What is the difference between Micro Blading and Tattoos

What is the difference between Micro Blading and other Permanent Makeup modalities.

Microblading is a tool that is popular with the newer generation of permanent makeup artists.  The marketing of Microblading has dominated our industry in the past 2 to 3 years.

Microblade is a hand held tool where the series of needles are configured tightly to form a "blade" or a "knife".  The artist uses the "blade" to cut "hair like" incisions into the skin.  The pigment is then smeared into the cuts.  The width of the blade is extremely narrow so that the artist can create an illusion of eyebrow hairs.

Due to the narrow width of the blade, the artist must minimize the space in between each stroke.  If the strokes are placed too far apart, the tattoo may appear sparse when healed.  If the strokes are placed too closely, then the pigment from each stroke blend into the next stroke and causes pigment migration or a shaded look. 

Immediately after the procedure, you will see the individual hair like stokes for about a week.  However, when your skin repairs itself, the treated area secretes sebum which then dries into a scab.  The appearance of individual strokes are not as apparent.  Most Micro Blading healed brows look solid in color, due to the closeness of the strokes.

Softap is another manual hand held tool (non electric) where the needles are placed in a linear configuration.  It looks like a microblade tool, but the method of entering the skin is different.  The needles are not as tightly bounded as a Micro Blade.  The artist uses an up and down motion to insert needles and pigment into the skin simultaneously.  It is not a cutting motion, but rather a poking motion.  You can achieve beautiful hairstrokes with light shading to cover in between strokes.  The hairstrokes are set further apart than microblading.  The trauma to the skin is also arguably less than microblading.

Softap and the Rotary machine are similar in motion of the needle and pigment.  Both Softap and the Rotary machine use an up and down motion, unlike the slicing motion done by Microblading.  All hairlike strokes whether using Microblade, Softap or Rotary machine lasts about 12 months.

www.prettypleasestudio.com
Permanent Makeup Artistry
San Ramon, CA

Various names for Permanent Makeup

Depending on who you ask, there are various names for Permanent Makeup.  Here's some for starters...

• Micro pigmentation
• Dermal Micropigmentation
• Cosmetic Tattoo
• Semi Permanent Makeup
• Brow Tattoo
• Microblading
• Feathering
• Tattoo
• Hairstrokes
• Ombre brows

They are all tattoos.  As artists, we are implanting pigment into the dermal layer of your skin.  We are required to call it permanent because once pigment is embedded into the skin, the pigment particles (iron oxide) are permanently in your skin...forever and ever.

However, the color of the pigment fades over time.  Like anything with color, if left out in the sunlight, the color will slowly fade.  Whether it's your furniture, colorful book, or favorite shoes, if left out in the sun for excess amount of period, the color will fade.  Since our face is exposed to the sun daily, whether driving, walking, or playing, the color of the permanent makeup will fade.  Tattoos that are hidden under clothing fades too.  However, the rate of the fade process is slower because it is protected under clothing.  Also, the tattoo on your body is heavily saturated by pigment.  Permanent makeup is a delicate procedure where minimal amounts of pigment is used to produce a natural look.

The use of the term "Semi Permanent Makeup" is misleading and not allowed in certain states.  The client should always be aware that the pigment (color) will fade over time, however, the particles within the pigment is permanent.

www.prettypleasestudio.com
Permanent Makeup Artistry
San Ramon, CA

Alopecia is an auto immune disease that results in thinning or hair loss.  It does not discriminate age, ethnicity, nor gender.  The targeted area (face, head, or body) and the rate of hair loss is unpredictable and varies from person to person.  Doctors may prescribe Cortisone shots to affected area to slow down hair loss, however, most of my clients do not prefer this method for long term treatment.

When in remission, tiny peach fuzz or small amounts of hair may grow back over time.  But for some, they completely lose their brows and lashes.  Cosmetically it may be a concern to some, but most people live happy, healthy lives.  Stressing does not help, so don't fret.

I recently had a male client with Alopecia.   Male brow procedures require a different Permanent Makeup technique than Female brow procedures.  We have to be extremely careful not to make it look feminine.  Male brow shape are thicker, fuller, and less uniformed than female brows.  We as artist should not shade the brows and the hair strokes should be more randomly placed and not arched high.  Male brows tend to taper thick at the tail and point downwards.

Female clients with alopecia benefit from permanent makeup.  They also appreciate lash line enhancement or eyeliner procedure.  Since they lack lashes, it's best to produce very fine lines.  Brown is preferred, rather than black.  It will look more natural and provide additional definition around the eyes.


http://www.prettypleasestudio.com
San Ramon, CA

What is Micro Blading

Microblading is a tool that is popular with the newer generation of permanent makeup artists.  The marketing of Microblading has dominated our industry in the past 2 to 3 years.

Microblade is a hand held tool (non electrical) where the linear series of needles are configured tightly to form a "blade" or a "knife".  The artist uses the "blade" to cut "hair like" incisions into the skin.  The pigment is then smeared into the cuts.  The width of the blade is extremely narrow so that the artist can create an illusion of eyebrow hairs.

Due to the narrow width of the blade, the artist must minimize the space in between each stroke.  If the strokes are placed too far apart, the tattoo may appear sparse when healed.  If the strokes are placed too closely, then the pigment from each stroke blend into the next stroke and causes pigment migration or a shaded look.

Immediately after the procedure, you will see the individual hair like stokes for about a week.  However, when your skin repairs itself, the treated area secretes sebum which then dries into a scab.  The appearance of individual strokes are not as apparent.  Most Micro Blading healed brows look solid in color, due to the closeness of the strokes.

The photo above is done by Softap, it is hairstrokes with soft shading.  It is not done by Micro Blading.

http://www.prettypleasestudio.com
San Ramon, CA

Eyebrow Hair transplant

The two most common eyebrow transplants are as follows: 

• Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT)
• NeoGrafting

The average cost for full brow transplant is approximate $5000.   Cost may vary depending on where you live and the number of procedures.  In some cases, individuals need additional sessions to fill in the gap after the initial procedure.  

FUT (Follicular Unit Transplant) involves approximately four-inch-wide slice of scalp from the back of your head. It does leave a scar, however, the procedure is less noticeable for women with long hair because they can hide the scarred area with hair.  On men, it may be more noticeable since they tend to keep hair shorter on their head.  It may also be noticeable for some women with thinning hair.  The technician then dissect all the hairs from the four inch slice to graft in wherever you'd like. 

The second most common procedure is called NeoGraft or Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) method .   It involves a medical device that harvests individual hair follicles from your scalp with minimal damage or scarring.  The hairs are harvested from various areas of the scalp to ensure variety of hair thickness.

In general, both FUT and FUE methods are overall successful.  However, 100% of hair transplant is not guaranteed to stimulate new hair growth.  Henceforth, additional procedures may be needed.

In both procedures, regularly maintaining and trimming the new brow hair is required.  Unlike natural brow hair, the transplanted hair will grow thicker than natural brow hairs and tends to grow in length.  The new brow hair may appear to be course/heavy and grow in various direction.   So it requires weekly maintenance to trim and train hair growth pattern.  This can be achieved with mini scissors and a clean mascara brush. 

Some clients request permanent makeup to fill in some of the gap in between brow hair.  This is not recommended within the first few years of new hair growth cycle.

http://www.prettypleasestudio.com
San Ramon, CA