This is a common question asked when future clients are trying to determine if they want their eyebrows tattooed or if they want it microbladed. Tattooed eyebrows appear “drawn on” and flat and uses ink. With microblading, it uses a special pigment and uses a different technique that creates individual hair-like strokes that are identical to hair growth pattern of the surrounding eyebrow hair.
For tattooing eyebrows, artists use liquid ink. Ink differs greatly from pigment in the way it fades over time. As tattoo ink fades, it often fades into a blue-green colored tint, especially around the edges of the tattoo. This can leave people with some oddly colored eyebrows that often look as though they were created with a Sharpie.If you’ve ever seen someone with blocky eyebrows that have an odd blueish-green tint to them, then they most likely had their eyebrows tattooed – which was super popular a long time ago.
When it comes to microblading, artists use a specialized pigment. This microblading pigment is specifically designed to fade into a lighter version of the color used so the patient retains a natural appearance. This leaves people with a more natural look and are not as harsh looking compared to tattooed eyebrows.
When it comes to tattooing eyebrows, the buzz of a tattoo gun pierces the skin more deeply and gets the ink into the deep layer of your skin. Microblading does it more on the surface. Microblading uses a technique where it creates individual hair-like strokes that look identical to your natural brow hairs. These individual strokes are only applied on the upper layers of your skin. The hair strokes are far more natural and finer than any tattoo, as a handheld needle/blade is used instead of a tattoo gun.
Eyebrow tattooing is more permanent makeup procedure, microblading is more of a semi-permanent makeup procedure. Once the ink is tattooed onto the skin it is there for life (although undesirable fading of the ink as mentioned above is possible). Microblading, however, is semi-permanent and typically last about 6 months to a year. Simple “touch up” treatments can be done annually if the microblading patient wishes to maintain their enhanced brow. The semi-permanent nature of microblading allows patients the ability to change the appearance of their brow as trends change.
In my personal opinion, getting your eyebrows tattooed is very outdated. Microblading is the more modern version and not permanent so you don't have to regret getting them done. If you don't like the outcome, you can always change the style at a touch up. Tattooed brows don't give you that option. Microblading is also more natural looking which is a look most people go for. Eventually tattooed brows fade into a greenish color whereas microblading fades into a lighter color of your natural brow. There is less discomfort of getting your eyebrows microbladed since it is only affecting the surface of your skin and not as deep as tattooing.