If you’ve recently had microblading done, congratulations! You’re well on your way to achieving the full, beautifully shaped brows you’ve always wanted.
However, your work still needs to be done. To ensure long-lasting results, it’s essential to follow specific aftercare steps. Immediately following your treatment, the period is important for your brows to heal properly and the pigment to settle into the skin.
Incorrect aftercare can lead to unsatisfactory results, fading, or even infections. In this guide, we’ll go over what to avoid and how to care for your new brows, ensuring they remain as stunning as you intended.
Let’s get straight to the point
Proper aftercare ensures long-lasting results and avoids infections after microblading or eyebrow feathering. Avoid sweating, water, makeup, and sun exposure for at least two weeks.
Gently clean your brows with a mild cleanser, avoiding touching the area. Let scabs fall off naturally without picking them. Avoid pets, spicy food, and alcohol.
Sleep on your back to avoid rubbing your brows on the pillow, and use the recommended aftercare products. A touch-up may be needed in 4-6 weeks for optimal results.
Things To Avoid After Microblading
1. Avoid Sweating And Intense Activities
For at least two weeks after your treatment, refrain from activities that cause excessive sweating. Sweat can carry bacteria into the healing skin, leading to irritation and even infection.
Moreover, sweat can interfere with the pigment, causing it to fade prematurely because sweat comes from within the skin.
Avoid:
- Vigorous workouts
- Long sun exposure
- Saunas or steam rooms
- Any physically demanding activities
Even if you don’t think you sweat much, taking it easy during the healing process is essential. The pigment can be disturbed during the scabbing and flaking phases, potentially producing less vibrant results.
2. Keep Away From Water
It’s important to avoid getting your eyebrows wet during the first two weeks after microblading. Water can dissolve the pigment, leading to uneven or premature fading.
When washing your face, avoid the brow area. You can do this by cleaning from the eyes downward or using a cotton swab around your brows.
Alternatives:
- Use face wipes or cotton swabs for cleansing.
- When washing your face, gently rinse without touching the eyebrows.
- Pat the skin dry instead of rubbing it.
3. Avoid Sun Exposure
Sun exposure can significantly affect the longevity of your microbladed brows. The UV rays from the sun can cause the pigment to fade faster.
Staying out of the sun for at least two weeks is recommended, but four weeks is preferable for optimal results. Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face if you go outside.
Once the scabbing phase is over, apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 to your brows to protect them.
4. Stay Away From Spicy Foods
Spicy foods may seem harmless, but they can affect the healing process if you’ve had lip microblading done. The strong flavours can irritate the healing skin, prolonging recovery and potentially causing discomfort.
5. Avoid Interactions With Pets
As much as we love our furry friends, avoiding direct contact with them for a few weeks is best. Animal fur can carry bacteria that might lead to infections in the freshly treated skin.
While the area is healing, limit close contact with pets, especially around your face.
6. Skip The Makeup
While your eyebrows are healing, it is vital to avoid applying makeup to the treated area. Makeup products contain chemicals that can irritate the healing skin and cause infections.
Additionally, makeup can hinder the pigment from settling properly, leading to uneven results.
7. Do Not Drink Alcohol
Alcohol can thin the blood, which can interfere with the healing process. It’s best to avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before and after your microblading appointment to promote better healing and prevent any complications.
Proper Aftercare Steps For Microblading
Now that we’ve covered what to avoid, let’s explore the specific aftercare routine you’ll need to follow to ensure the best results from your microblading treatment.
1. First 24 Hours: Keep Hands Off
The most important rule in the first 24 hours is to avoid touching your eyebrows. Touching can introduce bacteria and increase the risk of infection. The treated area is also very sensitive; touching it can irritate the skin and affect healing.
2. Days 2 To 7: Gentle Cleansing
Starting the second day after your treatment, you’ll need to gently clean the area twice daily using water or a mild, fragrance-free cleanser. Always wash your hands thoroughly before touching your brows, and use clean cotton pads or swabs to clean the area.
- Avoid using sponges or washcloths—they can be too abrasive.
- Pat dry gently; don’t rub the treated area.
3. Applying Aftercare Products
After cleaning, apply a thin layer of aftercare serum or ointment recommended by your microblading technician. Avoid petroleum or Vaseline products, which can block the pores and cause infections.
Apply the aftercare product using a cotton swab or clean hands to avoid contaminating the area.
4. Scabbing And Flaking
You may notice scabbing or flaking around the brow area as your skin heals. It’s essential not to pick at the scabs; allow them to fall off naturally.
Picking can result in scarring or loss of pigment, affecting the final look of your brows.
5. Weeks 2 To 3: Keep It Clean And Dry
Keep your eyebrows clean and dry in the second and third weeks of your healing process. Avoid sleeping with your face on a pillow, which can rub off the scabs and damage the healing process.
Sleeping on your back or using a travel pillow can help you avoid direct contact with the pillow.
Post-Treatment Touch-Ups
Microblading is a semi-permanent procedure, and touch-ups are often necessary. A second session is typically scheduled around 4 to 6 weeks after the initial treatment.
During this appointment, your technician will assess the healing process and touch up any areas where the pigment has yet to settle perfectly.
Why Aftercare Matters?
The microblading process involves small punctures in the skin to deposit pigment, making the skin temporarily more vulnerable to bacteria, irritation, and external factors. Without proper care, these tiny wounds can become a gateway for infections, compromising your health and the final look of your brows.
Additionally, the pigment needs time to settle into the skin, and any disruption during this critical healing period—whether through sweat, water, or touching—can cause the pigment to fade unevenly or be rejected by the skin. Following the recommended aftercare ensures the pigment stays vibrant, allowing you to achieve long-lasting, flawless results.
Failing to follow these guidelines risks investment and could lead to additional treatments or touch-ups.
Conclusion
Achieving the perfect microbladed or feathered eyebrows requires more than the initial procedure—it demands diligent aftercare. By avoiding water, sweat, makeup, and sun exposure and following a gentle cleaning routine, you’ll give your brows the best chance to heal properly and maintain their colour and shape.
Remember to be patient during the healing process, especially when scabbing occurs, and avoid any activities that could interfere with the pigment’s retention. With the right care, your brows will stay beautifully defined for months, making your investment well worth it.
FAQs About Microblading
Can I Get My Eyebrows Wet After Microblading?
After getting microblading done, it’s crucial to avoid getting your eyebrows wet for at least 7-10 days. Water can cause the pigment to fade or blur, affecting the final result.
When washing your face, make sure to avoid your eyebrow area, and be cautious when showering.
Can I Apply Makeup Immediately After Microblading?
It’s recommended to refrain from applying makeup directly on the microbladed area for at least 7-14 days. This allows the skin to heal properly and prevents the introduction of bacteria into the fresh microbladed brows.
Use clean brushes and products when you resume makeup applications.
Is Sun Exposure Safe After Microblading?
It’s best to avoid direct sun exposure and tanning beds for the first two weeks after microblading. UV rays can fade the pigment and potentially lead to uneven coloration.
If you must be in the sun, wear a wide-brimmed hat and apply sunscreen to protect your eyebrows.
Can I Engage in Physical Activities or Swimming After Microblading?
Strenuous exercise and swimming in pools, hot tubs, or natural bodies of water should be avoided for the first 7-10 days following microblading. Excessive sweating and submersion in water can cause the pigment to fade prematurely.
It’s important to let the brows heal properly during this time.
What Should I Do If I Experience Itching or Scabbing?
Itching and scabbing are common after microblading as part of the healing process. Do not scratch or pick at the scabs, as this can result in pigment loss or scarring.
Apply a recommended aftercare ointment to keep the area moisturised and consult with your microblading artist if you have concerns about healing.