Aftercare Instructions

The First Day

• Please use the aftercare pads provided for the first 2–3 hours and blot the area to absorb excess lymphatic fluid. Do this every 5 minutes until the oozing has stopped. Removing this fluid prevents hardening of lymphatic fluids.
• Please do not let your new brows get wet on the first day, to avoid removing pigment.
• Use a fresh pillowcase while you sleep to avoid infection.

Days 1–7 (the day after your appointment onward)

• Mild swelling and itching, along with light scabbing, light bruising, and dry tightness, is normal.
• Wash daily (morning and night) to remove bacteria, build-up of product, oils, and dead skin. (Don’t worry — this does not remove pigment.)
• Wash your hands first, then gently wash the brow area each morning and night with water and a gentle soap or an unscented cleanser like Dial Soap, Cetaphil, or baby shampoo. With a very light touch, use your fingertips to gently cleanse the area.
• Gently rub the area with your fingertips in a smooth motion for 10 seconds and rinse with water, ensuring all soap is rinsed away.
• To dry, gently pat with a clean tissue. Do not use any cleansing products containing scrubs, acids (such as glycolic, lactic, or AHA), or exfoliants.
• Apply a tiny, rice-grain amount of A&D (provided by us) three times a day with a cotton swab, spreading it across the treated area.
• Please be sure to not over-apply, as this will suffocate your skin and delay healing. The product should be barely noticeable on the skin.
• Never put the product on a wet or damp tattoo.

Avoid for All 14 Days Post-Procedure

• Exercise and sweating.
• Picking — let any scabbing or dry skin naturally exfoliate away. Picking will cause scarring or loss of color.
• No Botox, facials, chemical treatments, or microdermabrasion for 4 weeks.
• Avoid using retinol and glycolic acid products for 2 weeks.
• Avoid hot, sweaty exercise for one week.
• Avoid direct sun exposure or tanning for 4 weeks after the procedure. Wear a hat when outdoors.
• Avoid long, hot showers for the first 10 days.
• Avoid sleeping on your face for the first 10 days.
• No swimming, pools, beach, lakes, etc. until the brows are fully healed — after 3 weeks!
• No jacuzzi or hot sauna.
• No makeup on your brows for the first 7 days, to avoid infection.
• Do not rub, pick, or scratch the treated area.
• Avoid heavy, dirty household cleaning — such as garage or basement cleaning — where there is a lot of airborne debris.
• Avoid drinking alcohol in excess, as it may lead to slow healing of wounds.
• Avoid driving in open vehicles such as convertibles, boats, bicycles, or motorcycles.
• During showers, keep your face away from the showerhead, or take a bath.

What to Expect Over the Next Few Weeks

Typically, the microblading healing process occurs in six stages:

• Darkening and swelling of the eyebrows (day 1–4)
• Scabbing and flaking of the skin around the eyebrow (day 5–10)
• Disappearing microblading strokes and faded brows (day 8–11)
• Patchy eyebrows with some darker and lighter parts (day 11–41)
• Retouching the brows (6–8 weeks after microblading)
• Complete recovery post-touch-up

Days 1–2: The first day after a microblading procedure brings mixed feelings. Your brows are swollen, darker, and fuller, and the skin around the brow feels tender. These feelings continue into the second day, and by now you may regret the decision to undergo the treatment. Be positive and follow the aftercare instructions.

Days 3–4: At this stage the discomfort is subsiding, but your brows are still hurting a little. The microblading is still fresh, and though the brows are fading, the color is still darker than you like. However, you are happy to have some extra sleep without worrying about the dreaded brow pencil.

Days 5–7: By day 5, the bruised skin is regenerating and scabbing kicks in. The microbladed areas become very itchy, and the urge to scratch is overwhelming. Please resist the urge to scratch the brow, as it can ruin the pigmentation, slow down the healing process, or expose you to infection.

Days 8–10: The flaking skin is peeling off, leaving lighter patches on your eyebrow. Don’t panic — the lighter patches will darken and match the rest of the brow in no time. Your brow may also seem to disappear for a while. Stay calm and watch as the brow reappears, revealing the perfect, natural-looking result.

Days 11–28: There is minimal to no discomfort, and your brow is finally taking shape. You cannot take your eyes off the mirror, and your doubts about microblading have disappeared.

Days 28–42: You finally have your perfect brows, and the healing process is complete. The healing process after the retouch is fast. It is advisable to schedule a touch-up with your artist to correct the few flaws of the healing process.

Tips for the Healing Process

• Tip 1: Limit the time spent in front of the mirror to prevent overthinking about the brows.
• Tip 2: Ignore the flaking and scabbing. If you feel concerned about the scabs during the healing phase, talk to your microblading artist.
• Tip 3: Don’t compare your healing process with that of another person. Take the time you need to heal — each individual heals differently.
• Tip 4: Avoid getting your brows wet and stay make-up free during the healing process. Also avoid using creams with acids or ingredients that will lighten or exfoliate the skin. Stick to the ointments your artist has recommended.
• Tip 5: Clear your calendar for at least a month. The healing process is lengthy, and your eyebrows will be swollen or scabbing.
• Tip 6: Watch for symptoms other than those previously mentioned, as additional symptoms could be signs of a skin infection.

After a touch-up: The healing process following a microblading touch-up is shorter because only a few areas were treated. You might experience some or all of the six stages, depending on the extent of the touch-up.

Months later: Your microbladed brows can look perfect for up to 15 months, but it is advisable to retouch them every 9 to 12 months.

The First Day

• Please do not let your eyeliner get wet on the first day, to avoid removing pigment.
• Use a fresh pillowcase while you sleep to avoid infection.

Days 1–7 (the day after your appointment onward)

• Mild swelling, bloodshot eyes, itching, light scabbing, light bruising, and dry tightness is normal.
• Wash daily (morning and night) to remove bacteria, build-up of product, oils, and dead skin. (Don’t worry — this does not remove pigment.)
• Wash your hands first, then gently wash the eye area each morning and night with water and a gentle soap or an unscented cleanser like Dial Soap, Cetaphil, or baby shampoo. With a very light touch, use your fingertips to gently cleanse the area.
• Rub the area in a smooth motion for 10 seconds and rinse with water, ensuring all soap is rinsed away.
• To dry, gently pat with a clean tissue. Do not use any cleansing products containing scrubs, acids (such as glycolic, lactic, or AHA), or exfoliants.
• Apply a tiny, rice-grain amount of A&D (provided by us) three times a day with a cotton swab, spreading it across the treated area.
• Please be sure to not over-apply, as this will suffocate your skin and delay healing. The product should be barely noticeable on the skin.
• Never put the product on a wet or damp tattoo.

Avoid for All 14 Days Post-Procedure

• Exercise and sweating.
• Picking — let any scabbing or dry skin naturally exfoliate away. Picking will cause scarring or loss of color.
• No Botox, facials, chemical treatments, or microdermabrasion for 4 weeks.
• Avoid using retinol and glycolic acid products.
• Avoid hot, sweaty exercise for one week.
• Avoid direct sun exposure or tanning for 4 weeks after the procedure. Wear a hat when outdoors.
• Avoid long, hot showers for the first 10 days.
• Avoid sleeping on your face for the first 10 days.
• No swimming, pools, beach, lakes, etc. until the eyeliner is fully healed — after 3 weeks!
• No jacuzzi or hot sauna.
• No makeup on your eyes for the first 7 days, to avoid infection.
• Do not rub, pick, or scratch the treated area.
• Avoid heavy, dirty household cleaning — such as garage or basement cleaning — where there is a lot of airborne debris.
• Avoid drinking alcohol in excess, as it may lead to slow healing of wounds.
• Avoid driving in open vehicles such as convertibles, boats, bicycles, or motorcycles.
• During showers, keep your face away from the showerhead, or take a bath.

What to Expect: Healing Schedule Day by Day

Day 1 — You’ll love your new eyeliner! Your eyeliner color is approximately 30% darker than it will be when it’s healed. It will also appear slightly larger than it will heal in just a few days. This is due to color oxidation as well as a small amount of swelling, and it is a normal part of your healing process. You will have no trouble driving home and going about the rest of your day normally. It’s unlikely anyone will notice you’ve had your eyeliner done, except possibly those who know you very well.

Days 2–3 — Color darkens as thin scabs form. Your color will darken temporarily as the pigment oxidizes and thin scabs form. You may wake up slightly puffy, but you can remedy this by sleeping on an incline or applying a cool compress. Your eyeliner will feel tight and dry, but not painful.

Days 3–5 — Flaking begins. Your eyeliner will begin flaking until there is no scabbing left. Allow the healing to shed naturally. Once all scabbing has finished flaking, it is common for the color to appear lighter than it will eventually heal. This lighter color is only temporary, as your freshly healed skin is hiding the true color underneath. Over the next several weeks, your eyeliner color will surface.

Day 42 — Fully healed. At 6 weeks your eyeliner is fully healed. At that point you will need to come in for your follow-up. Any adjustments — such as darkening the color, filling in patchy areas, or altering the shape — can be done at this appointment.

Day 1

Immediately following the procedure, lips will feel dry, chapped, tight, and tender to the touch. They may appear swollen and bright in color.

• For 4 hours after treatment, apply light pressure on the lips with a clean paper towel to remove any lymph. After 4 hours, start applying ointment (Aquaphor) as needed to keep lips constantly moist.
• No kissing, rubbing, or friction on the treatment area.

Days 1–3

Apply ointment on the lips several times a day — keep lips moist at all times. Avoid oily, spicy, and heavily seasoned food, and drink with a straw. After every meal, gently rinse and clean the lips with water and pat dry, then re-apply ointment.

Days 4–7

Between these days, lips will begin and end the process of peeling, and color will lighten by 30%–50%. Do not pick or rub your lips — let the peeling happen naturally. Continue keeping your lips moist!

Week 2

Lips are done peeling and the color is light. You may return to normal routines. Lips will continue to heal, up to 6 weeks. Every week more color will surface, so it is important to continue keeping the lips moist to get the best color at the end of the healing phase.

Weeks 6–8

Your lips are healed and you’re feeling unstoppable! Just add some lip gloss and go. In most cases it requires up to three treatments to complete the lip transformation.

Avoid for All 14 Days Post-Treatment

• Increased sweating.
• Practicing sports.
• Swimming.
• Hot sauna, hot bath, or jacuzzi.
• Sun tanning or salon tanning.
• Exposure to UV/UVA rays or chemicals, as they are known to cause a shift in color and premature fading.
• Any laser or chemical treatments or peels, and/or any creams containing Retin-A or glycolic acid on the treatment area.
• Touching the treatment area, except when applying the post-care ointment with a cotton swab.
• Picking, peeling, or scratching the treatment area, to avoid scarring or removal of the pigment.
• Heavy household cleaning such as garage or basement cleaning where there is a lot of airborne debris.
• Drinking alcohol in excess, as it may lead to slow healing of wounds.
• Driving in open-air vehicles such as convertibles, boats, bicycles, or motorcycles.

General Care

Use Tylenol as needed for soreness. Avoid sun tanning and prolonged exposure to direct sunlight for two weeks. After 24 hours, always use a full-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or above. When exposed to the sun, wear a hat and apply sunscreen every two hours.

Days 1–3

A sunburn-like effect is normal. The skin will feel tight, dry, and sensitive to the touch. Treat skin gently — wash with a gentle cleanser and cool water, using hands only, and pat dry no earlier than 4 hours after treatment. Redness or sensitivity may be present. Some swelling can last 2–4 days, depending on how aggressive a treatment you received. Plan your social calendar accordingly!

• Avoid strenuous exercise that causes sweating. Avoid jacuzzi, sauna, swimming, or steam baths for 24 hours after treatment due to open pores — or up to 48 hours if inflammation exists.
• No makeup for 5–7 days on treated areas.
• If needed, sleep on your back with the head of the bed elevated to minimize swelling or pain.

Days 2–7

If a chemical peel was added to your microneedling, peeling may start 3–5 days after treatment. You will notice skin dryness and flaking. This is due to an increased turnover of skin cells. Do not pick, scratch, or scrub at treated skin! Allow old skin to flake off naturally and keep skin moisturized at all times. For extra-dry skin, apply moisturizer every two hours if needed.

Days 5–7

You may restart your regular skincare products and Retin-A once your skin is no longer irritated. Many clients notice continued skin improvement for months following treatment.

• For best results, adding a hydradermabrasion with RF two weeks following your microneedling treatments will complement and help accelerate the improvement of firmness and texture of your skin. We recommend follow-up and repeat treatments in 4–6 weeks, and a series of 4 to 8 treatments depending on your personalized skincare plan.
• For further information or to book an appointment, please call (704) 430-5369.

What is saline removal?

Saline solution is a common and effective approach to lightening tattoos. Although it can be a slower process than other treatments, it’s less abrasive than laser removal.

How does saline removal work?

• Saline solution is implanted into the skin using traditional equipment (machine, needles, etc.) used in the tattooing process. The solution contains finely milled sea salt, purified water, lemon seed extract, orange seed extract, and aloe.
• The lightening solution creates a scab over the tattooed area, causing it to naturally scab off as the skin heals. Saline removal works on the theory of “osmosis.”
• During the healing process, the unwanted pigment attaches to the scab and is effectively pulled up and out by the scab.
• The healing is a natural process which requires the scab to be kept dry at all times until it falls off naturally.
• The process can be repeated if necessary to remove any remaining pigment.
• To achieve full lightening it can require 3–5 sessions, possibly more. “Lightening” pulls out pigment layer by layer, which means the more times pigment has been placed in the area, the more sessions will be required to pull it out.
• In some cases, “partial lightening” is all that is required — one session may be all it takes.

How many sessions do I need?

The number of sessions required depends on several factors, including skin type, the depth of the pigment implanted, the type of tattoo pigment used, and your expected goal.

Does it hurt?

It varies with every client.

How long does it take?

Approximately 45 minutes to an hour.

How long does it take for the scab to fall off?

Generally 7–10 days after the treatment.

Can emergency removals be done?

Yes, within 48 hours after receiving the service. We recommend applying Vaseline prior to the appointment.

Will it affect my brow hair?

No. Unlike laser tattoo removal, hair will not be affected. Picking the scab attached to the hair can not only pull the hair but also cause scarring. We advise clients to leave the treated area to heal naturally — following aftercare is crucial.

When can I microblade/tattoo my brows?

Depending on how your skin heals, it is recommended to wait a couple of months after the last removal session, giving the treated area time to heal. The area should not be red or shiny.

Are there contraindications?

• Pregnant or nursing
• Accutane used in the past year
• Prone to keloids or scarring
• Vitiligo
• Diabetic
• Chemotherapy
• Autoimmune diseases
• Viral infections/disease
• Sick (cold, flu, etc.)
• Skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, rash, or sunburn on or around the treated area