The Eyebrow Treatment That Will Take Your Brow Game To A Whole New Level

In the quest for great eyebrows, we’ve tried a lot (we mean a lot) of products: pencils, gels, powders, pomades and everything in between. A strong eyebrow game is crucial in today’s day and age, and now, there’s a new treatment on the scene that can help sculpt your arches into perfect—and identical—shapes.  

The subject at hand is microblading, a.k.a. brow tattoos. Maybe you’ve never heard of it or maybe you’ve meticulously combed through the 1.7 million mentions on Instagram at 1 a.m. while you deliriously checked out brows that had gone under the needle, not that we have… But no matter what stage in your eyebrow journey you’re at, we’re here to provide you with all the essential info you need. 

With stars like Lena Dunham flocking to this brand new eyebrow solution, many of us are wondering what exactly is microblading, and what’s all the hype about? 

Microblading per Dunham is, “a semipermanent tattoo where small amounts of pigment are placed under the skin using a sharp and flat handheld tool … by experts who take pains to draw in each missing eyebrow hair for an effect that resembles a trompe l’oeil arch.” 

Dunham, like many women, has a brow history punctuated by tweezer-induced tragedy, and these ultra-fine hairlike tattoo strokes are the perfect solution for anyone whose eyebrows have had a rough past.

If you’re toying with the idea of microblading, we’ve gathered up everything you need to know. 

Does it hurt?

At the end of the day, microblading is actually a tattoo, so there is always a bit of discomfort involved. But legit makeup artists will treat your brows with a numbing cream throughout the entire procedure. Translation: if you’ve survided a waxing appointment in the past, you can probably deal. 

How long does the treatment take?

One of the main sells of microblading is that its such an intricate process, and your eyebrows won’t look as if you just colored them in with a magic marker. So, it’s no surprise to learn an appointment usually takes around two to four hours to achieve the Cara D brows you’ve always dreamed of. 

What’s the healing process like?

Like with a tattoo, your microblading will need a little time to heal. Your brows will probably be a bit red and the brow color will appear darker at first, but both will fade. Just keep the site clean and apply healing balm as needed. Easy peasy. 

How much does it cost?

A microblading sesh can cost anywhere from $400 to $1,000. While this price may seem steep at first, consider how much you spend on your current arsenal of brow products each year. A.k.a. if you’re currently VIB Rouge at Sephora, this treatment is 100% for you.