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
Definitely helping me to read your day by day. Day 5 for me and although dark, knowing will lighten some helps. Looks like some bladed brow skin same off today during gentle cleaning. Is this normal? I’m saving to show my brow gal. Thanks again! My first ever post.
My friend and I had ours done 2 days ago. We had to get over the initial shock. We were both freaking out and yes….we should have googled so we could get to this page before we got microblading. Going on day 3 and I have a concert to go to on day 5 so I’m worried I’ll look like a crazy woman. My friend has wore hats and I just decided to brave it and pray my coworkers didn’t notice. So far so good. I have original hairs poking up everywhere and it’s driving me crazy. Coconut oil won’t even lay them down. (That’s what we were instructed to use) I wished we were on day 30 Already. This is very scary. However, we are trusting the process and praying!!!!!
I’m on Day 5 and they’re starting to itch like crazy! Still really dark, but no patchiness or flaking yet. I’m panicking a bit because they’re still darker than I like, but trying to remain calm. I’m Matron-of-Honor in my sister’s wedding July 21st so hopefully they lighten up by then. I experienced no pain during the procedure. After the procedure I felt a bit of a burning sensation, but very tolerable. Kind of like a sunburn. I bled very little and had no redness or swelling after.
Thanks for your posting it does help with what to expect. I’m at day 5 and have only experienced some itching. My brow tech recommended a cream 2-4 times a day for 7 days. To date I’ve had no scabbing or peeling. My brows do appear a little dark, so I look forward to the lightening. I’m very pleased with the overall result. I’m not good with pain at all but found the procedure to be painful but tolerable.
Thank you for this! I always look back to it for reassurance during this process. Although right now I’m freaking out and can’t sleep that’s why I’m commenting- I’m on day 10 and itched my brow in a half sleepy state and I immediately realized what I was doing and ran to the bathroom and a chunk was missing (I hope you all are picturing this lolol) please please tell me it’ll come back I mean it’s been ten days of me not touching it the pigment has to be there right ?!?!? Sorry for the dramatics but it’s big money to do this and as many people have mentioned- no one mentions these phases!! So again thank you for this post!
Thank you for this post. I had my brows done yesterday and look ridiculous. My brows were pretty sparse before so I am now in shock. The technician made them dark to allow for fading. I actually cut bangs on my hair today so I can cover them up until they heal and fade. And glasses work also!! I really hoping that then end product will be worth it!
I’m on day 2. So dark and just ugly right now. I feel like I’m all eyebrow. Thanks for sharing this. Helps me see the light at the end of the eyebrow tunnel. 😊
Great Post. Thanks… I had brow & eyelid tattoos years ago so I understood healing process somewhat. Had mine done 6/25… so far so good.
EVERYONE who gets microblading done should read this. Absolutely accurate and a clear representation.
I’m in day 2 and my brows are too thick and dark! I’m canceling tomorrow’s plans for lunch because i feel too embarrassed to leave the house! Hoping all I’ve read is true and they will relax and get smaller by the weekend. I’m freaking out!
Thanks so much for this information. It makes me feel better. I’m on my day 9 and I’m super upset yesterday when everything was patchy amd people were staring at them at my beauty salon where i had my highlights done. Today, I don’t even wanna get out of the house since they’re not fully pealed but it’s nice to know that this is normal and it will get better. As far as the pain during the process, yes, there is definitely discomfort and at the end there were “on fire” but it’s tolerable. I didn’t really had any pain after the process.
Thank you for sharing this. I really needed to hear someone mention the “flaking/falling off”. I’ve searcged everywhere and no one talks about it. I was beginning to be afraid. I really needed this!
Thank you for the information, I had mines done on 06/15/18 this is my second day and they look dark and thick. I hope they fade a little cause all I see is dark thick eyebrows. I’m worried! Feel ichy and I just want to scratch them off…
Thank you for posting your experience. I left the salon 7 hours ago and I’m sitill panicking about the powder shading, overthinking it and feeling very self conscious about my brows being very dark. Reading your post has reassured me that time is my friend and to be patient, something I’m not good at!
I was reassured it would lighten 50% and I need to trust the process. Your photos and stages of healing were just what I needed this evening. Thank you!
Thanks for this ! I’m on day 10 currently ! Almost all the scabs are gone, and I have one patchy spot that’s bothering me. Hopefully in the next week everything will look awesome. Can’t wait to see what they look like within the next few months and after my touch up
Today is my second day . To me the look thick and dark . My hair is mix blonde and it just make me look like Frida Kahlo !
Did not hurt a bit but I don’t want anyone to see me like this , so your explanation of day by day helped , I was bigining to think a made a terrible mistake
I use a small amount of crean to help the healing as I was told , only a little . I really hope this will pass as to me they look so dark . Thank you
Thanks so much for posting this. I am considering the procedure and just knowing the approximate timeline for healing is super helpful.
Hello,
I think it’s really upsetting that people are lead to believe that your eyebrows are healed and perfect after the touch up. I started the process on 3/29/18, and did the touch up on 5/16/18. At this time the healing process repeats itself for another 30 days. Today is 6/4/18 and my brows just about peeled. They aren’t near perfect as of yet, but I do see improvement. I really hope the pain is worth the money and time.
Thankyou for your post!!! my eyebrows (day 9) look nothing like whats dipicted in some of the posts ive read so i was panicing and refuseing to leave the house and when i do im apologiseing to strangers for my eyebrows….mine look terrible compared to yours and i cant see alot of brow strokes its a process not a walk in and walk out with amazing brows thats for sure.
Thanks for your post. I just had the retouch this week. It hurt more the second time I think. Whoever says the pain level is low is a liar. To me, this was the worst pain I’ve ever felt, and I’ve had piercings and a baby! The constant noise of the cutting drove me insane, and the cream didn’t seem to ever numb me enough. My brows look great, however I will be curious to see them in about six months to a year, to justify if it was worth the pain and money.
I’ve been researching microblading, as my brow goddess told me to do. Thank you for your daily/weekly aftercare for the brows. I’m definitely getting it done and will update you on my procedure. Thank u 😀
I needed to read this! Today is day 5 for my brows and the scabs are falling off and now I have patches that look really awful! I have been upset all day. I didn’t know that this was normal. I’ll try to be patient for my my touch up. Hopefully they look good in the end.
I have never posted online in my life, but I just had to say a huge THANK YOU for posting this. Day 5 here and was starting to get worried the color didn’t take on my brows. It’s one thing to read the after-care instructions that say briefly they may be lighter today, but so much more reassuring to see your day-by-day photos. Thank you so much for posting this!!!!
Thank you for this! I am in day 5 and mayor scabbing is forming and I see a few patches here and there, oh.. and it itches!!! But thanks to your blog, I know I shouldn’t have to worry. Thanks a million!
Thank you for this step by step of the healing process. I haven’t found one photo of the peeling phase and was starting to freak out
