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Microblading v Machine Eyebrows - What is the Difference?
I know that ‘Microblading v Machine Eyebrows – What is the Difference?’ is one of the most common questions asked when it comes to eyebrow tattooing.
There’s so much information online and the terminology seems to be endless, doesn’t it? Even to me and at the time of writing, I’m in my 5th year of carrying out the treatment! So firstly, I’m going to quickly go through the different terms you might have heard.
- Micropigmentation
- Microblading
- Machine Brows
- Permanent Eyebrows
- Semi Permanent Eyebrows
- Ombre Brows
- Powder Brows
- Hair stroke Brows
- Combination Brows
- Tattoo Eyebrows
All of these are terms that you may hear that ultimately are the same thing – Micropigmentation! That’s without even going into ‘Stardust Eyebrows’, ‘Digital Art Brows’……I mean, the list is endless, but essentially they are all just a reinvention of the wheel! There are two methods of Micropigmentation: Hand held tool – Microblading and Digital Machine – Exactly that, it’s a digital machine.
Below I will go through the differences between the two treatments. So you’re aware, I don’t offer Microblading, only Digital Machine Eyebrows. It’s important that you know the differences between the two methods, so that you can decide which treatment (if any!) are suitable for you. If you’re still unsure, then I’d recommend that you book a consulation with both a Microblading Technician and a Digital Machine Technician, you can then ask all of the questions you’d like answered!
One piece of advice I will give you is to make sure your Technician has a formal Level 4 Qualification in their area of specialism. VTCT Level 4 in Micropigmentation / Microblading is currently the only official qualification in my industry. This is an unregulated industry, so VTCT Level 4 qualification is voluntary at this time, but I would highly recommend that you check that your Technician has this. VTCT are an independent awarding body and those that undertake the qualification will have carried out formal written assignments and have been assessed by an independent Examiner. This is in addition to the training carried out by the Training Academy. Here’s a link to VTCT, in case you’re interested! CLICK HERE
So lets get to it – Microblading v Machine Eyebrows – What is the difference?
Microblading
Machine Eyebrows
- Carried out with a hand held tool with a bespoke blade.
- Pigment implanted around 0.8 - 1mm into the skin.
- Good for light fluffy hair stroke eyebrows.
- Lasts 6-12 months before a colour boost is required.
- Not suitable for all skin types: Avoid if you have oily skin, alopecia with thicker skin type, dry skin or mature skin.
- Risk of scar tissue, due to slicing into the surface layers of the skin.
- Will require more frequent colour boosts.
- Great for filling in gaps within the natural brows.
- Carried out with a digital machine that implants pigment.
- Pigment implanted 1.5-2mm into the skin.
- Good for light fluffy hair strokes and powder techniques.
- Lasts 12-18 months before a colour boost is required.
- Suitable for all skin types, although style of brow recommended will depend on your skin type and age.
- Causes less trauma to the skin, as the machine implants the pigment and the surface layers of the skin are kept in tact.
- Good for different types of eyebrow styles and combination brows.
As you can see, many of the benefits are the same.
Until recently (last couple of years), Microblading was the ‘go to’ for natural fluffy hair stroke brows. However, with the advancement of technology and new ‘nano’ needles, digital machines can now create an equally natural looking hair stroke eyebrows.
The two main factors that will influence whether Microblading or Digital Eyebrows are right for will be your skin type and frequency of treatment. Microblading does have an increased risk of scarring, partly because it is more dependant on the pressure/technique of your Technician and partly because of the frequency of treatments. That said, if you go to a highly skilled Microblader, you will have excellent results!
Prices tend to be roughly the same across the two techniques. Prices will always vary, depending on your local area, your Technician’s experience and the quality/cost of the products they use during your treatment. (You can CLICK HERE for an explanation of what everything that is factored into my pricing for every treatment).
In Conclusion
I hope this post has helped you in answering the questions ‘Microblading v Machine Eyebrows – What is the Difference?’.
Beautiful natural eyebrows can be achieved with both techniques. The important thing is that you find the right Technician for you before committing to a procedure. I’d recommend booking a consultation with a Technician, so you can talk through the treatment thoroughly. Ask ALL of the questions that spring to mind and make sure you’re 100% happy before going ahead.
If you have any other questions then please let me know. As I mentioned at the start, I offer Machine Eyebrows and not Microblading. I wrote this post because I get so many enquiries about Microblading, because the terminology is so confusing and interchangeable!
If you would like to book a Consultation then please get in touch, or click ‘learn more’ to read more about Semi Permanent Eyebrow treatments that I offer (also known as Permanent Eyebrows – just to be confusing).
