Microblading Healing Process: Day by Day
Find out what to expect throughout the microblading healing process: itching, scabbing, color change, etc. We break it down for you – day by day.
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Last updated in August 2023.
Trends may come and go, but it seems that microblading eyebrows is here to stay. People around the world are crazy about microbladed brows because they look natural and chic.
However, the result is not seen immediately after the treatment. In order to achieve the final look, your eyebrows must go through the microblading healing process.
The microblading recovery process can be very demanding, physically and emotionally. It’s better to get yourself informed and prepared for microblading healing before booking an appointment so you know what to expect – you’ll deal with it more easily.
Read all about the microblading healing process in this article.
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How Long Do Microbladed Eyebrows Take to Heal?
The healing process of microblading lasts 4-8 weeks (depending on your age and general system) and entails stages of swelling, tenderness, scabbing, and color changing.
Microbladed brows will take their final shape and color after the pigment sets in and the skin heals completely, and after the touch up is done. When the brows complete the healing process, you need to book a touch up to correct all the potential imperfections caused by healing.
Image source: Instagram @radasvonja_phistudio
What Can I Expect During the Microblading Healing Process?
The microblading eyebrows healing process is an emotional rollercoaster. There will be moments when you will think that the color is wrong and that you didn’t get what you wanted.
It will also be hard to resist scratching and picking the scabs. You might freak out when you wake up one morning and realize your brows are gone!
The microblading healing process requires patience and discipline, but it will be worth it in the end.
It is important to know that not everyone’s skin heals the same way. Some people might go through microblading recovery quickly and without any scabs at all, while others need as long as 6 weeks or more for their skin to heal.
The pace of microblading recovery depends on several factors:
- your age
- your skin type
- your overall health.
What Are the Stages of Microblading Healing Process?
Usually, there are 6 microblading healing stages, some of which overlap:
- eyebrows swollen and dark
- scabbing and flaking
- eyebrows too light, almost disappeared
- the color is coming back, but the brows look patchy
- touch up
- full recovery
These are the most typical stages of the microblading recovery process, and some general time spans within which they occur.
The beginning is the hardest to overcome, especially because you have to be extra careful not to damage your freshly microbladed brows and the skin.
If you’re lucky, some of the microblading healing stages won’t be too unbearable, but be prepared for the worst – some of them might be pretty irritating.
Image source: Instagram @hannahdoesmybrows
Day by Day Microblading Healing Process
Before we get into it, we just have to note onca again that everyone’s microblading healing process is unique! This is a general overview – don’t be surprised if your experience deviates from it.
Days 1 and 2
Your eyebrows are swollen and there is redness around them. The area is tender to the touch. The strokes look too dark and thick and you might regret getting the treatment.
The area around your brows is very sensitive and prone to infections, so you have to be careful.
What to do?
Don’t panic!
The color will change into the desired one. Brows will become 30-40% lighter once the microblading healing process ends.
Follow the microblading aftercare instructions religiously. Don’t get your brows soaking wet, don’t apply any makeup, don’t sleep on your face, avoid extensive sweating, swimming pools, saunas, and sunlight exposure.
Days 3-4
Your brows will look better and you will be satisfied. You are getting used to the fact that you don’t have to draw or fill them in with a pencil every morning. They are still too dark but are slowly starting to fade.
What to do?
Keep taking special care of the microbladed area. Don’t be worried if your brows still look too dark – this is perfectly normal, the pigments just haven’t settled yet.
Your brows are a fresh wound and need to be cleaned properly.
Here’s what you can use to wash you brows (but always listen to your artist’s recommendation):
Days 5-7
Somewhere around day 5, the scabbing stage begins. The microbladed area is itchy. You might feel irritated, but scratching is strictly forbidden. The area is still pretty sensitive and scratching can cause complications.
The pigment has been inserted relatively shallow into the skin (just under the basal membrane between the epidermis and dermis).
Because of this, scratching can take it off, and picking at your scabs can literally rip out the pigment from larger areas and leave you with patches.
The scabs emerge and then start flaking.
If you are not familiar with the stages of the microblading healing process, you might freak out. Bear in mind that this is quite normal and almost everybody has to deal with the scabs during microblading healing.
Some people’s skin flakes extensively, while others barely have any scabs.
What to do?
Calm down and patiently wait for the scabbing stage to finish.
Clean your brows regularly and apply an ointment if your artist prescribed one. Do not scratch the area around your brows because you might pull the pigment out. If you accidentally scratch and take off the pigment, it can be fixed at the touch-up.
Here’s what you can use to moisturize you brows (but always listen to your artist’s recommendation):
Days 8-10
The scabs are starting to come off and your brows are much lighter than they should be.
You might think that your skin is rejecting the pigment, but this is usually not the case. After all the scabbing and peeling, your brows are still recovering. Now they are light and patchy.
You might notice the new skin beneath the scabs looks unnaturally light – don’t worry, it will blend in within a few days.
What to do?
Again, don’t freak out.
Don’t run to the microblading artist asking for a refund thinking that the whole treatment was unsuccessful. This happens to almost everyone who has had their brows microbladed.
Image source: Instagram @brow_geeks
Days 11 – 28
The hardest period is behind you and your microblading recovery is almost over.
Your microbladed brows are taking their final shape. They might look patchy at the beginning, but some strokes will reappear. This is still not the end of the microblading healing process, and you need to be patient a bit longer.
You might feel excited because the final look of your brows is just around the corner. You are also relieved because all the scabbing is over. The skin of the treated area is not so sensitive anymore, so you can slowly start behaving normally, but keep following your artist’s instructions and avoid certain products and activities.
At the end of the third week, you will see what the brows look like and how the skin has taken the pigment.
If they’re still patchy, don’t worry, they can be corrected at the touch-up appointment.
What to do?
Schedule the touch-up.
It’s supposed to be done at the end of the healing process, i.e. 4–6 weeks after the treatment, but some artists prefer to wait as long as 8 weeks to pass.
The touch-up is there to correct all the imperfections. For example, if the brows look uneven or if they’re patchy, additional strokes are added.
Days 28 – 42
The microblading healing process is finally over.
Some brows heal faster, some take more time. It depends on:
- your age
- skin type
- overall health
- and daily routine and lifestyle.
After the touch-up, your brows will take their final shape and color.
If you’ve followed the aftercare tips and if the microblading artist has done a good job, you will probably be head over heels about your new brows.
PMUHub Tips to Endure the Microblading Eyebrows Healing Process
Tip #1
Before even booking a microblading appointment, make sure you don’t have an important event at least a month after it.
If an unexpected celebration pops up in the middle of your healing process, you will probably have to go with scabby brows. However, you can fill them in with makeup as long as 2 weeks have passed since the treatment and your microblading artist approves.
So, plan the date of your microblading treatment carefully, bearing in mind that your brows will not look their best for a few weeks afterwards.
Tip #2
Try to spend less time in front of a mirror.
If you’re obsessed with your brows you might check them every couple of minutes. The color does not change that fast. The redness goes away gradually.
Do something else instead. Read a book, binge-watch your favorite show, try not to think about them.
Tip #3
Don’t let scabbing freak you out.
The fear that you will tear off scabs in your sleep or by accident might bother you, but don’t worry about it too much. If something like this happens, contact your microblading artist.
Tip #4
If you feel desperate when you see how dark and swollen your brows are after the treatment, go online and search for pictures of microbladed brows immediately after the treatment and after the first touch-up.
You will see that they just need some time to be perfect.
Tip #5
Some people take more time to heal, and if you are one of them, don’t be devastated.
Don’t compare yourself to friends whose brows took less time to heal. Think about the future and how pretty you will be with your brand new brows.
Tip #6
If you notice any symptoms other than the ones described, like intense redness, swelling, or itching not subsiding when they’re supposed to, you might be dealing with a skin infection.
Contact your artist. They’ll probably ask you to send them some pictures of your brows to assess whether there’s any reason for concern.
If you follow aftercare instructions, the chances of getting an infection are extremely low, and even if it does happen, most of them are mild. Nevertheless, don’t ignore signs of an infection – severe ones can happen and antibiotics might be necessary.
Microblading Healing Process After a Touch Up
The microblading healing process after a touch-up, be it the first, mandatory one, or a later one, depends on the amount of work done.
If many additional strokes were made, or if there was some additional shading, you might go through all the described stages. The amount of scabbing you’ll experience depends on the number of new incisions made.
Generally, it will only take a few days for your brows to heal, since the skin didn’t suffer as much trauma.
Your Microbladed Brows Months Later
Once you soldier through the microblading healing process, you’re set for months.
Six months after the treatment your brows will still look great. Microbladed brows generally last from 9 to 15 months without the need to refresh them.
It depends on your skin type and lifestyle, but also how well you treat them.
Regular touch-ups will prolong them.
Microblading Healing Process – Main Takeaways
For some people, the microblading healing process can be emotionally exhausting. If you prepare for it properly, read about all the microblading healing stages and side effects, you won’t be caught off guard and you’ll deal with it more easily, as you won’t be as anxious. Microblading is definitely worth all the trouble because once the healing process is through, you can enjoy your perfect eyebrows for months, even years.LEARN MORE ABOUT MICROBLADING
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