Microshading Removal: When & How to Do It?
Removing an old microshading is possible and there are three effective ways to do it. Read all about methods for successful microshading removal.
Image source: Instagram @theartistrybeautystudio
Microshading stands out as one of the most popular treatments to enhance your eyebrows. It gives them a soft, pixelated look, as if you filled them with a pencil, but better. It won’t wear off throughout the day, it won’t come off when you wash your face and what’s best, your eyebrows are perfectly shaped.
But what if something goes wrong and you are not satisfied with your microshaded eyebrows? Can microshading be removed?
The answer is yes! Here’s how to remove microshading successfully.
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What Are My Options for Microshading Removal?
If you got tired of your old microshading, there are 3 efficient ways to get rid of that old eyebrow tattoo: laser removal, saline removal, and glycolic acid removal.
If your microshading is botched and you want to remove it immediately after the procedure, you can do an emergency removal only with saline and glycolic acid removal, but only in the first 48 hours after the treatment. After that, the micro cuts will start closing up and it is not safe to do the removal anymore. You will have to wait at least 6 weeks so your brows completely heal.
Want to find out more about microshading? Follow the links:
Microshading: The Ultimate Guide
Microshading Before and After Gallery
Image source: Instagram @sababarati
Laser Microshading Removal
When can it be done?
Your microshading has to be at least 6 months old to go for the laser removal.
How is it done?
The laser beam penetrates the skin and dissolves the pigment so that the body can absorb it.
Is laser microshading removal painful?
The laser technician applies an anesthetic to reduce discomfort, and the laser removal session doesn’t last too long – around 10 minutes. Clients are usually advised to use ibuprofen afterwards if they can’t stand the pain after the procedure.
How many sessions are required?
This depends on how saturated the microshading tattoo is. If it is an old tattoo and pretty faded, the client can see great results after the first or the second session. But if the tattoo is still new, or if the artist went too deep with pigments, it can take even up to 10 sessions.
The laser removal technician usually schedules consultations to assess the tattoo and recommend the number of sessions. After each microshading removal session, eyebrows will need to heal. Therefore, you must wait around 8 weeks between the removal sessions, so the complete removal process can last for months.
Who shouldn’t go for laser microshading removal?
If your skin is prone to keloids, you should avoid laser microshading removal. Also, people with darker skin tones should be careful and choose an experienced laser removal technician to avoid the risk of hyper- and hypopigmentation.
Tell the laser technician all about any skin and health conditions you have, so they know if you are a good candidate for laser microshading removal.
How much does it cost?
One session of laser removal is $100 to $500, but the most common cost is somewhere around $215.
What are the pros and cons of laser microshading removal?
Pros:
- Fast and effective
- Safe
- Minimal recovery
- Not too painful
Cons:
- Cost
- Some side effects, such as inflammation, infection, or even blisters may appear, but they are not serious.
- Not the best option for pigments that have a yellow, red, or pink tone, i.e. those that contain high amounts of titanium dioxide. Saline and glycolic acid are more effective in those cases.
- It will probably burn off brow hair, but not for good. The hair will grow back.
Want to find out more about Laser Removal? Check out our guide to Laser Permanent Makeup Removal.
Image source: Instagram @detatouage.mtl
Saline Microshading Removal
When can it be done?
Saline removal can be done when the brows are completely healed, so 6-8 weeks after the treatment. If you are looking for an emergency microshading removal, this can also be done with saline, but only in the first 48 hours after the treatment.
How is it done?
Saline removal is done by opening the skin and injecting the saline solution which reacts with pigments. Scabs are formed and the pigments are pulled out of the skin. Every time the scab falls off, it takes some pigment with it.
Then, the skin needs to be healed, and the removal treatment is repeated until the tattoo is completely removed.
When it comes to emergency removal, the skin doesn’t need to be opened again – the wound is still fresh. The saline solution is applied over it to remove the pigments.
Is saline microshading removal painful?
The process is similar to the tattooing process, so you can expect the same level of discomfort. In this case too, a numbing solution is applied to lower the pain.
How many sessions are required?
The number of sessions usually goes from 2 to 8, depending on how saturated with pigment the tattoo is, how old it is, how deep the pigments were injected, the composition of the pigment,
and how your skin reacts to the treatment.
Bear in mind that the skin needs to be healed between the sessions, so the whole process can last for a couple of months.
How much does it cost?
You can expect to pay somewhere between $100 and $500 per session or $250 on average. The price of an emergency saline microshading removal is cheaper.
What are the pros and cons of laser microshading removal?
Pros:
- Safe and effective
- It works for all pigment colors
- It’s safe for dark skin, too
Cons:
- It can get pricey since you need multiple sessions
- It can drag out for months
- There’s a risk of permanent scarring and infection, albeit minimal
- It entails a healing process after each session
Want to find out more about Saline Removal? Check out our guide Saline Permanent Makeup Removal
Glycolic Acid Microshading Removal
When can it be done?
When you want to remove an old microshading tattoo, or you are not satisfied with a new one, in which case, you need to wait until your eyebrows are completely healed, so 6-8 weeks after the initial treatment.
If you want an emergency removal, it can also be done with a glycolic acid solution, but only in the first 48h after the treatment.
How is it done?
Glycolic acid microshading removal is done similarly to the tattooing process. The glycolic acid and enzyme solution penetrates the skin, reacts with the pigment by drawing the pigment, moving upwards through the skin. A scab with the pigment will form over the treated area in the next few days. While the skin heals, it will push even more unwanted pigment out.
The scabs need to fall off on their own; if you touch them, you can risk scarring. Once the skin is healed again, another session is done to remove more pigment.
Is glycolic acid microshading removal painful?
The amount of discomfort is similar to the one you feel when you get your eyebrows tattoo. A numbing cream is applied to reduce the pain, so the treatment is pretty bearable.
How many sessions are required?
Similarly to the above-described removal treatments, the number of sessions depends on the state of the tattoo, i.e. how saturated with the pigment it is, how old, how much faded, the reaction of your skin to the treatment, etc.
You can expect to get 2-8 sessions, but the removal technician will tell you what you can expect during the consultation and the assessment of your microshading tattoo.
How much does it cost?
The price of the glycolic acid microshading removal is a bit higher than saline and laser removal, with an average price of $400 per session. You can find the treatment cheaper, but it can also be more expensive than that.
What are the pros and cons of glycolic acid microshading removal?
Pros:
- It’s effective for all pigment colors
- It’s safe for dark skin, too
- Allegedly, it causes less scabbing than saline
Cons:
- It can get pricey, since you need multiple sessions
- It can drag out for months
- There’s a risk of permanent scarring and infection, albeit minimal
- It entails a healing process after each session
Want to find out more about Glycolic Acid Removal? Check out our guide Glycolic Acid Permanent Makeup Removal
Image source: Instagram @phibrasilcursos
How to Remove Microshading Eyebrows at Home?
Removing an old eyebrow tattoo at home is not really possible – you can only fade it to a degree.
So, yes, if your microshading is too dark, or you just don’t like it, it is possible to fade it to some extent at home.
Here are some effective ways to fade microshading at home:
- Ignore aftercare – the aftercare tips say that you should avoid getting your eyebrows wet, swimming, saunas, exercising…so do the opposite. Your eyebrows will fade faster when exposed to water frequently. Be careful not to get them infected. And don’t pick the scabs – you risk scarring.
- Use skincare products that speed up fading. More on that in this article Skincare After Permanent Makeup: Dos and Don’ts
- Use salt to fade microshading – mix salt with water and exfoliate your eyebrows.
- Hydrogen peroxide paste will also speed up fading.
Microshading Removal – Main Takeaways
If you are looking for ways how to remove microshading eyebrows, laser removal, saline removal, and glycolic acid are the most effective and the safest ways. You can fade your microshading at home, but not get rid of it completely.
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