The Microblading Process & What to Expect

You're curious about Microblading and want to know more about the process. How could you not be, you see Microblading EVERYWHERE right now. For those of us who had the Drew-Barrymore-super-thin-and-rounded brow goals from the 90's, we are regretting it now that we can no longer grow brow hair where we tweezed it away for more than a decade. We can all thank Kevin Aucoin for the thin brow trends of our youth. He took the liberty of tweezing Linda Evangelista's brows backstage during NYFW in the early 90's. If any other makeup artist tweezed away a super models brows, they would likely loose their job and be blacklisted from fashion week but since it was Mr. Aucoin, the thin brows became one of the biggest beauty trends of the decade. Flash forward a few decades to 2021 and we all want fuller, more shapely brows and Microblading is the perfect way to accomplish your brow goals without having to paint them on everyday. So, what does the Microblading process look like? Read on to know what to expect when you arrive for your Microblading appointment with Nikoma & Co.

Step One: Book Your Session!

After booking your appointment you will receive an appointment confirmation containing my studio address, pre-care information.

Step Two: Consultation

When you arrive for your appointment, we start with a full consultation. I ask that you bring in images of brows that you love so that I can take them into considering when we are deciding on your ideal brow shape, color, and density. I will talk you through what to expect during and post procedure so that you feel empowered and know exactly what to expect. This is the perfect time to ask any and all questions!

Step Three: Pre-Draw

After the consultation, I will have you lay down and take a look at your natural brows under my bright lights. That allows me to see your skin and hair pattern (or lack thereof) clearly. I will take several measurements of your face in relation to your brow area, this process is known as brow-mapping. Brow-mapping will help me ensure we get your arches in the most flattering place, ensure your tails end at the same point, and help me create the most flattering and symmetrical brows for your face. Once I have your brows drawn on, I will sit you up and take a second look since your face changes when you are laying down. I may make some tweeks to the shape and then I will show you and ask for your feedback. From there, we will continue tweeking the pre-draw, if necessary, until it is exactly what you were envisioning. Once we have a solid pre-draw I will have you lay back down and I will clean up any brow hairs outside of the pre-draw area ensuring you have flawless brows when you leave the studio.

Step Four: Numbing

Now that we have a solid map to follow while Microblading, it is time to get you numbed up! I will start with a series of pokes across each brow that feel similar to tweezing. This allows me to open up the skin and begin numbing you from just below the skins surface. Next I will apply a generous layer of a topic anesthetic and cover your brows with plastic wrap to warm up the skin and open the pores. This allows the numbing agent to penetrate deeper into the skin and result in optimal numbing. Now we wait 15-20min to allow the anesthetic to fully kick in. Bring your phone to entertain you during this time or have a little cat-nap.

Step Five: Microblading

Now for my favorite part: Microblading! I will work one brow at a time, usually starting with the right side. I will remove the numbing agent and begin creating hairstrokes, one by one, across the entire brow. I have to complete a full first pass on the brow before I can re-numb you since I don't want to wipe away the pre-draw so I will work quickly but efficiently. You may notice that I get a little quiet during this phase. After mimicking the same steps on the left side, I will apply the secondary anesthetic and then begin filling in and perfecting each brow, moving back and forth from left to right. Once the brows are shaped and saturated to my standard, I will apply a pigment mask by rubbing a layer of pigment across both brows and allowing it to sit for 5-10min and soak into the little hairstrokes. After I remove the pigment mask, you get your big reveal!

Step Six: Healing

After your brows are complete we will go over after care together. Additionally, I will send you a copy of the aftercare instructions via email. I also give every client an after-care kit containing a super gentle frangrence-free foaming cleanser and an after-care cream. We will talk about what to expect through the inevitable emotional rollercoaster that the next few weeks of healing will bring and how to utilize the after-care products provided to get the best healing results.

Step Seven: Schedule Your Touch-Up!

Although it only takes 7-10 days for the initial healing to take place, it actually takes about 6 weeks for your skin to fully regenerate and show your true healed results. Since your brows are not considered done until after your touch-up appointment, you will want to get that scheduled within 6-8 weeks of your initial session. This will allow me to see how your skin held the pigment and have the opportunity to perfect any potential imperfections that arise during the healing process. Once your touch-up session is complete, you go through the healing process one more time and then THAT’S IT! You get to wake up with perfect brows every morning!

*Have more questions about Microblading? Be sure to check out my FAQ Page . Still have more questions? Please submit a contact form!