Eyebrow tattoos have been around for quite some time now, but still not everyone knows that there are various types of eyebrow tattoo procedures to choose from.
Below, we cover all kinds of eyebrow tattoos, what you can expect from each procedure, and just how long tattoo eyebrows last based on your chosen method
How does eyebrow tattooing work?
Eyebrow tattooing works just like any other tattoo. A professional tattoo artist uses a hand-held machine with sterilized needles attached, and then applies either tattoo ink or pigment under the surface of the skin in swift strokes that mimic natural hair strands. They are very helpful if you are having issues growing eyebrow hair.
The pigment will usually start to fade in a few years. This is completely natural and due to many factors such as sun exposure, friction, how well you practice eyebrow tattoo aftercare tips, change in skin elasticity, and more. Regular touch ups can easily keep your eyebrows looking fresh and natural.
What Kinds of Eyebrows Tattoo Are There?
There are 6 main types of cosmetic tattoos. Which cosmetic tattooing procedure you choose depends on your own needs and preferences, as well as the advice of your dermatologist should your procedure be due to medical reasons.
Permanent Eyebrow Tattoo
A permanent eyebrow tattoo is the most similar procedure to your traditional body tattoos. The material used is tattoo ink and it is applied much deeper into the skin, which makes them last longer than other eyebrow tattoo procedures. One thing to note about tattoo ink is that it does tend to discolor when it starts to fade. Since the ink is also very concentrated, the brows come out much bolder, deeper, and less natural looking. If you want your brows to mimic natural hair strands, this is not the procedure you want.
Pros:
- Saves time when getting ready
- Saves money from having to buy brow products regularly
- 100% waterproof and sweat proof
- Needs touch-ups, but last forever
Cons:
- Painful
- Expensive
- Difficult to remove or restyle
- You will experience redness while it heals
- Requires extensive aftercare
- Itchy while healing
- Allergic reactions or infections can happen
- The colors fade over time, often turning blue-green
- Results do not look natural or mimic natural hair
- Bleeds out and distorts the shape
Microblading (Semi permanent cosmetic eyebrow tattoos)
Microblading is a semi-permanent eyebrow tattoo procedure. It is a widely used method by those who are having trouble growing eyebrow hair back and it utilizes pigment instead of tattoo ink. Pigment is not inserted too deep into the skin and it can fade faster than permanent tattoos, which is why annual touch ups are part of a common aftercare routine. What’s great about it is that you can redefine or reshape your arch with each touch up! Moreover, pigments may fade like permanent tattoos but they are not known to discolor - they simply lighten in shade.
Unlike permanent tattoos that utilize machines, microblading is done using a manual hand held tool made up of a thin blade with needles attached. Needles used in microblading are very tiny and are barely visible to the naked eye. Because of the needle size and the fact that artists have more control over the manual tool, it is easier to mimic natural hair strokes, and the results look like you were born with those brows!
Pros:
- Results look very natural
- Saves time when getting ready
- Waterproof and sweat proof
- Saves you money from needing to purchase brow products
- The results can last between 1 to 2 years before needing touchup
Cons:
- Can be painful depending on tolerance level
- Expensive
- Takes an average of 2 hours to complete
- Skin reactions or allergies are possible
- Requires some aftercare
- Can take 4 to 8 weeks to completely heal.
- The color eventually fades out
Powder Brows
Powder brows is another semi-permanent option and is widely known for its soft powder-like results, which is quite similar to how your brows would look using powder makeup. This effect is achieved through a special shading technique using a hand held PMU (Permanent Make Up) machine.
Just like microblading, powder brows also use tiny needles that insert pigments underneath the skin. The main difference is in the special shading method tattoo artists applying powder brows make use of layers, slowly adding on to the brow without making it look dense or too bold. While they typically last longer than micro bladed brows, powder brows also require an annual touch up to maintain its fresh, natural look.
Pros:
- Results look very natural and soft (thus, the term powder)
- Saves time when getting ready
- Waterproof and sweat proof
- Saves money from purchasing brow products
- They typically last longer than microblading
- Not very painful
Cons:
- Expensive
- Takes an average of 2 hours to complete
- One can expect redness and minor swelling while healing
- Requires aftercare
- Can take 4 to 6 weeks to completely heal.
- The color eventually fades out
Combo Brows
Combo brows are a combination of microblading and powder brows. It starts off with micro bladed hair-like strokes from the head to the middle of your brow, then it naturally transitions into a powdered effect towards the tail. This delivers a perfect balance of the two techniques, making your brows look natural and perfectly groomed each time.
With combo brows, you can expect a fuller and darker look with a smooth and soft finish. It lasts as long as typical powder brows do, which is at least 2 years before needing a touch up.
Pros:
- Results are a perfect balance of full, bold, soft, and natural.
- Saves time when getting ready
- Waterproof and sweat proof
- Saves money from purchasing brow products
- Similar to powder brows, they typically last longer than microblading
- Relatively painless
Cons:
- Expensive, you can expect combo brows to be more costly than microblading or powder brows on its own
- Takes an average of at least 2 hours to complete
- Allergic reactions, redness, and swelling can occur
- Requires extensive aftercare
- Can take 6 weeks to completely heal.
- The color eventually fades out, but after a good 2-3 years
Nano Brows
Nano Brows are similar to microblading in the sense that they use hair-like strokes to mimic natural brows. While they are both done using pigments, the machines used to apply the pigment is what sets the two apart. Microblading uses a manual handheld tool while nano brows are done with a PMU machine.
Nano brows also use extremely fine needles that deposit pigments little by little. They get inserted into the skin in tiny dots, and with repetitive application, turn into hair-like strokes. The needles in a nano brow machine are angled at 90 degrees, which significantly lessens scabbing and skin trauma, directly lowering chances of scars.
Pros:
- Results are very natural, with hair-like strokes
- Saves time when getting ready
- Waterproof and sweat proof
- Saves you money from needing to purchase brow products
- The results can last longer than that of microblading
- Relatively painless
Cons:
- Expensive
- Takes an average of 2 hours to complete
- Skin reactions or allergies are possible
- Requires some aftercare
- Can take 6 weeks to completely heal.
- The color eventually fades out
Henna Brows
Henna brows are a type of temporary tattoos in which they only tint the surface of the skin. This method does not penetrate the skin or insert pigment underneath, which is why it can easily fade off compared to the procedures mentioned above.
These typically last between 2 to 10 days, depending on how well they are maintained. Henna brows are often used as a way to find your ideal brow shape before committing to semi-permanent procedures. They are also beneficial for those who have sparse or thin brows and just need a quick fix to fill in the gaps.
Pros:
- Serve as a quick and easy fix for sparse brows
- Saves time when getting ready for the next few days
- Great for sensitive skin
- If you are tinting hair strands, they can last up to 6 full weeks
- They are painless
- They are affordable
Cons:
- Does not last long on oily skin
- If you want them to last longer, you need to clean around the brows without touching them
- Does not last long if you have skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, and the like.
- Allergies are still possible
Temporary Brow Stickers
It can take some time for eyebrow hair to grow back. If you want a quick and non-invasive solution, temporary brow stickers do not need pigment or tint. It is a method that you can do by yourself in the comforts of your own home.
You can choose from 5 different brow styles, 5 different sizes, and 11 different colors. This wide array of choices ensures that you get the exact match you want every time. You are also free to experiment on different brows as these stickers are very easy to apply and just as easy to remove.
With proper maintenance, temporary brow stickers can last up to 3 full days before you need another pair. Each style results in ultra realistic and natural brows that are 100% waterproof.
Pros:
- Low commitment level, can change it instantly
- Can last up to 3 days
- Comes in 5 different brow styles
- Comes in 5 different brow shapes
- Comes in 11 different colors
- 100% waterproof
- Can easily be applied and removed in seconds
- Ultra realistic and natural brow hair look
- Very affordable
- Safe even for children and elderly
- Offers an optional subscription method
- Free shipping over USD $75
Cons:
- International shipping can be expensive
- It can take 5 days to 2 weeks to arrive
How Long Do Tattoo Eyebrows Last?
Tattoo eyebrows can last anywhere between 3 days to 3 years, depending on the type of eyebrow tattoo procedure you choose. There are about seven methods you can opt to undergo, most of which result in natural brows, but only two of which are temporary and much less invasive.
How Long Do Permanent Eyebrow Tattoos Last?
Permanent eyebrow tattoos last forever. Naturally, they can start to fade over time, but they never completely disappear. This is because the tattoo ink is applied deeper into the skin and cannot be easily raised to the surface during the natural skin cycle. To keep them looking fresh and bold, a touch up once a year is suggested for best maintenance.
How Long Do Microblading Tattoos Last?
Microblading tattoos are only semi-permanent and they can last anywhere between 1 to 2 years. For some, micro bladed brows can completely fade past 2 years, which is why it is recommended to have a touch up once or twice a year. The frequency of which you need a touch up depends on many factors such as how your skin reacts to the pigment, sun exposure, aftercare routine, and more.
How Long Do Powder Brows Last?
Even if they share many similarities, powder brows typically last longer than micro bladed eyebrows. The average lifespan of powder brows is between 2 to 3 years, but this can heavily vary due to skin condition, lifestyle, sun exposure, aftercare routine, and more. Powder brow pigments will start to fade within 2 years, and it is recommended to have annual touch ups.
How Long Do Combo Brows Last?
Combo brows are a combination of micro lading and powder brows, so you can expect the lifespan to be similar to the two. Combo brows typically last at least 2 years and can go up to 3 years. It can start to fade within 24 months, starting with the area that was micro bladed and slowly towards the area with powdered brows. It is suggested to have an annual touch up to keep combo brows looking fresh and neat.
How Long Do Nano Brows Last?
Nano brows typically last an average of 2 to 3 years, however, this can heavily vary between clients. With proper maintenance and aftercare, nano brows can last a long while especially due to the 90 degree angled needle used to insert the pigment. This type of needle lessens the risk of scarring, scabbing, and skin trauma, which are all factors as to how long the pigment stays under the skin.
How Long Do Henna Brows Last?
Henna brows typically last between 10 days to 6 weeks, or less depending on sun and water exposure. These types of temporary brows are not meant to be very durable and are best used for those who simply want to fill in thinning brows or darken their current pair. Henna brows are used to either stain the skin or stain the hair, with the latter typically lasting up to 6 weeks.
How Long Do Temporary Brow Stickers Last?
Temporary brow stickers can last up to 3 full days, depending on how rigorous your daily activities are. They are a no frills solution to your brow concerns, and while they do not last as long as semi-permanent procedures, they also only require a few minutes of your time every few days. Applying them takes seconds, giving you the ability to experiment on different styles as often as you please.
What can you do, if you don't like the results of your permanent or semi-permanent eyebrow tattoos?
If you have unfortunately experienced bad eyebrow tattoos, the best way to remove permanent tattoos is by undergoing a laser treatment. These are often costly and can take multiple sessions, depending on how thick the tattoo is.
To remove semi-permanent brows, whether it is microblading, powder brows, combo brows, nano brows, and the like, you can either opt for laser removal or wait it out till it naturally fades. Most semi-permanent brows take a couple of years to fade out, but you can hasten the process through exfoliating, or natural, saline treatments.
What can you try instead of permanent or semi-permanent eyebrow tattoos?
If you opt not to undergo any permanent or semi-permanent procedures, you can try the following instead:
- Temporary Eyebrow Stickers
- Vaseline and other moisturizing products
- Castor oil and other natural oils
- Minoxidil, also known was Rogaine
We also prepared a handy guide on ways to grow over plucked brows.
FAQs
- Is there a downside to tattooing eyebrows?
The cons are they can be costly and hard to remove. They can also be painful for some.
- What happens to tattooed eyebrows as you age?
Tattooed eyebrows can fade and sometimes discolor.
- Are eyebrow tattoos worth it?
Semi-permanent or temporary tattoos are worth it. This is most true for those with continuous issues.
- How long does it take for an eyebrow tattoo to look natural?
It takes 4-8 weeks for brow tattoos to look natural.
You’re All Set!
Now that you have a better idea as to how long do eyebrow tattoos last, we hope this helps
in your quest to find a solution you’re most comfortable with! If you want a quick,
affordable, and user-friendly way to get new brows, check out My Two Brows today!
