As soon as you heard about a needle and machine being involved, your mind probably went straight to the question does it hurt? This is a difficult question to answer, mainly because the definition of pain varies from person to person.

People who wax or pluck their eyebrows regularly will not find the procedure very painful, whereas someone who has never had their brows plucked might feel some level of discomfort and will require more time for numbing.

That said, during healing process of your powder brows might feel sensitive and itchy, which might be more uncomfortable than the procedure itself.

Powder/ombré Brow is considered a safe, non-invasive treatment, but since it involves incisions, it still carries certain risks.

First of all, there is a list of conditions that makes you unsuitable for PMU eyebrows. Some of them include pregnancy, diabetes, heart conditions, allergies, and other conditions we should be aware about and establish whether you are allowed to have the treatment or not.

Besides that, there is always the risk of infections. This is because the treatment is very popular and there is a huge number of PMU artists, some of who use unsterile equipment. Even though they can happen, infections are not that common.

For most people, eyebrow PMU and especially powder brows sound like the block-of-color cartoonish brow tattoos of the 90s, so they are reluctant to get the treatment.

However, it’s very important to understand that the technique has changed, and so has the equipment that’s used to create it. The results do not look so unnatural anymore, as the pigments used are specially formulated to recreate the look of makeup.

What’s more, powder fill brows nowadays can be created to look subtle and natural, and this is achieved by not saturating the desired brow shape too much, which allows for a defined, yet soft look.

The preparation for the powder brow procedure doesn’t start when you enter the studio, but sometime before that.

These are the things that you should bear in mind before the treatment:

• Once the day comes for you to get your powderbrows, make sure that you bring along the makeup you usually wear and photos of the look you want to achieve.

• Make sure that you’re completely healthy. Before the procedure starts, you will need to complete a medical history form.

• Do not drink caffeine or alcohol at least 48 hours prior to the procedure.

• Do not take any blood thinners such as Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Niacin, Vitamin E, B6, Omega 3, Gingko Biloba. Stop at least 1 week before your procedure. Of course I always say consult with your Dr before stopping any medication.

• Pay attention to your menstrual cycle, as you shouldn’t book a treatment during that time – it can increase your pain sensitivity.

• Avoid waxing, tanning, or tinting the eyebrow area at least 3 days before your appointment.

• Avoid any anti-aging treatments, such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels, lasers, or facials at least 2 weeks before your appointment.

• Do not opt for any facial injections at least 1 month prior to your procedure.

Once you’re finished with your treatment, you will experience some swelling, weeping and soreness, which is completely normal. This will subside within a few days and if allowed you can take Ibuprofen or Panadol to help with discomfort, so there’s nothing to worry about.

However, if you want to make the most out of this procedure, you need to know some things about the aftercare process:

• You will be sent home with all your aftercare with instructions and 24/7 access to me incase of questions or concerns. Your aftercare kit will include an ointment,  healing cream and instructions on how and when to preform your aftercare.

• Never touch the treated area with your fingers unless they are completely clean. There might be bacteria that you don’t want to get on your eyebrow area. The same goes for q-tips, cotton swabs, and basically any surface that comes into contact with your brows. Sleep on a clean pillowcase, ideally a silk one.

• Do not scratch, rub, pick or peel the healing skin. Allow it to flake off on its own so as not to damage your skin or your results.

• As far as the cleaning is concerned, always gently cleanse the treated area with the supplied mild antibacterial soap – never scrub as it will affect your final result. Rinse with tepid water and gently pat the area until it’s dry, making sure the area is void of any moisture before applying ointment.

• Apply a very light coat of ointment the the brow area before a shower or bath, and continue with this regimen until the procedure area is completely healed.

• Avoid any makeup, facials, sweating, sun exposure, sauna, jacuzzi, or swimming until the area is completely healed, about 14 days.

• Do not use any anti-aging products, especially those that contain lactic acids, glycolic acids, and retinol, as they will fade your eyebrow prematurely.

• In order to prevent future fading of your pigment color, use sunblock after the procedure.

• Once the peeling phase ends, you may proceed with your regular activities.

• The look of your brows will change throughout the healing period, and in some of the healing stages, they may not look their best. In order to prepare for the healing process of powder brows mentally, look up powder brows healing pictures that show what you can expect.

The treated area is very sensitive and prone to infections right after the treatment.

So, it is forbidden to wear makeup on the treated area. You are allowed to apply it to other parts of your face. However, since makeup can get to the treated area easily, and during the healing process powder brows should be protected from contamination, it is best not to risk it.

Therefore, it is advisable to avoid wearing makeup at all for about 14 days.

It’s very important to know that the result of the treatment is determined by many different factors, such as medications, skin characteristics (oily, sun-damaged, particularly thick or thin), your skin’s unique pH balance, alcohol intake, smoking, and the post-procedure aftercare.

Due to all that, the powder/ombré brow healing process will be different for everyone. 

You will most likely experience swelling and redness after the procedure. On average this should subside within 2/4 days after the procedure.

It’s also important to note that the result will initially look approximately 50% darker than the desired effect, and it will take 10 to 14 days for it to lighten. The true colors will be visible only 1 month after the procedure.

In the healing of powder/ombrè brow scabbing is the most annoying stage for most of us. We cannot stress enough how important it is for you to avoid picking at any scabs that may form at all costs, as this can cause unattractive patchiness in the pigment and may cause scaring. You need to see each of the powder/ombré brow healing stages through and let the skin recover. Once you see your brows healed, you’ll forget all about the agony of aftercare.

Although this treatment is sometimes called eyebrow powder tattoo, the results are created using PMU pigments, not tattoo ink, so they eventually fade.

How long do powder/ombré brows last depends to a great extent on your actions. There are some important factors that can cause your powdered brows to fade faster and thus shorten their lifespan.

Over exfoliating can also cause some of the color to come off or fade out.

You should also avoid certain skincare products that accelerate fading for as long as you want to have your powder/ombré brows. If you notice your brows are fading, you can book a “Refresher” touch-up appointment that will help you maintain the color.

The powder brow touch up appointment cannot take place earlier than 30 days after your initial procedure. Once there, you will be able to add more shade and make it more intense or choose some darker or warmer colors, and correct the shape.

Powder/ombré brows can last for 1 to 3 years, but everything depends on your skin type, aftercare and lifestyle.

Bear in mind that those of us who choose a softer look and a lighter color, or don’t follow the aftercare instructions carefully may require more touch up appointments.

If you’re not happy with the results and don’t want to wait until they fade naturally, there are ways to remove powder eyebrows; although, it can take some time and effort.