What is Microblading—and How Can it Benefit You?

A woman is laying down and getting her eyebrows prepared for microblading

Thick eyebrows are all the rage right now. But whether you just weren’t born with naturally thick eyebrows or you managed to overpluck them in the early aughts when thin brows were the style, you may be wondering if there’s a way (beyond the brow pencil) to fill yours in and keep up with the trends. Eyebrows can really change the way that your face looks and make your features pop if done the right way, so it’s understandable that you want to make sure they are just right.

One technique to getting fuller, thicker brows is microblading. So, what is microblading? What does it do? How does it benefit you? Are there any risks?

Let’s learn all about this hot new beauty trend—and reasons why you may want to consider scheduling an appointment.

Microblading is a Semi-Permanent Tattoo

Microblading is a procedure that claims to improve the appearance of your eyebrows. Sometimes it is also called “feather touch” or “micro-stroking.” The microblading procedure is a semi-permanent tattoo where pigment is implanted under your skin with a manual handheld tool instead of a machine (like a regular tattoo). During the microblading procedure, your microblading professional will make hundreds of tiny little strokes to build a texture that looks like natural eyebrow hair.

It Takes a While

When you schedule a microblading session, you’re going to need to block off at least a couple of hours to get it right. In other words, don’t expect that you can get in and out. Your microblading professional will take their time to make sure that your eyebrows are looking perfect before you leave. You definitely don’t want to rush the process!

Preparing Your Skin is Key

There are some things you need to avoid before getting microbladed, such as anything that can thin out your blood. At least a week before your appointment, cut down your consumption of alcohol, avoid taking aspirin, and avoid using retinol.

It Doesn’t Hurt Too Much

If you’ve never gotten a tattoo before it’s understandable to be a little nervous about the microblading experience, but the truth is that the pain isn’t too much to handle for most people. If you do have a low tolerance for pain, you may want to speak to your microblading professional about a numbing cream that can be applied beforehand to dull the pain a little bit. And even though microblading does sting a little bit, the procedure is completely safe to do as long as it is performed in a clean, safe environment by a professional.

Microblading Means Never Having to Pick Up a Brow Pencil

Although you can achieve fuller brows with the use of a brow pencil or a brow gel, a microblading procedure means that you won’t have to spend several minutes every day fiddling with your eyebrows. They will look natural, look filled in, and you can have a makeup-free way to pop your features and change the shape of your face. The best part is that microblading can last up to six months—which means that maintenance is minimal.

Interested in scheduling a microblading appointment with a professional at Volume Eyelash Extension Studio in Santa Barbara? You can book an appointment online or give us a call at (805) 881-2242! 

How to Get Thicker Eyebrows

Thick eyebrows are all the rage these days—and it's easy to see why: They frame your face, and let's face it, they make a statement. But if you were one of the unlucky ones who overplucked in the early 2000s or you just weren't born with naturally thick eyebrows, it can feel frustrating that you can't be part of this gorgeous beauty trend.

Here's what you need to know when you need thicker eyebrows—STAT. 

Stop Plucking Right this Second 

We mean it. Just stop plucking right now. Even though it might feel awkward because you might have a few errant hairs here and there, the best way to promote growth in your eyebrows is to stop messing with them so much. It can take a bit of time for eyebrows to grow out, so give it some time: Three or four months without plucking is usually best. 

Slather on Some Vaseline

In order to grow more hair on your eyebrows, you have to facilitate a healthy environment that promotes hair growth. This means that your skin is going to have to be extra hydrated. Believe it or not, applying good old-fashioned Vaseline on the area around your eyebrows will moisturize and provide a seal on your skin. 

Try an Eyebrow Growth Serum

A really quick way to get thicker eyebrows is to apply a growth serum to your brows daily. Growth serums contain triple peptide complex, as well as vitamins, botanicals, and hair conditioners that allow hair to grow fast. 

Schedule a Microblading Session

Microblading is a procedure that claims to improve the appearance of your eyebrows. Sometimes it is also called “feather touch” or “micro-stroking.”

Microblading is performed by a trained technician. They may or may not have a special license to perform the procedure, depending on the state in which they are working. This individual carefully draws in your brows using a special tool. The procedure involves hundreds of tiny strokes that build a texture that looks like your own eyebrow hair. 

Interested in scheduling a microblading appointment with a professional at Volume Eyelash Extension Studio in Santa Barbara? You can book an appointment online or give us a call at (805) 881-2242! 

 

 

 

A close up of a woman's eyes and eyebrows

How to Prep Your Skin for Microblading

A woman getting a microblade treatment

Microblading is a procedure that claims to improve the appearance of your eyebrows. Sometimes it is also called “feather touch” or “micro-stroking.” This procedure has become really popular as fuller brows have come in style and has even gained the praise of celebrities like Lena Dunham who used microblading to fill in her eyebrows after years of overplucking. 

Microblading is performed by a trained technician who carefully draws in your brows using a special tool. The procedure involves hundreds of tiny strokes that build a texture that looks like your own eyebrow hair. Microblading results can last 12-18 months, which is a big part of its appeal.  

Because microblading is a procedure that involves cutting into the skin, you want to make sure that your skin is as healthy as it can be before your appointment. Just like a painter needs to clean and prime a wall before they apply color, your skin needs to be primed and ready for your microblading appointment. 

Here's how to prep your skin before a microblading session.

What to Avoid Before Microblading

Before you have a microblading appointment, here are a few things to avoid one or two weeks out:

• Tweezing 
• Tanning or having a sunburnt face
• Facials 
• Taking fish oil or Vitamin E
• Botox
• Tinting your brows

Here are a few things to avoid a couple of days before your appointment:

• Alcohol
• Coffee
• Aspirin or Tylenol

What to Do Before Microblading

Now that you know what not to do before a microblading appointment, here are a few things to do to make sure your skin is at its best before:

• Cleanse your face using a nonabrasive cleanser
• Moisturize with an unscented lotion

Schedule a Microblading Appointment Today

Interested in scheduling a microblading appointment with a professional at Volume Eyelash Extension Studio in Santa Barbara? You can book an appointment online or give us a call at (805) 881-2242! 

 

Why You Shouldn't Wax at Home

A woman gets her underarms waxed

Thanks to endless DIY tutorials on websites and blogs, we're handling a lot more stuff on our own these days—from furniture building to changing our own oil, but one thing that we shouldn't attempt to DIY is waxing body hair. There are numerous at-home waxing kits and DIY tutorials about how to best wax your body hair off at home, but the truth is that you're never going to get the same results as you can in the studio with a professional. 

Here are a few reasons why waxing is best left to the pros. 

A Pro Knows How to Wax As Quickly and Painlessly As Possible

You expect that waxing is going to be a little uncomfortable, but you'd be surprised at how much more painful it can be when you choose to wax at home. The at-home wax kits that you can buy don't contain high-quality wax, which can make a difference in the discomfort of removing hair. 

A salon professional will also know the right technique to remove hair quickly and can get to those hard-to-reach spots that you won't be able to see if you're waxing it yourself. 

A Professional Waxer Has Better Quality Wax

There's just no doubt about it: Professional waxers use higher quality wax than the average at-home kit. The technology of wax is constantly improving and it's likely that pros are going to have access to the latest types of waxes available. These higher-quality waxes are likely going to be less painful, remove hair quicker, and can even smell better than a lot of the traditional at-home kits. 

The Quality of Waxing Results Will be Better

No matter how good you may think you'll be at waxing your own hair, a pro is just always going to be better. Even the pros themselves hire professional waxers to remove their own hair! 

A professional waxer is going to be able to see all of the hair that needs to be removed and can get to those hard-to-reach places that you aren't able to. They also have all of the professional tools and equipment necessary to remove hair. Your experience will also be better at a salon than trying to maneuver around in different positions in your bathroom. 

Schedule a Professional Waxing at Volume Eyelash Studio

Do you need to schedule a professional waxing in Santa Barbara? Call the Volume Eyelash Studio at 805-881-2242 to schedule an appointment for legs, eyebrows, or a bikini wax!

 

 

 

The 5 Biggest Eyebrow Mistakes

A girl with thick eyebrows looks at the camera

Eyebrows are one of the most defining features on your face. When your brows are looking good, they can help bring focus toward your gorgeous eyes and frame your face. But when your brows are too thin, not arched right, or too dark for your complexion, they can really detract from what you've got going on. 

Here are the five biggest eyebrow mistakes you can make—and how to fix them. 

You're Over-plucking Them

We've all been guilty of this No. 1 eyebrow sin. Right now, fuller, thicker brows are very in, but in the early 00's, people were sporting a thinner brow that led to a whole lot of over-plucking. But plucking your brows into oblivion is not doing your face any favors: It looks unnatural and doesn't frame your face in the right way. 

How to fix it: DROP THE TWEEZERS. Yes, it might be awkward in the beginning as they grow out, but trust us. It's the only way. If you're having trouble growing them out, you can check out some growth serum products to give them a bit of a growth boost. 

You're Trying to Make them Identical

We've all been told that it's super important for our eyebrows to match perfectly, but this is a total myth. The truth is that your eyebrows are never going to look exactly identical and obsessing over it is just going to lead to over-plucking. 

How to fix it: Leave them alone for a little while and let them grow out. After they've grown out a little bit, you can work on re-shaping them without going overboard with making them match exactly. 

You're Placing the Arch in the Wrong Spot

The arch is one of the most important things about your eyebrows. While some women naturally have a strong arch, others have more subtle ones. Many women, while trying to create an arch, put it in the middle of the brow. This can give you an unintended angry or surprised look on your face.

How to fix it: Let your eyebrows go out for a little bit and then go to a brow specialist to see if they can help you re-shape them to fit with your natural arch. 

You're Skipping Brow Gel

Your eyebrows may look great right after you do your makeup in the morning, but that look won't last all day if you're not using brow gel to hold the hairs in place.

How to fix it: After you've filled in your brows while doing your makeup in the morning, apply some clear brow gel in the direction the hair grows.

You're Going too Dark with Your Filler

Most of us aren't blessed with naturally super thick eyebrows that don't require any assistance from makeup. But be careful if you fill in your brows—coloring them in too dark can be overkill. As it is with most things: less is more. 

How to fix it: Take the time to find an eyebrow pencil or kit that matches the color of your natural brow. Apply with short, feathery strokes and step back from the mirror so that you get a more natural look. 

Consider Microblading

Microblading is a procedure performed by a trained technician in a salon that improves the appearance of your eyebrows. Sometimes it is also called “feather touch” or “micro-stroking.” Microblading is a semi-permanent eyebrow tattoo that will eventually fade away after several weeks. 

Want to know more about whether or not microblading is for you? Visit the SB Volume Eyelash Studio in Santa Barbara for a consultation with our expert salon technicians!