Microblading healing day by day
Microblading is changing people’s lives - creating convenience, building confidence, and letting people sleep in longer in the morning - seriously. Having the opportunity to have a microblading procedure took 20 minutes off of my makeup routine every morning.
But with social media showcasing people’s airbrushed lives, artists and clients tend to showcase perfect, immediately after work, often leaving out the raw experience and the ups and downs that go along with the healing of permanent makeup.
Showing the results just immediately after a procedure is not the same as showing the entire process, and can leave client’s who get the procedure with A TON of questions about their healing process. The procedure itself is only about 10% of the true microblading experience, and the next 30-60 days after are the real deal.
So for anyone considering a procedure, and for artists who want to show their clients what they can expect during healing, below is the real experience of the healing process for the first month - the good, the bad, and the scabbing.
For a detailed look at my pre and post aftercare instructions as per Tina’s recommendation see our blog post on Prep & Aftercare and PMU Aftercare 101.
I used the Tina Davies Aftercare Healing Gel throughout my healing process for days 1-7, you can read more about this on our blog here.
Here are my natural eyebrows - pre-microblading:
DAY 1
Day 1, you're excited! You get to go into your artist’s studio with patchy uneven brows, or no brows at all and voila, you come out with legitimate hair strokes that you want to show off to the world, literal #browgoals.
Before and Immediately After
They look textured, dense albeit a little bit red, but it’s a world of a difference, you feel like a changed person. Your brows are bold in color. If you aren’t used to filling them in a lot, they will look slightly more dramatic in appearance than normal, tender, slightly swollen, and you may even experience some slight bleeding. The day you get them done you may be in awe of your fresh set of brows.
If you’re used to filling them in and are used to bolder brows, you may be in love. If not, don’t panic. The permanent makeup has been applied to compensate for fading of 20-40%, so if they look darker than you normally wear your brows, stay calm, the color will fade over the next week.
DAY 2
You will try really hard not to sneeze, because of the multiple tiny paper cut-like wounds on your face, but I had mine done during allergy season, and there’s no avoiding it. Your brows will be reddish, still quite tender, and maybe even a little bit thicker in texture than the day before. You may really notice the difference in your brows and feel like people are looking at them, but chances are you’re more self-conscious about it rather than people noticing them being darker than normal.
At this point, I really loved the way that they looked and was super happy with them. I could still see every hair stroke that was made and the redness for me had subsided a lot. They had not started to form hard thick scabs yet. Day 2 was pretty easy.
DAY 3-4
By Day 3, you shouldn’t notice a huge difference from the previous two days, if anything, the pain and tenderness will start to subside, and the brows will get slightly dark or thicker, but nothing major. At this point, you’ll probably be loving the convenience of getting up and having instant brows without the hassle of having to create them yourself. You’ll likely find yourself daydreaming about beach days with completely waterproof brows, but don’t act on this at LEAST until day 10!
DAY 5
Day 5 is when things start to change. This can be the turning point in the healing process, where your brows are getting itchy and it is advised to NOT scratch them, as the wound may still be open. A thick layer of scabbing may form, and the fine hair-strokes that were created may be hidden. You may feel like you want to start panicking. RESIST the urge to blow up your artist’s phone firing off questions and accusations alike. You have a wound on your face, therefore your body is trying to repair itself, hence the scabbing. It’s all a part of the healing process, and if you’ve had any other kind of tattoos in the past, it heals very similarly.
Just know that this is totally normal and even if it doesn’t look pretty, you shouldn’t worry, they’re going to be #browgoals again in no time.
DAY 5-7
This is the scary time period when the serious scabbing will start, and begin to peel away from the skin. If you’re anything like me - you will be extremely tempted to pick or peel the scabs. Don’t give in to this temptation, it could affect your healing very negatively. If you pick it, you could lose pigment that was deposited into the skin and could end up with a holey, patchy eyebrow. By gently rinsing the area regularly the scabs will slowly start to fall off - when they’re ready. This phase is definitely the hardest of the process. As a client looking on social media, I haven’t seen anyone talk about or show this side of the microblading healing process. All we see is perfectly fresh strokes, but scabbing? Who knew your entire eyebrow would shed and go through this transformation? It’s so important for clients to know and truly understand the whole process, and really be assured by their artist that what they experience is perfectly normal, and necessary for their eyebrows to heal properly.
At the end, they will have the brows they always wanted.
DAY 7-10
Your scabs will probably be all flaked off or flaking off on their own by this point and you’ll start to see the light at the end of the healing tunnel. But because the skin has not completely mended itself back together, there may still be some cause for concern. The color during these days may seem way too light or even grey and missing in spots. You might feel like your skin didn’t take the pigment, but that’s not the case. They’ll almost look like you’ve filled them in with a powder, so again just remain as calm as possible and begin to start enjoying the fact that your eyebrows are done for you every morning. It’s important to note that at this stage, the wounds should be closed so if you’re feeling self-conscious about the light look of them, you are able to apply some makeup to fill in for the time being.
DAY 14-21
Healing is almost complete! YAY! You’re almost there.
The color and definition of the hair-strokes will return at this point. The color is beginning to even out and look more natural and brow-like. People you tell about the procedure won’t even believe that it’s a tattoo. It’s truly amazing. You’ll be settling into your new shortened makeup routine - oh and those waterproof brow beach days? AMAZING!
DAY 30
Guess what? Your healing process is complete! Your skin is completely healed and color is looking great. They should look soft and natural. This is the point where you’ll be able to tell if there is anything you want to add or change, there could be a couple spots from loss of pigment, which is all dependent on how well your skin took the pigment, but this is OKAY because your follow-up appointment should be just around the corner!
Healed Results:
All in all my experience with microblading was amazing! Through the ups and downs of the healing process, I was always assured that everything happening was normal, and was guided on how to take proper care to ensure the best results!
Hopefully, this guide to a typical healing experience is helpful to artists looking to give client's an in-depth look at what they can expect!
You can watch my full experience below:
Touch Up: Tina recommends that a client does not come back for a follow-up microblading procedure until the skin is fully healed, and suggests 3 months after their initial procedure as the optimal time to come back for their follow-up!
Are you waiting for your touch-up appointment and need something to give you a bit more definition until then? Check out how you can use the Pro-Pencil or Skinny Pencil to touch up your brows in the meantime, here.
Fast forward 2 years and here are my results. Flawless!
Loved what you read and want to see more Healing Day by Day experiences?
Check out our other blog posts below:
Combo Brow Healing Day by Day
Lip Blush Healing Day by Day
Microblading: My Healing Journey
Healed Results:
108 comments
I’m really happy I found this – my aftercare sheet and what to expect really didn’t explain it this way. I’ve been coming back and reading this often to keep myself calm (lol!). Today is day 9 for me and most of the scabbing is done but the strokes look WAY too light. I’m excited for them to darken and for my follow up appointment in a few months.
I had my brows microbladed for the third time 4 days ago. Having been through the healing process twice already, I do have some things to say. The first time I got them done, my tech matched my natural hair color perfectly, however they healed really light even several weeks afterwards and looked as if I didn’t even have the procedure done at all. I don’t have the best skin type (semi oily) so it’s very possible my skin did not take the ink very well. The second time I got them done, I had my tech go a shade darker to anticipate some fading in the healing process and was in-love with the end result! I will say there are many factors on how your brows will turn out: the healing care is the biggest factor. I’ve heard mixed reviews on if you should/shouldn’t get your brows wet during the healing period, the second time I got his done I avoided water at all costs and I noticed a huge difference in the turnout. As far as the procedure itself, my tech continuously numbed my brows but I’m almost positive I may be immune to that brand because I could feel every single stroke (yikes!); if you have tattoos it’s essentially the same feeling. To push through, I just reminded myself pain is temporary and it will be worth it, which it totally is! Can’t wait to see this turnout.
I am so grateful I just found this article! I got my eyebrows done an hour ago and I’m soo regreting it! I feel they look so dark and waxy, it’s not what I was expecting:( I am very self conscious right now and like the other comments, I feel like everyone is staring at me right now.
Your post give me some peace in thinking that this is the normal process and I will love them in the end. I will continue to pray.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed blog ❤️
I had my eyebrows microbladed yesterday along with 2nd application of eyeliner and full lip color. There was no pain involved with any of it. Every now and then a slight discomfort but numbing cream was reapplied continuously throughout the process for each procedure. I was given “after ink” ointment to apply to my eyebrows as a very thin layer and was told to wash eye liner with baby shampoo and use Cetaphil soap or other antibacterial soap for my eyebrows and lips. Apply very vaseline to lips in very thin layer. Dry healing my eyes since my first application didn’t seem to hold a much ink.
I had my initial microblading done in September the color faded a bit. My follow up was 5 days ago and I’m at the scabbing phase. Both times it was painful almost unbearable the first pass.The person doing the microblading says you cant be numbed the first pass. She does 3 passes. On the 2nd pass its bearable but by the 3rd it starts to get a little uncomfortable again. I dont know if that’s the norm or this is just how she was trained. I think I might need a touchup after this is healed because the brows look uneven. I think I will go somewhere I’m numbed before the procedure
I’m glad you explained day 5-10 because like you said not many people post Bout that, but that’s when everyone freaks out. I’m at day 7 and have begun flaking and I see no color or as if the color hasnt took, I actually see lightly color skin. So what do I do start researching. People should talk about it more and show pictures…because I did read that it MAY APPEAR as if the color is not there but that’s because the TOP layer of skin has not form yet. And it will in due time. The Human body how amazing it heals itself. And people should be educated especially around this phase of the healing process. I already see that at day 10 I’ll be filling in for awhile until my follow up. Because I’m already looking crazy at work. So thank you for the helpful explanation.
I had my brows done first 9 weeks ago. I had my touch up last week. I first had microblading done and it looked wonderful until all the scabs came off and I had lots of patching. My color did not stay well at all and I’m not sure if it was because my brows are so light or what. I just went back last week for a touch-up and she decided to do shading instead. I like the way this looks but again I am having so much scabbing on the inner brows and it looks like there won’t be any color staying again. Very disappointing because I was so excited to get this done. Not sure if I will try again or not.
As far as the pain of the procedure, it was not painful AT ALL! She numbed me up very well so if people are saying it is painful it is because their esthetician did not numb them or didn’t numb them enough.
By far THE best microblading experience explanation ever. I got mine done exactly a week ago and I’m going through the peeling process and I almost gave it and wiped it off but I realized it’s not a night and day process. Thanks for taking the time and letting us know the behind the scenes!
Thank you for your blog post! I am on day 2. I am a redhead and I feel like a drag queen right now. I woke up at 4am and had a panic attack when I saw them in the mirror – I couldn’t believe how dark and thick they where, couldnt get back to sleep, totally regretted it and manically started googling in bed how I could get rid of them quickly. I was so embarrassed the next day I had to leave the house. I emailed by technician the following day telling her they were awful and that I was devastated (overly emotional!!!!) she reassured me that this was NORMAL and that I was to give it time and they would fade out soon. I even went and bought hairdresser scissors to cut in a fringe.. luckily my friends stopped and said they were not as bad as I thought, but my husband said they were really dark and didn’t understand why I wanted to do that to myself ;-) I will keep coming back to your blog throughout to reassure myself as its all very well when someone tells you but you dont really mentally prepare yourself for it until it happens. Thank you again!!
I had my brows done 3 days ago and love them. It did not hurt at all. The nurse used numbing cream. I do have a touch up appointment in 3 weeks. So glad I did this.
The is the best description about the healing process I read online. I am at day 5 the scabs are starting to fall off and those areas look soooo much lighter but your comments make me fell more confident that they will darken once healing is complete. As for the pain I felt NONE. My artist was very skilled and used a numbing cream. The waxing beforehand hurt more than the actual microblading. Do your research when choosing an artist!!!
I just had my brows done a few minutes ago and was looking for photos regarding the aftercare. For everyone saying it was extremely painful, I think your artist may have needed to keep reapplying numbing cream. Any time my numbing cream was getting weak and I could start to feel the strokes I let my artist know and she would reapply more. It was virtually painless after the first initial application of numbing cream with the blade…
I had it done 16 days ago. They look really good. Almost zero scabbing. The shock of it was the level of pain! I didn’t cry but I wasn’t sure if I could finish. Childbirth and foot surgery were the only other time I screamed like that. It was so bad. Any one who says that it hurts just a little here and there is lying! I’m reading that the touch up appt hurts even more? Well I may be skipping that. I can’t handle more than what I went through the first session.
Your brows are gorgeous. I just had mine done a little over 24 hours ago. The procedure was extremely painful, as I don’t think the numbing cream worked. The shape and size are beautiful but the color is not right. We went with medium brown but they now have a red tint to them. I don’t like it. I thought it was from my skin being raw but it appears to be the color pigments. I am guessing I’ll have to live with this for a couple of months through the healing process. I hope to get my brow tech to correct the color when I get the touch up done. Not looking forward to this long healing process. Thank you for sharing your experience, it will help to know what I’m in for. I just hope the end result will be worth the pain, time, and money spent.
Amazing review of the microblading process
Thank you so much for this detail. I am on Day 5 and have been very discouraged. I chose taupe as the color, and they are so big and dark that I have been feeling like Cruella Deville! This was very encouraging for me.
Thank you so much for this informative article. It is super helpful, clear and concise.
Thanks for the post!Totally eased my mind. I am on day 7 right now and it looks so off colored and im super itchy and its all scabby. I wish they looked like on day 1!!!!!!!! lol
Omg, thank you for this post!!! I’m on day 6 and starting to see the scabs and a little patchy spots but my technician gave me a paper of do’s and dont’s and a paper of what to expect thru the healing process. Hearing you describe the same makes me feel so much more comfortable and now trusting the healing process! I actually fell asleep during the last hour as my tech kept applying the numbing cream thru the process and it totally worked for feeling any pain! She was very clear and open for any questions or comments and had me check my brows a few times to make sure it was the shape and darkness i wanted! I love them!! Totally cuts down on the makeup process in the morning. Can’t wait to see the end result after the touch up, patience is a virtue that’s for sure! Thanks again!
I honestly, just got mines done yesterday And they are thick and dark …. i am a light skin Dominican — these eyebrows are sooooo dark that I’m so afraid to go out… I called out of work… literally… I hope that they get lighter because right now I look terrible…. I look like a drag queen….
Hey I’m a dude and I has this last July 29. Thanks for your blog as I was worried just today some dead skin peeled off along with the strands and now I see some bald spots.. I’ll wait for few more days before I panic :)
Firstly, I wanted to say your beautiful!! Secondly, thank you so much for this blog post. I came across this post when I was researching microblading and the process. I was ever so lucky to have someone I know do my brows which made everything so much easier. Every day that I had any moments of “OMG why did I do this to my face” I would look back at this post and be reminded its just the healing process, so it helped a lot :) I have already done my touch up and now am on day 7 – this time we discussed darkening the color and adding to the shape and I immediately loved it more than the first time, that even when it got darker I wanted it to stay that dark lol…overall this is a great procedure because it allows you to feel better and even wear less make up.
thanks so much for your great post xo
Wow, this is so helpful as i am doing research now!!
I had my microblade procedure done on 7/14/18. I’m on Itchy Day 6. Otherwise, everything looks good. Glad I had it done.
Had my top up 2weeks ago, they look a bit light at the moment but I know they will darken again soon but they look great! i did my research before I had them done and I’m happy.
