Microshading Scabbing Process: What to Expect
While the eyebrows are healing, they go through several stages and one of them is scabbing. Here is what is normal and what isn’t during the microshading scabbing process.
Image source: Instagram @facenvie_beautystudio
Every permanent makeup procedure entails a healing process. This is because they are done by opening up the skin and implementing pigments inside. Since the skin is broken, the wounds need to close up.
Microshading scabs forming and peeling is a normal part of the recovery, so you shouldn’t panic. However, it’s important to know what to expect so that you can distinguish between normal healing and something going wrong.
Here’s an overview of the microshading scabbing process.
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What Is Microshading Scabbing and Is It Normal?
After any cosmetic tattoo, the skin recovery includes scabbing. Some clients experience heavier scabbing, others scab so little they don’t even notice it. It all depends on how your skin reacts to the treatment, but it can also be a sign of how deep the pigments were injected.
As part of the microshading healing process scabbing is completely normal and expected, but to a certain degree.
Heavier scabbing may point to something going wrong.
Want to find out more about microshading? Follow the links:
Microshading – The Ultimate Guide
Microshading Before and After Gallery
Image source: Instagram @all_things_brows
Why Does Scabbing After Microshading Happen?
Microshading is done with an electric needle device or manual tools that pierce the skin and implement pigments into it. In the case of adding hair strokes, a blade is dragged through the skin in the shape of brow hairs. With all these techniques, micro wounds are made.
Puncturing the skin triggers the skin recovery – the wounds need to close up. Microshading scabbing is the body’s natural response. The surface of the skin recovers, and the pigments settle underneath.
However, scabbing after microshading is different from scabbing after more severe skin trauma. Since the pigments are only implanted into the outer layer of the skin, i.e. the junction between the surface layer and the dermis, where there are no blood vessels, no blood is drawn during the treatment, or at least it shouldn’t be.
If your skin bleeds during the treatment, this is a sign of either the artist going too deep, or the skin being too thin and sensitive, or you didn’t follow pre-care instructions.
Instead, the skin oozes lymph. The lymph dries, and that’s how microshading scabs are formed.
When Does the Scabbing Start & How Long Does It Last?
The body starts the recovery process as soon as the skin is broken, and the first sign is lymph oozing.
The scabs form day 3-4 after the procedure, depending on how fast your body’s response is. On days 1 and 2 after the procedure, you will be instructed to clean off the lymph from the area to minimize the scabbing.
Once they are formed, the scabs will fall off on their own after a few days. The peeling starts between days 5 and 7, and it lasts for a few days. Some clients go through a second, less intense peeling cycle after the initial one.
Microshading scabbing should end by day 12, but for some clients, it can end sooner or later than that. If you notice your brows are peeling much later than that, contact your artist – something may be going wrong.
Image source: Instagram @mona.inks
How Should I Treat My Brows During Microshading Scabbing?
To allow your brows to heal properly, you need to follow the microshading aftercare routine at every stage of the initial healing, including the scabbing stage, up to day 12 or so.
The first thing you need to know is that you mustn’t touch your brows. Of course, you should clean and wash them as instructed, but apart from that, keep your hands to yourself! Rubbing, scratching, or straight-up picking at the scabs will cause the scabs to pull out the pigments from the skin and your brows will heal patchy.
Here’s how aftercare affects the microshading scabbing process:
- On days 1-3, clean your brows from built-up lymph with warm water and mild soap 3 times a day. You need to remove the lymph so the scabs form as thin as possible, and to prevent contamination from bacteria and dirt that get stuck to the lymph.
- From day 3 until peeling ends, apply an aftercare ointment that protects the area from contamination, but also moisturizes it. If the area is kept moist, the body doesn’t form thick scabs. It also won’t get too itchy. The ointment evens out the scabs into a thin film, instead of uneven patches. This is important so the scabs don’t pull out the pigment in patches.
Your artist may prescribe an aftercare routine different from the one described above. Always follow your artist’s advice.
What Does Microshading Scabbing Look Like Day by Day?
Here’s a general timeline of microshading scabbing.
Days 1- 4
Your brows are freshly done. They look great, but perhaps a bit too dark. They’re probably slightly red, swollen, and oozing lymph.
Days 5 -14
Scabs form, and then gradually peel off in flakes. The amount of flaking is not the same for everybody. It will pull out some pigment (about 15%) and leave lighter and sometimes patchy brows.
Days 14 – 28
The microshading scabbing process is finished. The pigment is coming back and the brows are slowly taking their final shape.
Days 28-42
The mandatory touch up needs to be done 6-8 weeks after the initial treatment to fill the patches and make any correction you may want. After the touch up, you’ll go through another recovery cycle, but much less intense and with less scabbing.
PMUHub Note
This is a general timeline. It’s not uncommon for clients’ healing stages to last longer or shorter than described.
Does Everyone Go Through a Microshading Scabbing Process?
Everyone’s system reacts differently to skin trauma, so different clients experience different degrees of scabbing. Some clients don’t scab at all, while others have a scabby film along the entire brows. It’s all very individual, and as long as you’re not experiencing heavy scabbing followed by irritation and redness, everything is fine.
How Do I Identify an Infection?
Heavy scabbing followed by inflammation, itchiness, redness or pus after day 5 are signs that you have developed or are about to develop an infection.
If anything is suspicious, contact your artist. They will advise you what to do.
How Do I Wash My Brows During Scabbing?
During the healing process, your brows need to be cleaned and washed, but in a certain way. A common advice is to use a little bit of green soap and sterile water and go over your brows once or twice a day. What you need to keep in mind is that you mustn’t soak the brows, so dry them as soon as possible, but by blotting, not rubbing.
Avoid harsh products – they may irritate the skin and affect pigment retention.
What Will My Brows Look Like After Scabbing?
This depends on how closely you followed the aftercare and how well your skin retains the pigment.
What you need to know is that your brows will go through a ghosting stage once the scabs peel off – the pigment underneath will look very light. Don’t panic – it will re-emerge within a couple of weeks and your brows will darken into their true color.
They may heal a bit patchy, though. The better you follow the aftercare, the better the initial results will be.
Nevertheless, you will need to go back for a touch up 6-8 weeks after the treatment. The artist will fix any lighter patches and add more pigments in order to ensure maximum longevity of the results.
Microshading Scabbing – Main Takeaways
Microshading scabbing is a normal part of the healing process. The micro-wounds created during the procedure need to close up. A thin scabby film will form over the treated area, and once it peels off, you can consider the initial healing done. Your brows need an extra few weeks for internal healing, and after that, you need to get a touch up. Make sure to follow the prescribed aftercare routine during scabbing to ensure the best possible retention.
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