While some people have thick and full brows, others have sparse eyebrows. Non-invasive procedures like eyebrow tattooing and microblading can help make up for these sparse areas. But before you decide on which to get, you need to know the differences between eyebrow tattoo vs microblading.
Your eyebrows play a significant role in the overall appearance of your face. This is why some people would rather go through eyebrow enhancement procedures. When going through the list of possible options, you may think eyebrow tattoo and microblading are similar but they aren’t.
Like every other procedure, they have their differences. So, if you need eyebrow enhancement, you should continue reading to see the differences between eyebrow tattoo vs microblading.
What Is Eyebrow Tattoo?
An eyebrow tattoo is a permanent tattoo. It involves using a machine to inject ink into the deep layers of your skin to create a thick line. This eyebrow enhancement procedure is very unnatural and is easily identified as such.
The tattooing process incorporates repetitive tapping motions of needles penetrating your skin. This is one of the reasons why it is permanent. Furthermore, the body doesn’t easily break down the ink, so, it doesn’t fade easily.
Eyebrow tattoo is great for people who are looking to add volume to the middle part of their brows. However, regardless of its permanency, the color of the tattoo fades over time into a green or blue shade.
What Is Microblading?
Microblading is a semi-permanent eyebrow enhancement procedure that employs a wand-like tool that is filled with tiny needles. As the device goes over your brows, these needles make tiny marks that look like eyebrow hairs.
The marks it leaves on your skin are shallow and less invasive. Microblading gives an illusion of full, thick eyebrows where you used to have sparse brows. Also, it can help excessively thick brows look more defined.
However, as a semi-permanent tattoo, it doesn’t last long. You’ll need to have your brows microbladed again after a year or two. This brow lift saves you the extra time you’d naturally spend trying to fill your brows in the mornings.
Eyebrow Tattoo vs Microblading
As mentioned earlier, eyebrow tattoo and microblading are different from each other. Although microblading is a type of tattoo and may seem to follow a similar procedure and produce similar outcomes, they are different.
The result of an eyebrow tattoo is a thick line across your brows, while microblading makes individual hair-like strokes on your brows. Moreover, eyebrow tattoos are permanent and microblading strokes only last around 1-3 years.
Microblading is a less invasive technique compared to eyebrow tattooing. As regards the composition of the pigment used in each procedure microblading uses a specialized pigment which may be organic or inorganic. Eyebrow tattoo, on the other hand, uses tattoo ink.
In addition, eyebrow tattooing is a painful process that requires a good deal of healing time. Microblading is almost painless (feels like tweezing) and needs little recovery time. And, these processes are not carried out by the same artists.
Another thing to note when comparing eyebrow tattoo vs microblading is the cost. Getting microblading usually costs more than getting an eyebrow tattoo. Most importantly, the procedure you choose to go with depends on the result you hope to get.
Ombre Eyebrow Tattoo vs Microblading
Despite how common microblading has become, it is not recommended for every skin type. For instance, people with oily or combination skin usually have large pores and this makes the microblading process quite difficult. A better option for such people is the ombre eyebrow tattoo.
Ombre brows are also known as powdered brows or microshading. This technique uses an ultra-fine needle to draw dashes and dots to create a permanent makeup powder look.
Ombre brows and microbladed brows are both semi-permanent tattoos and they look natural. However, a comparison of ombre eyebrow tattoo vs microblading is worth noting. Ombre eyebrow tattoo uses a machine that is less invasive when compared with microblading.
Although less invasive, ombre brows can last up to five years, unlike microblading, which doesn’t last beyond three years. Also, an ombre eyebrow tattoo is a less painful procedure and requires little recovery time. On the other hand, microblading exerts more wear and tear on the skin.
SEE: How to Remove Eyebrow Tint – A Step-by-Step Guide
3D Eyebrow Tattoo vs Microblading
3D eyebrow tattoo is under the category of semi-permanent eyebrow makeup. It is sometimes called eyebrow embroidery. This technique uses a special machine to inject pigment into your skin. The resulting effects are thick, bold eyebrows.
This eyebrow enhancement procedure follows the microblading procedure, but tends to have a slight variation because it includes microshading. As a result, 3D embroidery may not last up to three years. You’ll need a retouch after twelve to eighteen months.
In addition, 3D eyebrow embroidery is not in popular demand, unlike microblading and even ombre powder eyebrow tattoos. Moreover, 3D brows are pricier than microbladed brows.
Feather Eyebrow Tattoo vs Microblading
Both eyebrow enhancement techniques are semi-permanent procedures that create an illusion of hairs on your brows. However, while microblading is done over the entire brow area, feathered brows only cover the sparse areas in brows that were initially thick and full.
In essence, a feather eyebrow tattoo is for people who have patchy, over-plucked brows. This cosmetic tattooing process uses pigment to create hair-like strokes on the sparse areas. Additionally, with a feather eyebrow tattoo, you’ll most likely need your first touch-up after six months.
Comparing feather eyebrow tattoo vs microblading- it is painless and doesn’t last as long as microblading. Also, this technique is not suitable for people with oily skin types. This is because the excess oil makes pigment retention difficult. It is also not suitable for pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Digital Eyebrow Tattoo vs Microblading
Digital eyebrow tattoo and microblading are both semi-permanent procedures that use pigment but via different methods.
The microblading tool is a handheld device that uses up to twelve needles to inject pigment into your skin. Digital eyebrow tattoo, on the other hand, uses a machine with one vibrating needle to implant pigment into your skin.
The degree of implantation varies; digital eyebrow tattoo penetrates deeper than microblading. Therefore, the former lasts longer than the latter. Digital brows can last up to four years compared to microbladed brows that last only three years.
In terms of the resulting look, microbladed brows are finer and fluffier, whereas, digital eyebrow tattoos are more prominent because they follow a shading process. Additionally, microbladed brows usually need a touch-up after 6-12 months while digital brows will need a touch-up after about 12 months.
SEE: Brow Styling Wax for Defined Feathered Eyebrows
Hair Stroke Eyebrow Tattoo vs Microblading
Hair stroke eyebrow tattoo gives your eyebrows a better shape by drawing arched hair-like lines on your skin. Unlike microblading, the machine uses a single needle which makes the process less traumatic and allows your skin to recover quickly.
This eyebrow enhancement technique is less invasive and can be done without applying an anesthetic cream on your skin before the procedure. Since it is painless, you can easily repeat the strokes along the same path to get bolder brows.
Moreover, while the hair-like strokes fill in sparse areas and realign the height of brow hairs, microblading covers the entire brow.
Nano Eyebrow Tattoo vs Microblading
Nano eyebrow tattoo changes the overall shape of your eyebrows. Just like the feather eyebrow tattoo, this technique uses a fine needle to fill up sparse brows with hair-like strokes and give an appearance of thick, full brows.
Although it creates strokes like in microblading, they have their differences. Nanoblading, as the technique is sometimes called, uses a smaller needle and is, therefore, less painful. Microblading uses up to twelve needles that come together to look like a blade.
Furthermore, the machine that does nanoblading makes the strokes with the utmost precision, so there is a lesser risk of scarring and having scabs afterward. Scars and scabs are natural with microblading because the needles are thicker.
Nanoblading also costs more than microblading, and you should expect the results of nanoblading to last longer than that of microblading.
SEE: What Does Microneedle Do? Amazing Benefits You Can Look Forward To
Is Microblading Better Than Eyebrow Tattoo?
Microblading is not better than eyebrow tattoo or the other way around. Each eyebrow enhancement technique uses a particular procedure and produces different results. The procedure you choose to go with is determined by the outcome you’re looking to get.
Therefore, if you want permanent brows, you should get an eyebrow tattoo. But, if you prefer semi-permanent, natural brows, microblading is your best option.
Pros and Cons of Eyebrow Tattoo
Pros
- Eyebrow tattoos are long-lasting. You don’t need to have a touch-up until about a year after
- No smudging or breaking of makeup when you swim or take a shower
- These permanent tattoos can help boost one’s self-confidence, especially if you have suffered sparse, over-plucked brows
- Eyebrow tattoo is good for people who have suffered alopecia
Cons
- Getting an eyebrow tattoo is a painful procedure and requires healing time
- It is impossible to change brow style when you want to
- Risk of getting an infection or showing allergy
SEE: Can You Use Vitamin C Serum After Microneedling? Post-treatment Dos and Don’ts
Pros and Cons of Microblading
Pros
- With microbladed brows, you can have a quicker and simpler makeup routine
- It’s a good option for filling sparse brows
- The result of microbladed brows still look impressive and natural when it begins to fade
- Goodbye to makeup smudges
Cons
- Can be quite pricey when compared with eyebrow tattoo
- Risk of getting an infection or showing allergy
FAQs
Is microblading more painful than eyebrow tattoo?
No, it is not. Microblading is a less invasive procedure when compared to eyebrow tattoo. This is because it uses fewer needles to create a semi-permanent eyebrow. Also, the technician usually applies an anesthetic cream over your skin before carrying out the procedure.
Will microblading ruin your natural eyebrows?
No, it won’t. Microblading is a semi-permanent eyebrow enhancing technique that doesn’t have any effect on the natural growth of your eyebrow hairs. It only improves the appearance of your brows, whether you have thick, full hairs or sparse, over-plucked brows.
Why is your microblading turning grey?
Microblading turning grey is a sign of healing. This greying happens before the shedding of the microblading scab. And the older microblading gets, the greyer it becomes. You’ll therefore need another appointment after a year or two to revive your look.
Conclusion
Eyebrow tattoo vs microblading rather highlights the differences between each eyebrow enhancement technique. Both procedures give results that suit personal preferences. The procedure you choose to go for depends on the effect you want to create.
If you love a dark and full effect, you’ll love the idea of eyebrow tattoos. Microblading, on the other hand, is for women who’d rather have natural-looking brows. Most importantly, whichever procedure you choose to go for, make sure you go through the process with an expert.
Thanks for reading.
Africana Fashion keeps you up to date with new fashion trends, what they are, and every other thing you should know.
