MICROBLADING VS. EYEBROW TATTOOING

People sometimes refer to microblading as eyebrow tattooing, which is technically true but not 100% accurate.

Let’s talk about the key differences.

1. Microblading artists hand draw each line. Eyebrow tattooing uses a machine.

This makes a big difference. Microblading features very fine lines and when applied by a skilled artist, those lines do not “bleed out” over time. Not true of traditional eyebrow tattooing. Eyebrow tattooing is usually done by a machine, with much greater injury to the skin. The lines created are not as fine and over time begin to bleed out. If you’ve ever seen someone tattoo handwriting on their skin, only to see the writing get thicker over the years, then you know the effect.

2. Microblading has different retention.

The fine lines of microblading often fade over time. For many, they fade over 1 to 3 years. With microblading, there is a lot less ink deposited under the skin in fine lines. In the dermis, where the ink is placed, this ink can move around over time, giving a slighter appearance. When there is a lot of ink, like in traditional tattooing, the tattoo remains very consistent. With microblading, the ink can often fade or disappear, depending on the skin type and how much ink was inserted.

3. Inks maintain their color.

Microblading uses a different kind of ink that maintains its original hue over time. Many tattooing clients report that their tattoos turn blue or brown over time. With microblading, however, colors tend to get lighter, rather than changing hue.

4. Microblading is less painful.

Microblading artists use a topical anesthetic, which numbs clients of most of the pain. In fact, many clients report little or no pain. Some people fear traditional tattoos on certain parts of their body because of the pain, but this is typically not a inhibiting factor for microblading clients.

5. Results from microblading are more natural than traditional eyebrow tattoos.

Again, each hairstroke is hand drawn in microblading. To the naked eye, these individual hairstrokes blend right in with a clients' real hair. While eyebrow tattoos may look more like traditional permanent makeup, microblading looks more like natural eyebrow hair.

6. Microblading artists are not necessarily tattoo artists and vice versa!

Microblading and tattooing each take specific training and are not linked! Microblading artists do not learn how to tattoo during their training and likewise, most tattoo artists never learn the skills necessary to become a microblading artist. For the noted differences, tattooing and microblading are each separate artforms that take their own time and training to master.