Knowing what to expect from the microblading healing process – after touch-up or initial service – is a big part of preparing for your microblading appointment. 

Microblading can last for two years or more, providing you with effortlessly stunning brows that require little to no daily maintenance. But in order to enjoy the benefits, you have to navigate recovery first.

The microblading healing process after your first appointment takes about four to six weeks. During this time, you’ll want to care for your brows properly and avoid things that can damage your results. After a touch-up, however, you should be completely healed much quicker—usually within a week or less. 

Read on for the specifics, including a microblading recovery timeline and tips for speeding things up. 

Quick Overview of the Microblading Process

Microblading is a form of cosmetic tattooing and relies on tiny little cuts to add color and density to your brows. All salons operate a bit differently, but the general process will look something like this:

 

  • Consultation: Your brow tech will examine your natural brows, paying attention to things like shape and hair growth pattern. From there, you’ll come up with a plan for your new brow style based on your preferences and the technician’s recommendations. 
  • Mapping: The technician will outline your new eyebrow shape right on top of your natural brow. This gives you a chance to visualize your end result before the microblading starts. 
  • Microblading: A numbing cream will be applied to your brows to minimize discomfort. Then, a tiny blade will be used to make tiny cuts on the skin’s surface and fill them with pigment. This step takes about 2 to 3 hours. 
  • Healing: Once your brows are done, recovery starts. This can take up to eight weeks from your initial appointment, though you should be mostly back to normal after four weeks.
  • Touch-up: Touch-ups are recommended every six months or sooner if the color looks too light, you don’t like the shape, or you notice patchiness in the pigmentation. 

 

Day-By-Day Microblading Healing Process After Your Initial Appointment

When it comes to your eyebrows, microblading recovery best practices are designed to ensure your health and safety in the month(s) after service, as well as the quality of your results. Recovery is rarely painful, and any irritation is likely to feel no more intense than a light sunburn. 

Your technician will explain everything you need to know, but we recommend familiarizing yourself with microblading recovery just as you would with the actual microblading process. 

Days 1-2: Redness and mild swelling will appear, and this is totally normal. You will also notice that your brows appear quite dark (don’t worry; this is not their final color). If you have any discomfort, take an over-the-counter pain reliever like Aleve. 

Days 3-7: Your skin will start to flake, and small scabs will appear. This can be itchy but avoid any vigorous rubbing. Instead, relieve any itchiness by adding very gentle pressure to the area with a clean cotton ball. 

Days 8-14: The color of your brows will start to fade slightly, and the scabs will fall off. Continue to follow your tech’s aftercare instructions, including cleansing your brows and applying a soothing ointment. 

Days 14-30: Any lingering irritation should subside at this point, and the final color of your brows will start to settle in.

If you notice excessive redness, prolonged swelling, or infection at any point in the microblading healing process, contact your technician right away. 

How to Speed Up Microblading Recovery

What you do while your microbladed brows are healing can make a big difference in the time it takes to make a full recovery. 

Factors that may impact your microblading recovery time include your skin type, the type of physical activity you engage in, and your lifestyle. How well you stick to your tech’s aftercare instructions will also play a major role. 

To speed up recovery, make sure to avoid the following:

  • Washing your face (for the first two days)
  • Smoking and/or drinking
  • Picking or scratching your brows
  • Vigorously rubbing your brows
  • Excessive sun exposure
  • Strenuous exercise
  • Swimming
  • Saunas
  • Eyebrow makeup
  • Using acids or exfoliants near your brows

Avoiding these activities is essential, especially during the first two weeks of recovery. After this point, you can relax a bit about things like exercise as long as your scabs are gone and the healing process is moving along smoothly. 

When Is It Time for a Microblading Touch-Up, and How Does Recovery Compare?

You should schedule your microblading touch-up appointment as soon as you notice the results of your first session starting to fade. We recommend booking a touch-up after six months, though you can certainly come in sooner if you need to. 

As for recovery, healing from a touch-up appointment is similar to healing from the standard microblading process, but it happens much quicker: about five to seven days, versus a month or longer. The same rules apply insofar as cleaning your brows and avoiding certain products and activities, but you should be able to return to your normal routine sooner rather than later. 

Discover Your Perfect Brows at Lash Me

We’re here to walk you through every step of the microblading process and subsequent recovery. Schedule an appointment at a Lash Me salon in Brooklyn Heights or Carroll Gardens to meet with a skilled brow technician and get the expert advice you need for acing your microblading aftercare.