My Journey with Microblading for Harmonized Eyebrows
The Backstreet Boys were undeniably right about one thing: what sets you apart is what makes you beautiful. This philosophy has profoundly influenced my life and how I view myself. Instead of being bothered by the noticeable birthmark on my arm, I've embraced it, delighting in showing those who notice how it resembles Dumbo the elephant. Similarly, rather than feeling self-conscious about my deep-seated and quirky passion for punctuation, I've proudly adorned every laptop I've owned with “Team Oxford Comma” stickers. However, there's one aspect of my appearance that I've always found challenging to accept: my uneven eyebrows and eyelashes.
From birth, my left eyebrow and eyelashes have been blonde, while the right ones are brunette. It's unclear whether this discrepancy is due to some anomaly in the womb or a result of my vitiligo. But as far back as I can remember, my face has seemed like a blend of two different people. When I started using mascara in my teenage years, it helped to diminish the stark contrast between my eyelashes. Yet, even as my blonde eyebrow gradually darkened with age, it continued to bother me.
To address this, I began getting my eyebrows tinted every few months to balance the color, which proved effective. However, the dye would fade within weeks, prompting me to touch up with eyebrow gel and pencil. When the pandemic hit, I stopped wearing makeup altogether, making the color difference even more noticeable. With brow-tinting appointments out of the question, I took matters into my own hands and started dyeing my brows at home.
Despite continuing with at-home tinting over the past year and a half, I longed for a more enduring solution. As a beauty writer, I have the privilege of learning about cutting-edge treatments and technologies before they become widely available. Yet, nothing seemed to offer the solution I sought. It wasn't until I explored microblading, a treatment I'd heard of years ago but dismissed as suitable only for sparse or patchy eyebrows, that I felt a glimmer of hope.
I learned that microblading, a form of semi-permanent tattooing, aims to replicate the appearance of natural brow hairs. While it's particularly beneficial for shaping and enhancing existing hair, I was informed that it could also address my color discrepancy. Eager for a solution, I made an appointment.
My Microblading Appointment
On a crisp December afternoon in 2024, I made my way to Shen Beauty in Brooklyn, New York, ready to begin the procedure. I was welcomed by brow specialist Joshua Beeler and led to a treatment room. Beeler carefully removed my makeup and plucked any stray brow hairs. He then outlined my brows with an eyeliner pencil to establish the area he would tattoo. Finally, he applied a generous amount of numbing cream to both brows, extending slightly above and below, and guided me to the bed before leaving to gather his tools.
When he returned 10 minutes later, I was struck by his serious demeanor, dressed in full scrubs. He brought a bright light and all his equipment, then wiped off the numbing cream, which had largely numbed my brow area. Before starting, he warned me that many people find the sensation uncomfortable and that I would likely still feel the tiny pricks. I assured him I have a high pain tolerance, though I had never gotten a traditional tattoo and was unsure of what to expect.
The Sensation of Microblading
As Beeler began on the outer side of my left brow (the blonde one), I felt nothing. But as he moved inward, especially on the thinner skin of the lower brow, it felt like continuous tiny needle pricks. It was a sensation unlike any I'd experienced, comparable only to microneedling. I could understand how microblading might be uncomfortable for someone more sensitive to pain.
When I asked Beeler, who has several tattoos himself, how this compared to traditional tattooing, he explained that traditional tattoos are always done with a machine. “This can be done on the brows as well, but I prefer the manual method for a more natural result,” he said. The process of microblading, however, isn't fundamentally different. “It involves inserting pigment into the skin to mimic brow hairs,” Beeler noted. The main difference is that microblading occurs on the skin's surface rather than the deep layers. It's also not permanent and typically lasts about a year. “If someone claims their service will last longer, they're likely using permanent pigment,” he pointed out. “The problem with this is that permanent ink ages poorly on the face and results in unnatural colors.”
Related: Brow Lamination Is Gaining Popularity As the Pain-Free Alternative to Microblading
What to Expect During Microblading Recovery
It took Beeler about 20 minutes to microblade both brows and make minor adjustments, something he couldn't have done with a machine. After completing the process, he handed me a small mirror to inspect my brows, and I was pleased with how natural they looked, as if I had just had an eyebrow shaping and tinting session.
Beeler then applied an emollient moisturizer and instructed me to use a similar product at home, emphasizing its importance if my brows got wet in the next few days. He explained that my brows would appear darker initially due to blood mixing with the pigment and scabbing, but this would lighten as the scabs flaked away within about a week.
I was advised to return for a second session in 6 to 10 weeks, so I scheduled an appointment for February. “Two sessions are necessary because I use a natural mineral pigment,” Beeler explained. “Your body will expel some pigment and metabolize some as well. But after the touch-up session, your body will accept the pigment for a long-lasting effect.”
Over the next few days, I was pleasantly surprised that my brows didn't flake or peel more than usual winter skin. I had expected them to turn dark brown and feared looking like Groucho Marx before a friend's birthday party. Instead, they remained a natural-looking brown, slightly darker than my usual color. In the weeks since, the microblading strokes have blended seamlessly into my brows, exactly as I had hoped.
My Microblading Results
I'm eager to return for my touch-up session in the New Year and excited to see the final results. I know I'll likely need to undergo the process again in a year or two to maintain my matching brows. I also plan to continue tinting them less frequently, and Beeler assures me this will help reactivate the dye. As I prepare for the holidays and my winter retreat from the outside world, I know it will be weeks before I wear makeup again. In the past, this would have worried me, but now, seeing my bare brows no longer reminds me of the asymmetry I've disliked my entire life. Instead, when I see my reflection in the mirror or during my next Zoom call, I'll focus on all my other unique features that truly make me feel beautiful.
