Is the eyebrow embroidery beauty trend safe?

What is eyebrow embroidery?

Eyebrow embroidery is also known as eyebrow hairline stroke in Canada, according to Susan Aujla, managing director of New Serenity Cosmetics & Esthetics in Burnaby, British Columbia. Aujla has also had the procedure done herself. Unlike eyebrow tattoos, it is semi-permanent and can last up to two years. By adding coloured pigment to the skin, this technique fills in empty spots on your brows to give them a full and flawless look. With a feathering technique, this procedure can produce a natural look since it uses pigments perfectly matched to your actual eyebrow colour. After tracing out the area where the desired brow should be, the entire area is filled in with hair-like pigments. Eyebrow embroidery is also great for thickening existing eyebrows or darkening them and making them more apparent.

How is eyebrow embroidery done?

First, a technician will clean up your brow line by removing strays. Then, an anaesthetic cream will be applied to reduce the sensation of pain. Once the desired brows are traced, the technician will use a small blade to cut very small pieces of the top of layer of the skin away and apply the new colour in its place. Aujla says the blade is similar to that of an Exacto knife, so it’s very thin and sharp. There may be some redness and minor swelling, but that should disappear within a few hours to a couple of days. The colour will likely fade by about 50 to 70 percent in the first two weeks so a follow-up session will be required. It is important to avoid scrubbing the brow area or picking off any scabs that may form, in order to protect the new eyebrows. Because this treatment is semi-permanent, it will require touch-ups from time to time as long as you choose to have them.

Is it safe?

As with any cosmetic procedure, eyebrow embroidery is safe just so long as you are careful about where you go. An average session can cost anywhere from $300 to $600. If you find a salon offering it for much less, ask questions to be sure it isn’t too good to be true. In order to make sure you get the best quality treatment and minimize your risk for infection, make sure your technician is qualified and certified by a reputable company. Also, ask about sterilization. It is very important that all tools used are completely sterile to avoid the transmission of infectious bacteria. ‘There is no reuse of needles or blades,’ Aujla says. ‘The client should see the packages opened in front of them.’

Who is it for?

Aujla says eyebrow embroidery can be done on anyone but it is usually meant for people with thinning eyebrows, bald spots in their brows or people who have over-plucked. Eventually, brow hair stops growing back so if you plucked away your shape in a desperate attempt to achieve the once-stylish super thin brows, eyebrow embroidery could be the solution for you. It’s also ideal for alopecia sufferers.

How do I make sure to get the best results?

Eyebrow embroidery is usually done for women with pale skin and light brow hair. The most common complaint is that the brow colouring is too dark. To make sure you get the best results possible, pre-select a colour with your technician. Keep in mind that the colour will lighten over the next two weeks. Another common problem is that the brows do not match the shape of the brow muscles so when they flex, the newly embroidered brow can look out of place. With a qualified technician, this is not likely to be the case, however, since the colouring will last for a couple of years, there’s no harm in being extra sure. Once the technician has drawn in a desired brow, check yourself out in the mirror before you go on with the appointment. Make funny face and flex those muscles around to see if you’re happy with the positioning. Once the procedure is done, it will be too late to make any changes so better to be safe than sorry.

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