First, there was microblading, a cosmetic tattoo treatment to get natural-looking hair stroke brows. Then, other treatments emerged, some of them becoming more popular than the well-known microblading. Some clients are still not familiar with all the treatments out there, which makes it difficult to decide which permanent makeup treatment is the right one for them.
One of the terms you may come across is ombre brows, but you may have also heard of ombre microblading. So, let’s clear up the confusion and answer the question of is there such a thing as ombre microblading and what it is.
Image source: Instagram @lovemybrows_bym
What Is Microblading?
If you want hair stroke brows, you want microblading. Or nanoblading, the same thing but done with a machine. Microblading is done with a hand-held tool that is first dipped into a pigment mixture and then used to create incisions that, once healed, resemble your natural hair strokes.
Microblading is perfect for people who already have brows, but they are patchy or lack good shape. By adding hair strokes where necessary, your brows will get great arches and look fuller.
What Are Ombre Brows?
Ombre brows are a version of powder brows. So, yes, they look powdery and soft, without distinctive hair strokes. Powder brows are done with a machine that inserts PMU pigments into the top layers of the skin using the dotting technique, or pixelization. Ombre brows are actually powder brows that have lighter heads and dark tails – a so-called ombre effect, popular in the beauty industry.
But What Is Ombre Microblading?
Ombre microblading combines these two techniques. Hair strokes are created with microblading and then shading is added, but lighter in the head and darker towards the tail of the brow. Some artists do the shading first and then add hair strokes.
Being a combination of two treatments, they are also called combre brows, which are described in detail in this article: Combre Brows – The Newest Brow Tattoo Style.
Image source: Instagram @marylittleglam
Combre Brows vs Combo Brows
Yes, the PMU artists use the terms combre and combo brows and they are two very similar treatments. As explained above, combre brows are actually ombre microblading. On the other hand, combo brows combine powder brows and microblading, without the ombre effect, so let’s describe them as powder brows microblading.
That’s the only difference. Other than that, they are two almost identical treatments, and which one you will choose comes down to your preferences.
What Should I Know About Ombre Microblading?
Here are some facts about ombre microblading you’re probably curious about.
Lifespan
While the effects of microblading last approximately up to 18 months, adding shading will prolong the duration so you can expect your ombre microblading to last around 2 years.
Bear in mind that they will not look the same after so much time, so you will need to freshen them up when you notice they are too faded.
When it comes to the speed of fading, it depends on different factors such as skin type and lifestyle. If your skin is oily, they will naturally fade faster. Or if your routine involves a lot of sweating, swimming, so water and sun exposure in general.
After 2 years (more or less), some people will notice their ombre microblading disappears completely if not touched up, while others will still have pigment residues. For some people, they will still look okay after 2 years. Ombre microblading, as any other modern eyebrow tattoo, is advertised as semi-permanent, but for most people the shadow will remain for years.
Image source: Instagram @narjaravieiramicropigmentacao
Healing & Aftercare
As any other brow tattoo, ombre microblading will need up to 6 weeks to heal. The healing period is sometimes pretty annoying and your eyebrows will go through several stages, when they will be too dark, then scabby, and then too light. But all of that is normal, just make sure you follow the aftercare tips to ensure the best healing results.
Learn all about microblading aftercare (which can apply to all the eyebrow tattoo treatments) here: Microblading Aftercare: Day by Day
Touch Up
After your brows are completely healed, so 6-8 weeks after the initial treatment, you will need a follow-up appointment. Sometimes, brows can heal patchy or a client asks for a darker color, and all of that is fixed at the touch up appointment.
The Price
Ombre microblading costs around $600, but the price can vary from $250 to as much as $1500, depending on the location and the experience of the artist.
Image source: Instagram @moniqueoliveira.pmu
Removal
Ombre microblading can be removed, if it’s necessary. This is usually done if a client is unhappy with the results, or after a few years if the pigment residues are still there and look unattractive (this usually happens if the artist’s technique is not good, i.e if they implemented the pigments too deep). The best and most effective options are laser, saline and glycolic acid removal.
How Do I Know If Ombre Microblading Is Right for Me?
Ombre microblading looks very attractive and is perfect for those who like the makeup look of the brows. Also, it is great for people who like hair stroke brows but have oily skin which makes them not so great candidates for microblading only. Adding the powdery effect will make the brows look good and last longer.
Cover image source: Freepik
