EYEBROW-TINTING-VS-MICROBLADINGEyebrows are an integral part of any beauty routine. Without them, achieving that polished look we’re all striving to have is hard. These days, the two most popular methods of eyebrow enhancement are eyebrow tinting and microblading. Tinting and eyebrow tattooing offer a way to achieve fuller eyebrows without needing makeup or hair dye (which can be costly and time-consuming). However, there are some key differences between tinted and tattooed brows which you should know about before deciding on one over the other.
What’s Eyebrow Tinting?
Eyebrow tinting is a semi-permanent treatment that makes your eyebrows darker or more defined. The artist performs the procedure by applying color to the arches of your eyebrows with an eyebrow brush. The color is expected to fade in about six to twelve weeks.
What’s Microblading?
Microblading, on the other hand, is a semi-permanent tattoo of the eyebrows that creates “hair strokes” using a hand tool with multiple needles dipped into pigment. The procedure involves manually depositing pigment below the surface of your skin, creating tiny incisions within the skin, so it doesn’t disappear but instead fills out over time.
After healing from microblading, you can expect hair-like strokes in the gaps between your natural brow strands before treatment.
Eyebrow Tinting and Microblading: 5 Major Differences
While these two options are both pretty convincing, they have several differences you might want to consider before choosing. Here are five of them:
Difference #1: Appearance of Tinted vs. Tattooed Brows
The results of eyebrow tinting and microblading in appearance are not similar. Eyebrow tinting is a semi-permanent treatment that makes your eyebrows darker or more defined with color applied using an eyebrow brush. However, it only enhances the strands your eyebrows already have.
On the other hand, microblading is a form of beauty tattooing that uses a handheld tool with numerous needles dipped in pigment to make tiny cuts into the skin resulting in “hair strokes.” Thus, it fills the unwanted gaps or spaces between the strands of each brow.
Final Appearance of Eyebrow Tinting and Microblading
Eyebrow tinting’s final appearance is darker or more defined eyebrows with color applied. While microblading’s final appearance would be hair-like strokes that fill out the sparse area of your eyebrows, giving them a fuller and more natural look.
Difference #2: Process of Tinting and Eyebrow Tattooing
Tinting and eyebrow tattooing involve applying color to the arches of your eyebrows, making them appear either slightly fuller or darker than before. However, microblading entails using numbing cream and a pigment hand tool inserted into skin incisions within the dermis. Eyebrow tinting, on the other hand, only requires dye and brush for the brows.
The process of microblading also takes longer than eyebrow tinting. The former uses an additional needle that inks beneath the skin, while tinting only applies color on the surface. Thus, tinted eyebrows will fade after about four to six weeks, depending on the hair growth and care taken by the person.
Difference #3: Eyebrow Tinting and Microblading: Compatibility With Skin Type
Since eyebrow tinting only colors the skin’s surface, it requires less caution and maintenance than microblading. For the latter, however, you must be extra cautious when choosing a pigment that would be tattooed beneath your skin. People with unique or sensitive skin types may experience irritation or inflammation due to the dye used. Hence, you should always consult your service provider first to discuss your situation.
Who Can Get Eyebrow Tinting?
Eyebrow tinting is an excellent option for those who want that quick or temporary fix before going out on special occasions such as prom or weddings. People with light brown to black colored hair tend to see faster results than people with blonde hair since dark pigment reacts better against the dye used during treatment. However, if your goal is just eyebrow maintenance rather than complete transformation, eyebrow tinting works wonderfully!
Remember that results may vary from person to person depending on their skin type and the dye used during treatment.
Who Can Get Microbladed Brows?
Microblading is best for those looking for a long-term solution to enhance their natural eyebrows. You can also opt for this procedure if you have patchy areas or small hair, as it enables fuller, thicker, and more defined-looking brows that will last for years.
Microblading is also an excellent option for those who have lost hair density in brows due to over-tweezing or age. The treatment can add pigment to your eyebrows which you may no longer have, and make them look as gorgeous as before.
Difference #4: Aftercare and Follow-up Session of Tinted vs. Tattooed Brows
Eyebrow tinting requires little to no post-treatment care. You can resume your everyday activities immediately after the appointment.
Microblading, on the other hand, requires more careful aftercare since the pigment is inserted beneath the skin using multiple needles. It includes avoiding the following until the treated area has fully healed:
- Going into steam rooms or saunas
- Soaking in water or swimming
- Getting chemical peels or facials
For best results, you also need to make sure that you follow all safety precautions given by your service provider.
What To Do After Getting Your Eyebrow Tinting and Microblading Done?
After an Eyebrow Tinting Procedure
After having your eyebrow tinting treatment, you can resume all normal activities immediately. However, you have to avoid getting your brows wet for 12 hours. Furthermore, you must prevent yourself from exfoliating or using oil-based products and applying anything that may irritate your skin on the treated area. And if you want to maintain the look of your brows, you may book your touch-up appointment every four to six weeks.
After a Microblading Treatment
For microblading, make sure that you follow the aftercare instructions from your service provider closely, such as avoiding hot showers/steam rooms until fully healed, along with gentle cleansing of affected areas over time.
You’ll also need to use sunscreen during recovery since the pigment used in microblading may cause sun sensitivity, resulting in discoloration of treated areas.
Lastly, you must avoid submerging your skin in water for a couple of weeks after treatment so that color doesn’t fade away too quickly!
Difference #5: The Cost of Eyebrow Tinting vs. Microblading
The cost of eyebrow tinting and microblading also differ from each other. Depending on your chosen service provider, you can get tinted eyebrows for as low as $20 to $75. Meanwhile, a microblading session usually costs around $300 to $600. And while the latter may be much more expensive than tinting, its outcome would last two years or more.
Eyebrow Tinting and Microblading Side Effects and How To Avoid Them
Eyebrow tinting has few side effects since the pigment only colors the hair follicles. However, some people may experience the following due to how intense the dye can be on sensitive skin types:
- allergic reactions leading to irritation
- inflammation
- infection.
As for microblading, people prone to keloid scarring or hyperpigmentation may have their condition worsened. Those with darker hair may also experience some fading within a few weeks after treatment. Still, it will depend on various factors, such as how darkly pigmented your natural brows were before treatment and proper aftercare.
What’s important to note, whichever method you choose, is that you follow all the after-care instructions given by your service provider and contact them immediately when a concern arises.
Why Do You Need Eyebrow Tinting?
Eyebrow tinting is popular because it lasts longer than eyebrow pencils, powders, or gels. The treatment is also suitable for those who like to experiment with different brow shapes since you can easily change your current look instantly!
Here are some other benefits of this procedure:
It’s Cheap
One of the perks of tinting is it’s affordable since it only costs around $25 to $75. Therefore if you don’t have the budget for microblading, this treatment is worth trying.
Time-saving
You can say goodbye to your long and tiring morning routine after having your brows tinted. Besides saving time in perfecting your eyebrows, you will enjoy the fabulous brows you opt for having.
It’s Short-term
Eyebrow tinting is temporary, so you can change your eyebrow style after just a few weeks if you want to try out something new.
The Process Is Quick
The treatment will only take up to fifteen minutes and you can resume your other activities right after the procedure. After a few weeks, you can go back to your provider for your touch-up.
Benefits of Microblading
The eyebrows are the most important feature on your face. They enhance your eyes, show off your personality and give you a defined look. That’s why many individuals are opting for this well-known technique. But apart from those mentioned earlier, how can you benefit from eyebrow tattooing?
It Gives Long-lasting Outcome
Microblading eyebrows last up to three years. So can you imagine the time and effort you can save because of this long-lasting procedure?
The beauty of that instability is that you may choose to stop getting it redone if you want to go back to what you enjoyed before microblading (although we don’t believe you will).
Natural-looking Results
It’s nearly impossible to tell the difference between a natural brow and a microbladed one. The finest microblading makeup clinics in the business understand how to take advantage of this approach and provide customers with the desired look for their brows.
It Doesn’t Hurt
The artist will apply numbing cream so you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. The annoying scratching sound may give you discomfort, but you will be fine in the long run.
It’s Safe
As long as you entrust your brows to a certified and professional service provider, you are in good hands.
Which Is Better For You: Eyebrow Tinting or Microblading?
After reading this article, which do you think is better for you, eyebrow tinting or microblading? If you want a quick and temporary process, you can choose the former to make things simple. On the flip side, if you desire a longer-lasting result, the latter would be your best bet.
However, if you still can’t decide between eyebrow tinting and microblading after going over this essay, talk to us, and we will gladly lend you a hand.