Microblading Last?
The average longevity of microblading results is 12 to 18 months without touch ups, but this time span can vary significantly due to numerous factors like skin type, skin thickness, the state of your system, your lifestyle, etc.
Let’s go through the most significant factors that affect the lifespan of microblading.
1. Microblading Aftercare
The success of the microblading treatment and how long does microblading last largely depend on how you treat your brows during the healing process.
The microblading aftercare routine your artist prescribes is supposed to ensure the pigment settles properly and the skin heals without any complications. As the incisions close up, scabs form. If the scabs aren’t treated properly and if you pick at them, they can pull out significant amounts of pigment. So, if you don’t follow aftercare instructions, you could potentially erase strokes and reverse the treatment.
Image source: Pexels
2. Skin Type and Texture
Microblading is generally most suitable for people with normal to dry skin. For them, microblading is likely to last out 18 months or longer.
But for people with oily skin microblading probably won’t last that long. In fact, oily skin can significantly shorten the longevity of microblading results, as the sebum literally pushes the pigments out.
The same happens with people with large pores, as large pores usually mean more sebum.
This doesn’t mean that microblading is impossible for them, but they may need frequent touch ups. A more practical alternative is getting powder brows instead, a similar PMU treatment that will last longer on oily skin.
3. Excessive Sweating or Swimming
When you engage in physical activity, or if you live in a hot, humid climate, sweat is extracted through pores all over your skin. As sweat leaves the skin around eyebrows, it can take small amounts of pigment with it. This can cause the results to fade faster.
Another factor to consider is different substances found in sweat – salt can dry out the pigments and accelerate their extraction.
Along those lines, saltwater like the ocean can shorten the longevity of microblading results, while chemicals in swimming pools induce a chemical reaction that can result in microblading pigments fading faster or changing color.
So, physical activity and frequent swimming can affect how long microblading lasts.
4.Frequent Sunlight Exposure
Sunlight affects our skin in many ways. It’s a powerful force that induces a chemical reaction when PMU pigments are exposed to it. As a result, the pigments can change color or fade more quickly than they’re supposed to.
5. Certain Skincare Products and Facials
If you get microblading, you might have to adjust your skincare routine to PMU.
Some ingredients found in skincare products can shorten the lifespan of microblading, mainly retinol and acids. These ingredients accelerate cell turnover and thus speed up the loss of pigmented cells.
Likewise, the brow area shouldn’t be exfoliated, neither mechanically, nor through chemical peels.
6. Pigment Quality
This one is quite simple.
The better the pigment, the longer your microblading will last. You can generally tell how good the pigments are by the price of the treatment. Artists who charge more are likely to use top-quality supplies.
7. Your Overall System
Finally, none of these factors affect how long does microblading last as much as the state and general properties of your body do.
Some people’s immune systems are more sensitive to foreign objects (in this case, PMU pigments) than others, so their systems will work harder on extracting them. A curious phenomenon PMU artists have reported is that microblading sometimes lasts shorter on anemic clients if iron-oxide-based pigments are used – the iron deficiency in their bodies is relieved by absorbing the pigments.
Unfortunately, there is no way to know for sure how your body will treat the pigments beforehand.
PMUHub Note
With all these factors listed, you might be tempted to try and calculate how long will microblading last in your case.
Yes, the longevity of your microblading results is determined by all these, but there’s no formula for determining how long your microblading results will last.
Obviously, since the microblading price isn’t cheap, you want to make the most of the treatment, but this doesn’t mean you should obsess over your brows and let them dictate your life. Enjoy yourself and take part in any activity you want – microblading is here to improve your life, not restrict it in any way!
What you can do is make some small adjustments, like wearing a hat more often and replacing your aggressive skincare with natural alternatives.
How Can I Make Microblading Last Longer?
Apart from paying attention to factors that accelerate microblading fading, a way to control how long microblading lasts is through touch up appointments.
Sometimes called color boosts, microblading touch up appointments are non-mandatory (apart from the first one) top-ups you can get as soon as you notice your microblading has started to fade. The artist will add more pigment to the strokes, and your brows will be refreshed and prolonged.
Most artists advise getting a color boost once a year in order to keep your microblading for 3 years, or more. For oily skin, more frequent touch ups are usually needed.
Will My Microblading Fade Completely without Touch Ups?
Although microblading is semi-permanent, so it’s supposed to fade out eventually, in some cases, the pigments never completely disappear.
This can happen if the pigments were inserted too deep into the skin, from where the body can’t extract them, as the inner layers are never shedded like the surface layer is. The second reason has to do with the ingredients of the pigments used. Some components can’t be broken down by the body, so they’re “stuck” in the skin.
Each individual system is different, so one client’s body may break down one and the same pigment in a different way than someone else’s.
Microblading pigments can sometimes fade into a permanent shadow, which is generally barely visible and can be easily camouflaged with a quick microblading color correction. After 4 years without replenishing pigments, the shadow will likely become indistinguishable.
Is Microblading Removal Possible?
In case you’re not happy with how your microblading turned out, or you just don’t want to have microladed brows anymore for whatever reason, there are ways to get rid of the results.
Microblading fading can be accelerated in many ways, from DIY PMU removal methods to professional treatments like saline removal. If you don’t have patience or energy for gradual fading, there are also microblading removal options like laser, but bear in mind that these take several sessions, so it could cost you time and money.
Image source: Instagram @microbladingfernandaverdugo
How Long Does Microblading Last – Main Takeaways
The general longevity of microblading results is 12-18 months, but how long does microblading last depends on numerous factors, with the most significant ones listed above.
Every pair of microbladed brows is different, just like everyone lives a unique life and combines the activities that accelerate fading in different ways. However, there’s nothing a quick touch up can’t fix.
Therefore, you shouldn’t stress too much about how long microblading lasts, but rather enjoy your new brows and refresh them when you feel the need to.
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