Your eyebrows play an essential role in your appearance. When they are symmetrical, defined, and full, your face is just more aesthetically pleasing.
Sometimes, due to over-waxing, genetics, or for medical reasons, eyebrows are sparse and uneven. The “thin eyebrow” trend of the ‘90s is long gone, and many people are desperate to have nice, full eyebrows again.
But what do you do if they just won’t grow? Or their shape isn’t very appealing?
Eyebrow tattooing, which is a form of permanent makeup, could be a viable solution. But is it expensive?
While prices vary across the country, you can expect to pay an average of $400 to $600 for eyebrow tattooing. You may pay more if you live in a large city or visit a lavish cosmetic tattoo studio.
Most artists recommend coming in for a touch-up session approximately 4-10 weeks after your first appointment. You may have to pay an additional fee for this session, but sometimes it is included in the price of your first visit. Be sure to ask your artist if you will need to make an additional payment when you come in for your touch-up.
Reasons you might consider getting your eyebrows tattooed
Many women opt for cosmetic tattoos to shorten their makeup routine: Using a brow pencil daily can become time consuming. It’s so much easier to hop out of bed and not have to worry about your eyebrows each morning.
Individuals with Alopecia Areata may also consider getting eyebrow tattoos. Alopecia Areata is a condition in that causes hair loss, which can affect eyebrows and eyelashes.
People who swim on a regular basis may be interested in getting permanent makeup, as traditional makeup washes off when in the pool.
Lastly, some women choose to get eyebrow tattoos simply to boost their confidence. They just enjoy how the extra texture and definition enhances their appearance.
How long do tattooed eyebrows last?
Tattooed eyebrows can last an entire lifetime. However, you will have fading just like with any other tattoo. A few different factors will affect how your tattoo fades over time.
First, tattoos seem to fade more quickly on certain skin types. Retinol products and harsh exfoliating face washes can accelerate this fading process also.
Sun exposure causes permanent makeup to fade more quickly as well. So, make sure to wear sunscreen or avoid the sun altogether to help minimize fading.
Thyroid medications, as well as a few other prescription drugs, can also contribute to fading. Be sure to check with your artist if you are concerned that your medications may have this effect.
Lastly, cosmetic tattoos tend to fade more quickly on younger people, due to faster cell regeneration. Also, tattoos done with lighter colors will fader more quickly than darker colors.
Keep in mind that you will probably need touch-ups. Your artist can look at your cosmetic tattoo and let you know if it’s in need of freshening up.
Do tattooed eyebrows look natural?
Well, the answer to whether tattooed eyebrows look natural is: It depends. A few different things can affect whether they have a natural-looking appearance or not.
Women who wear makeup daily usually feel as if they have a natural appearance, while those who rarely wear makeup might see them as unnatural. So, really, it depends on the individual and their preferences.
Choosing a color too dark for your skin tone and hair can affect how natural your new eyebrows look. Also, you will want to make sure you choose an experienced, reputable artist. Visiting an inexperienced artist could lead to less-than natural results.
Overall, your artist’s goal should be to give you a better eyebrow shape while providing color and fullness to your brows. They will appear more prominent than before, which will enhance your eyes and overall appearance!
How painful are eyebrow tattoos?
Eyebrow tattoos can be quite painful. The face contains many nerve endings, which means you will probably experience a higher level of pain.
Most people report that their pain level is approximately a 7 out of 10 when receiving a tattoo on their face. However, some people have a higher pain tolerance and report that it really didn’t hurt that much. It really depends on the individual.
Additionally, your pain level can be affected by your artist. An inexperienced artist may penetrate the skin too deep, which can be more painful.
Be sure to stay hydrated, eat a meal before your appointment, and communicate with your artist if you feel that your pain is unbearable. It is important that he or she knows how you are feeling.
What’s the difference in eyebrow tattoos and micro-blading?
Permanent eyebrow tattoos and microblading are quite different.
Eyebrow tattoos are like any other tattoo. Your skin will be pricked anywhere from 50 to 3,000 times per minute by a tattoo gun. The tattoo ink is deposited deep into the dermis, causing the tattoo to remain permanently.
Over time, your eyebrow tattoos will start to fade and blur, but they will not completely go away. If you ever get tired of them, you will need to have them removed by a laser over the course of several appointments.
If you are 100% sure of how you want your eyebrows done, permanent eyebrow tattoos may be a great option for you. You’ll have fewer touch-up appointments, which means you shouldn’t pay as much in tattoo maintenance.
On the other hand, you might want to consider microblading. Microblading is a semi-permanent procedure that usually lasts anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. If you properly care for your eyebrows afterwards, you will have longer-lasting results. Just like a regular tattoo, you will need to avoid the sun (or wear sunscreen) and steer clear of harsh facial products.
The microblading process is different from traditional eyebrow tattooing. A smaller hand tool is used to cut “hair-like” strokes into the top layer of your skin. Specialized pigment, which fades differently from regular tattoo ink, is then deposited.
Because microblading does eventually fade away, you’ll have the option to change your eyebrow appearance at touch-up appointments. As trends change, you may want to alter the shape of your eyebrows or have them appear thinner or thicker. With microblading, you have this versatility.
Price difference
In some areas of the country, microblading and eyebrow tattoo prices are quite similar. However, sometimes microblading is more expensive. Prices can range from $300 to $2,000.
Whether you’re getting eyebrow tattoos or microblading, it is important to research all available options. If you see an artist charging extremely cheap rates, you may want to think twice about visiting that shop. You are changing the appearance of your face, so make sure you are using a trustworthy artist.
The old saying, “You get what you pay for,” is usually true when it comes to permanent makeup.
Pain difference
Regular eyebrow tattoos, as previously mentioned, can be painful. The tattoo machine penetrates the skin many times over the course of a minute. It also goes into the skin quite deep, which causes more pain.
However, most people report that microblading is not quite as painful. Microblading only pierces the top layer of skin, so fewer nerve endings affected. Additionally, many microblading artists use numbing cream, which helps with the pain.
Most people report that traditional tattoos feel like getting stung repeatedly by a bee. However, many women who get microblading done say that it feels more like tweezing your eyebrows.
You’ll experience discomfort with either option, but you may have more pain if you decide to get permanent eyebrow tattoos. Keep in mind that every individual is different, and you may not have these exact pain experiences.
Cosmetic tattoos are a great option for many people. For around $500, you can have fuller, more defined eyebrows. Eyebrow tattoos provide more of a permanent solution, while microblading lasts around a year or so. Hopefully this information has helped you decide what is right for you. Enjoy your new brows!