Most of us are aware of how important eyebrows are – they not only frame your face, but also change how the rest of your facial features look. Perfectly groomed eyebrows can even make you look younger, giving you an almost instant face-lift.
For some of us who may have been a little too zealous plucking our eyebrows back when thin eyebrows were the craze, or were simply born with sparse brows, there is a treatment that promises fuller and bolder eyebrows: eyebrow embroidery.
Don’t get too excited and book an appointment at any brow salon just yet: before you go for your eyebrow embroidery, there are some important things you need to take note of so that you won’t leave the salon with regrets. Read on to see what you must know before committing to a brow embroidery session:
- Eyebrow Embroidery Is Technically a Form of Tattooing
- Anyone Can Do Eyebrow Embroidery – Except a Select Few
- Eyebrow Embroidery Doesn’t Require You To Shave Your Existing Brows
- You Must Do the Necessary Research Before Committing to a Brow Place
- The Whole Process Can Take a Few Hours
- It’s Not As Painful as You Think It Is
- …but if It Gets Too Painful, You Can Ask for More Numbing Cream
- Eyebrow Embroidery Is Not Entirely Risk-Free
- Your Eyebrows Will Look Dark at the Beginning, and May Fade Unevenly
- Aftercare Is Very, Very Important
- How Long Embroidered Brows Last May Differ From Person to Person
Eyebrow Embroidery Is Technically a Form of Tattooing
Source: Jez Brows
Confused between the terms “cosmetic tattooing,” “semi-permanent makeup,” “pigment embroidery,” “3-D eyebrow embroidery,” and “microblading”? They are essentially the same thing – eyebrow embroidery!
It is technically a form of tattooing, where the brow technician implants pigment beneath the surface of the skin with tiny disposable needles in a way makes it look like hair strokes. You can think of it as adding more strands of eyebrow hand to create fuller-looking brows, as well as to help shape and lengthen eyebrows for the perfect ratio.
There are also many different types of eyebrow embroidery, such as 2D, 3D Creative, 4D, and 6D Korean, with prices increasing every level. The higher the number, the more intricate and expensive the brow design.
While the long-lasting results certainly sound promising, that also means you run the risk of living with bad brows for two years if your brow technician does a bad embroidery job!
Anyone Can Do Eyebrow Embroidery – Except a Select Few
Whether you have sensitive skin that easily gets irritated, or oily skin that is prone to breakouts and acne, you are a suitable candidate for eyebrow embroidery.
Some people mistakenly believe that this treatment is only for those who have sparse or thin brows – that is not true as well! If you have relatively thicker eyebrows but want a better shape or length so that you can cut down on the time spent drawing every morning, you certainly can opt for eyebrow embroidery as well.
However, take note that anyone taking Accutane or any blood-thinning medications, or anyone who is pregnant or nursing, is discouraged from undergoing this brow procedure.
Eyebrow Embroidery Doesn’t Require You To Shave Your Existing Brows
Source: Eagle Beauty
A common question that brow technicians get is: do I have to shave my eyebrows before doing eyebrow embroidery?
Thankfully, the answer is no: according to eyebrow embroidery experts, although this would absolutely be the case for a regular body tattoo, they would try and keep and include as much of the natural brow hair as possible.
Most brow technicians will only remove any hairs that fall outside of their final shape if necessary, so you can rest assured that you don’t have to live without real brows for a while.
You Must Do the Necessary Research Before Committing to a Brow Place
We know it’s tempting to just book the cheapest salon you can find because brow embroidery sessions aren’t the cheapest beauty services around, but remember that you pay for the quality you get.
Also consider the fact that your brows (good or bad) will stick with you for at least the next year: a good job done will save you money spent on brow products in the long run, while a bad brow job will require more money to do touch ups.
It is highly recommended that you do your research thoroughly, and be sure to choose a salon with work you love and an ambience you feel comfortable with. You can also bring in a few reference photos and some selfies of how you normally style your eyebrows so that your brow technician can get a better gauge of the design you prefer.
Daily Vanity has compiled a list of the brow embroidery salons in Singapore to try, so be sure to check that out if you need some references. You can also get discounts on highly recommended brow embroidery services here!
The Whole Process Can Take a Few Hours
If you have your heart set on doing brow embroidery, be prepared to keep at least half a day free.
The entire appointment, including all the prep work, is generally about two to three hours, but the actual eyebrow embroidery process can take about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the kind of brows that you currently have and want to achieve. If you have very thin brows and are looking to get much fuller-looking ones, it will certainly take some time for the job to be done.
Usually, the first step is the one takes up the most time: deciding on a brow shape. If you bring a few references and are very sure of what you want, you can spend less time on this step.
It’s Not As Painful as You Think It Is
Source: Brow Studio Expert
Tattooing certainly sounds very painful especially when you are having it done on an area with barely any flesh or fat underneath the skin. However, you can be assured that it is not as painful as it looks.
Before beginning the embroidery, your brow technician will apply numbing cream all over your eyebrows to minimise the pain. According to most people who have undergone eyebrow embroidery before, it feels just like threading or tweezing – not the most pleasant of sensations, but certainly a bearable level of pain!
…but if It Gets Too Painful, You Can Ask for More Numbing Cream
Source: Erabelle
Some of us have low pain tolerance, and the numbing effects of the cream can wear off pretty quickly in the middle of the embroidery process. If you start feeling the sharp pain of the needle on the brows or along the eye line, don’t hesitate to let your brow technician know immediately.
Of course, that means your embroidery process will take longer as you have to wait for the numbing effect to kick in again before continuing, but it’s much better than having to bear with an unnecessary level of pain, right?
Eyebrow Embroidery Is Not Entirely Risk-Free
As with any form of tattooing, there are certain risks associated with eyebrow embroidery. Firstly, there is the possibility that your brow technician may do a bad job (see the lady who got herself four eyebrows after her microblading treatment). There are also certain health risks involved, most commonly skin infections due to poor hygiene.
As mentioned in point #4, be sure to do your research thoroughly when it comes to choosing a brow salon. Besides looking for a skilled technician with an impressive portfolio, take a look at the salon’s hygiene habits: make sure they only use single-use, disposable needles and supplies.
It is also your responsibility to follow pre- and post-care instructions as given by your brow technician, and follow proper hygiene when washing your face afterwards (see point 10).
Your Eyebrows Will Look Dark at the Beginning, and May Fade Unevenly
Source: Carousell
Immediately after the embroidery is done, you will see that your eyebrows look rather dark, as the ink is still fresh. After your scabs heal and a new layer of skin grows out, your brows should fade to a more natural colour.
However, don’t be alarmed if you see that the colour looks a bit uneven – that is due to the uneven healing of your skin, which is perfectly normal.
Aftercare Is Very, Very Important
Source: Tattoo Eyebrows HQ
Unfortunately, eyebrow embroidery still requires a bit of work and care on your part after it is completed, and you can’t be lazy about it because it can cause serious implications.
After the procedure, you are recommended to gently wash your eyebrows each morning and night with water and an antibacterial soap that is gentle on the skin. Some examples of cleansers recommended by experts to use after eyebrow embroidery include Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, Aesop Gentle Facial Cleansing Milk, and CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser.
Your brow salon should also provide you with aftercare ointment – apply a sufficient amount on a cotton swab and spread it across the treatment area. Do not over-apply or apply on wet skin, as this will suffocate your skin and delay healing.
The general guideline is that you should avoid facials, Botox, chemical treatments or microdermabrasion for four weeks, intense exercise for one week, and long hot showers for the first ten days. You may consult your brow technician on the exact duration, as this may differ based on your skin type and
How Long Embroidered Brows Last May Differ From Person to Person
Most embroidered brows can last about two years, but you may notice that your brows will start to fade by quite a bit after one year, or even earlier if the brow salon you went to did not use a high-quality ink.
You can arrange for touch-ups if you feel that the colour has not faded well – the earliest you should book a touch-up should be about six weeks after your embroidery.
Now that you are all ready to do your first eyebrow embroidery, the next step will be to find a tried-and-tested brow salon so that you can be sure you are getting the best possible results.
Daily Vanity highly recommends Beauty Recipe, a semi-permanent makeup specialist that is well-loved and highly trusted for their brow embroidery service. Established more than 40 years ago, they boast an extensive range of plant-based pigments from Korea and are able to customise a shade that’s perfectly matches your skin and brow colour for a natural, realistic finish.
Their budget-friendly prices and fantastic results made them the winner of Best Brow Shaping (Best Value) in Daily Vanity Spa & Hair Awards 2020, where the best salons are voted in by over 3,300 readers!
If you are interested to try this award-winning eyebrow embroidery, here’s more good news for you: Beauty Recipe is offering a deal of only S$288 (U.P. S$488) on their 3D Creative Eyebrow Embroidery, and this includes a free touch-up session – click here to find out more!
On the other hand, you may decide that eyebrow embroidery is not for you after reading this guide and understanding the risks that come with it. That doesn’t mean that you are only left with the option of spending a long time drawing your brows everyday – besides brow embroidery, there are other services available such as brow tint, brow shaping, and brow waxing.
These are less temporary methods of getting beautiful and neat eyebrows, which can still help to cut down the amount of time taken to get perfect brows daily.
