Microblading, Nano Brows & Powder Brows
Welcome to our guide on microblading, nano brows and powder brows, permanent makeup solutions designed to elevate your beauty routine and enhance your natural features. Whether you're someone who wants a few extra minutes in the morning or are looking for a solution for hair loss, these services offer a way to look your best around the clock.
What Is Permanent Makeup?
Permanent makeup, also known as micropigmentation, is a cosmetic procedure that involves implanting pigment into the skin to mimic the appearance of makeup. It is a form of tattooing that can be used on various areas of the face such as eyebrows, lips, and eyeliner.
How Long Does Permanent Makeup Last?
This will vary from person to person as it is dependent on variables such as skin type, age, lifestyle etc. Permanent makeup may last several years, but it will usually require a touch up or refresh every 12 to 18 months to keep things looking vibrant and defined. If left untouched, it will fade out completely within approximately 4 years.
Microblading
Microblading is done to mimic the look of individual eyebrow hairs, enhancing natural eyebrows and filling in gaps in the eyebrows that lack real hairs. If you are looking for crisp, sculpted, natural looking eyebrows, this service is for you.
Before we get into the specifics of microblading, let's talk about what it is NOT.
Microblading is not:
Permanent - unlike a traditional tattoo, microblading only lasts for a few years and will need to be touched up regularly. This allows for changes in style or preferences over time.
Painful - While the idea of microblading may be intimidating, many clients report feeling little to no pain during their microblading session due to the use of topical numbing.
High maintenance - Microblading requires minimal upkeep and once the initial healing process is complete, you can continue your normal beauty routine without any added steps. However, you will still need to tweeze, wax or thread to keep your desired shape. We call it “low maintenance” not “no maintenance”.
What is Microblading?
Microblading is a semi-permanent makeup solution for eyebrows that involves creating fine hair-like strokes to mimic natural brow hairs. This is done using a small grouping of thin, single-use, sterile needles. This method is most effective at sculpting natural, fuller looking eyebrows. This technique is ideal for dry-normal skin types.
The tool we use is non-motorized and implants pigment superficially into the skin. The pigment is designed to break down at a faster rate than traditional tattoo ink, which is why it is called 'semi-permanent.' However, just because it is semi-permanent doesn't mean it won't last. With touch-ups or ‘refreshes’ every 1-2 years, your eyebrows will look fabulous long-term!
We follow strict Alberta Health guidelines to ensure maximum safety. All needles are single-use and opened in front of you at the start of your appointment and discarded into a sharps container at the end of your appointment. AHS approved disinfectant is used to clean all surfaces and any measuring tools that aren't disposable. All the products we use are approved for use in Canada.
How Long Does Microblading Last?
Microblading should be refreshed every 12 to 24 months so that the color stays vibrant and the shape stays sharp. The pigment will not be visible within 3-4 years if no touch ups are done.
Microblading before and after
Powder Brows
Powder brows create a more structured, filled in look similar to how applying a brow powder would make them appear. This technique uses a machine shading method that creates a gentle pixelated effect, with lighter color at the front and gradually getting darker towards the tail end of the brow to avoid it looking “blocky” or unnatural at the start of the brow. .
Before we get into the specifics of powder brows, let's talk about what it is NOT.
Powder brows are not:
Permanent - The pigment used is semi-permanent and will need to be refreshed every 12–24 months.
Painful - Clients typically report little to no pain during their powder brow session.
High maintenance - Powder brows require minimal upkeep and can be maintained through regular eyebrow grooming routines. They will provide a nice structure to make any maintenance, such as plucking stray hairs, a breeze.
What Are Powder Brows?
Powder brows are a form of permanent makeup that creates a soft, powdered look similar to the effect of wearing eyebrow powder or pencil. It is perfect for individuals who have sparse eyebrows, light colored eyebrows, gaps in their eyebrow hairs or want a more defined shape without the need for daily maintenance. This technique is good for all skin types, especially oily skin.
Unlike microblading which mimics the look of hair, powder brows use a pixelated shading technique with a rotary tattoo pen to create small dots of color giving the appearance of a powder finish.
How Long Do Powder Brows Last?
Powder brows should be refreshed every 12-124 months to keep the colour looking vibrant. If left untouched, it will fade out within 4 years.
Powder brows before and after
Combo Brows
Combo brows are the best of both worlds! We use manual microblading and pair it with machine shading to create the look of natural hair-strokes with a soft powder background. This technique is perfect if you want natural-looking, defined eyebrows with added fullness. This is ideal for those with little to no eyebrow hairs and is generally good for all skin types.
As with microblading and powder brows, a refresh is recommended every 12-24 months to keep the colour looking vibrant. If left untouched, it will fade out within 4 years.
Machine Nano Brows
Machine nano uses a rotary machine and a single needle to create individual hair strokes. It can be done alone similar to microblading or as a combination brow, combining both nano strokes and machine powder.
Before we get into the specifics of machine nano brows, let's talk about what it is NOT.
Nano brows are not:
Permanent - The pigment used is semi-permanent and will need to be refreshed every 12–24 months.
Painful - Clients typically report little to no pain during their powder brow session.
High maintenance - Nano brows require minimal upkeep and can be maintained through regular eyebrow grooming routines. They will provide a nice structure to make any maintenance, such as plucking stray hairs, a breeze.
What Are Nano Machine Brows?
Nano brows create similar hair strokes to microblading but are done with a machine instead of a manual hand tool. This technique is great for sensitive or mature skin types. Although some artists boast that it lasts longer on oily skin types, we don’t find this always to be true.
Nano brows can be done on their own creating a hairstroke look, or combined with powder (combo brows) in between the strokes to create a more structured/filled in brow.
As with other brow tattoo techniques, a touch-up or refresh is recommended every 12-24 months to keep things looking vibrant and crisp. If left untouched, the pigment will fade out gradually over the next several years with most pigment no longer being visible by 4 years.
What Is the Difference Between Nano Machine Brows and Nano Microblading?
Microblading is done with a handheld, manual tool and nano blades (a small group of needles on a slant) to create papercut-like scratches into the skin where pigment settles in and the skin heals over top, locking it in place.
Nano hair stroke brows are done with a machine method and a fine needle is used to “draw” each hairstroke in place. The color is stippled under the skin with the needle leaving the skin less open than traditional microblading.
Are Nano Brows Safer for the Skin Compared to Microblading?
Not necessarily. With the correct technique on the correct skin types, both services can be done safely with little trauma to the skin. The amount of trauma or “risk of scarring” all comes down to the artist, the aftercare and the client's ability to follow the aftercare.
I will generally choose to do nano machine hair strokes over traditional microblading hair strokes based on the client's skin type and preference, but never due to safety concerns.
Powder Brow, Microblading and Nano Brow Procedure
When you arrive at the studio, we will have you fill out a detailed consent form and you will receive a welcoming pamper tray in our lobby.
Your appointment will begin with taking before pictures of your eyebrows. After the photos are taken, your technician will apply numbing cream to the treatment area. We use Lidocaine 5%; this cream is approved by Health Canada. It takes approximately 15-20 minutes for the area to completely numb.
While the numbing cream is setting in, you will have an in depth consultation with your technician. They will discuss the process with you, and talk about your desired shape and colour. They will ask a lot of questions so that they understand exactly what you are envisioning for your new look. It is super helpful if you bring inspiration pictures, including pictures of what you like and don't like. Remember that everyone has different eyebrows shapes, skin tone and bone structure. What you like, might not be the best fit for you. Trust your technician to choose the right shape and colour based on your skin tone and the look you are going for.
Once they have a good idea of what you want, they will remove the numbing cream and start brow shaping. The first step is to draw the eyebrows on. This is an interactive process between you and your technician. If you don't like something about the shape, make sure you voice your concerns. We will shape your brows based on the bone structure, existing eyebrow hairs, and your preferences.
Once you have approved the shape and colour, your technician will get to work creating your dream eyebrows!
The tattooing portion of the appointment only takes about 30 to 45 minutes on average. Most clients don’t feel any discomfort once we start due to the pre-numb. If they do feel any discomfort, it is very minimal, with some comparing it to the feeling they experience when plucking eyebrows or receiving threading. Your technician will apply an additional topical lidocaine gel after every pass to keep pain at an absolute minimum throughout the procedure with most people finding they feel nothing at all by the second pass.
When the tattooing is finished, we will clean up the brows then reveal them to you. We will make sure you are happy with them before you leave the treatment room. (Remember, this is not the final product. You will come back for a touch-up/”perfection” session 4-12 weeks post initial treatment to fine tune the eyebrows based on how your body heals.) Once you are happy with your brows, we will take another set of photos.
*You will feel numb for about an hour after the procedure. Most clients do not report feeling any discomfort when the numbing wears off. If they feel anything after the procedure, it will feel like a mild sunburn sensation in the treated area which generally subsides in 24-48 hours.
Your technician will go over the aftercare instructions in detail at this time and give you written instructions to take home along with a small kit with everything you need to take care of your new investment.
Before you leave, you will book your touch-up appointment if possible.
We will send you a side-by-side before and after photo to your email with the touch-up appointment date reminder.
The touch-up appointment allows your technician to be more conservative in the initial treatment. They will either only do a minor touch-up to reinforce the initial work or adjust the brows more extensively should you prefer them darker, bigger, etc.
After you heal from your touch-up appointment, your brows will be complete! Follow up/refresh appointments are needed to keep the eyebrow shape and colour looking sharp and defined as the pigment is designed to break down at a faster rate than traditional body tattoo inks and facial skin turns over at a faster rate than body tissue. We find our clients come for a refresh approximately every 12-18 months.
Eyebrow tattoo Healing Process
There is no physical downtime and most find they can return to their normal daily activities immediately after their brow procedure. However, there is some healing time because we break the skin to implant the pigment which may cause “social downtime”, meaning you may not want to partake in parties or events that will put you in the public eye or have photos taken immediately after your procedure. This will ultimately be up to your comfort level. The average healing time is about 7 days.
Here are a few things to keep in mind during the healing stage:
Stay off Google! There are many different versions of aftercare out there, but we have found what works best with our techniques over the years. Trust our aftercare.
Your brows will look extremely bold and defined for the first 3-4 days. Don't panic, this is not what the finished result will look like. They will lighten significantly and shrink a bit as they heal. We actually find that if you love them the morning after your appointment, we most likely didn’t go dark enough! However, if you find they fade too much for your liking during the healing phase, we can most definitely go darker at the touch-up appointment.
You are in a healing phase and it will take time to see the final result. Please avoid calling your technician until at least 2 weeks post-procedure with any concerns about shape, colour or symmetry. Your technician can NOT touch the tattooed area for at least 4 weeks to avoid scarring you. Concerns (if any) will be addressed and resolved at your follow up/perfection visit. Trust the process.
Should any sign of infection occur, seek medical attention immediately and let your technician know of any complications.
*Although we have never had a client report that they experienced an infection, occasional allergic reactions have occurred from the healing ointment. This is rare, but is a possibility and usually doesn’t happen until days 3-4. Again, please let us know if you have any complications, but if concerned, seek medical attention.
Microblading, Nano & Powder Brow Aftercare
We will give you a medicated healing ointment that should be applied to the brows every 3-4 hours during the daytime for 7 days or until there are no visible signs of scabbing (ex: flaking etc). This will make your brows look a little glossy.
On the day of treatment, blot the area of the procedure every 60 minutes for the first 4 hours or more as needed. Re-apply a thin layer of the ointment every time you blot.
There may be some minor swelling or redness for the first 24 to 48 hours following treatment.
Keep the brows away from excessive moisture such as water or sweat as much as possible while healing as this may cause the tissue to swell and push pigment out or cause the scabs to come off prematurely, taking pigment with them. Do not saturate the area with water for 7 days after treatment.
The brows may itch while they are healing and a slight crust/scab may form. DO NOT pick at scabs or pull off or scrub peeling/flaking skin.
Do not apply makeup on the treated area for 7 days as this will increase your risk of infection.
Avoid excessively hot baths (warm is ok), hot tubs/Jacuzzis, hot yoga, saunas, steam showers etc for 1 week as this is considered excess moisture. Do not use epsom salts in your bath as salt contributes to fading.
Avoid working out for 7 days as sweat can fade your pigment and the bacteria in the gym will increase your risk of infection.
Avoid direct sunlight such as tanning / sunbathing for one week post treatment. You may go outdoors while healing, but try to sit in a shaded area or wear a hat if it is a hot, sunny day. Apply spf once healed.
Avoid any facial treatments the week following your appointment. This includes eyebrow waxing, tinting, etc. (Do not tint your eyebrows prior to your appointment unless you plan on keeping it up post treatment). You may wax, thread, laminate or tint your eyebrows at least 24 hours before your appointment if desired.
Note: We do not advise scheduling microblading appointments close to any major events (bridal showers, weddings, photo shoots etc).
Is Permanent Makeup for Everyone?
Unfortunately, there are certain reasons why microblading/tattooing would not be recommended for you.
The following circumstances would make you ineligible for permanent makeup:
You are pregnant. Nursing is OK, but you must be diligent at following aftercare because if you were to get an infection, there are not many medications you can take that are allowed while nursing. In addition, you may metabolize the pigment faster. And finally, hormones may cause undesirable colour change requiring you to come in earlier than usual to “tone” the pigment back to the target colour. (If concerned about the use of topical numbing and breastfeeding, consult with your physician for guidance.)
You have a history of keloids or hypertrophic scarring
You have skin irritations or open wounds in the treated area (rashes, sunburn, active blemishes, etc.)
You are unwell (cold, flu, etc.)
You have used Accutane in the past year
Note: Any treatment, medication, or illness that compromises the immune system/healing would NOT make you a good candidate for micropigmentation as we are breaking the skin and need your body to heal optimally.
In addition, if you are female it is best to schedule your microblading appointment away from your menstrual cycle as this can affect pain tolerance/sensitivity and bleeding. However, a 24-hour cancellation policy would still be in effect even if you were to get your cycle unexpectedly.
The Best Permanent Makeup in Calgary
If you are searching for powder brows, nano brows or microblading in Calgary, you've come to the right place! The Beauty Block is home to 3 exceptional permanent makeup artists: Award-winning artist Brittany Wallins, her trainee of 3 years, Indianna and her latest addition all the way from Toronto, Sylvie.
Our talented and experienced artists specialize in customizing natural-looking eyebrows that enhance your unique features. With our personalized approach and attention to detail, we are confident you will love your new brows!
Book an appointment with Brittany or one of her brow pros at The Beauty Block in Calgary. Call 587.432.3030 or book online. We are located just a couple of minutes north of downtown at #102, 1409 Edmonton Trail, Calgary, AB.
We look forward to making your mornings a little easier by helping you achieve smudge-proof, water-proof and sweat-proof eyebrows. Let us take the guesswork of doing your eyebrows out for you! Your only regret will be not doing it sooner.