Kayla Young
Ever see a face with no eyebrows at all? It’s such a weird thing, when you often don’t even notice eyebrows that much!
Besides protecting our eyes against dirt and debris, when we groom our brows carefully, we can enhance the appearance of our eyes and really make them pop.
Two common ways to amp up your eyebrows are nano-machine hair stroke eyebrows and microblading.
What’s the difference? In this article, we’re going to take compare hair stroke eyebrows vs microblading.
Here are the basics:
- Microblading and hair stroke are semi-permanent brow procedures
- Hair stroke eyebrows last longer, and are done by machines
- Hair stroke eyebrows work better for those with oily skin (ombre brows are similar)
- Microblading is a much more common, and practitioners are likely more experienced
Let’s go into detail on these two brow
Contents
How Does Microblading Work?
An eyebrow microblading procedure is a semi-permanent tattoo in which eyebrows can be enhanced or shaped.
Microblading pigments are deposited into the skin with the help of a fine blade that contains seven small needles situated on the end of a pen-like device.
Over the past 25 years, microblading has become popular in Asia, then growing in trend in the United States, Europe, and other parts of the world.
Microblading typically is used to create hair-like strokes on the eyebrows. The look results in natural, full brows once the healing process is complete.Â
Nano Hair Strokes – What Is It?
Nano hair strokes are semi-permanent makeup applied with an electric pen with a single needle. The technician draws individual lines and dots to mimic the natural brow hairs, which are applied typically by machine.
The procedure is a great choice for those looking for thicker eyebrows and also for those looking for reshaping and defining.
Like microblading, this method deposits pigment into the skin with a needle.
However, nano hair strokes use thin needles compared to microblading. These needles are inserted deeper into the skin than microblading, which means a longer recovery time, and also longer-lasting brows!Â
Hair Stroke Eyebrows vs Microblading
Now that we’ve gone over the basics of nano hair stroke brows and microblading, let’s focus in on the advantages and disadvantages of each.
What Are the Lifespan of Microblading and Hair Strokes?
Generally, microblading lasts between 12 months and two years without having to be touched up. Pigments fade gradually over time. A microblading procedure is more of an art than a science. There will be a wide range of results for each client.
How long are the hair strokes supposed to last? The type of skin you have and the aftercare you take will determine your suitability.
For example, a normal skin patch may last up to 3 years, while oily skin may last up to 1 year.
How is Microblading Maintained?
You will need to touch up your skin in 4-8 weeks to ensure the pigment is still present, and potentially add a few more strokes to give it a more full look.
It is a good idea to schedule a visit with the brow tech for a touch-up every 12 months to ensure the pigment retention and shape are maintained. Â
Maintaining Eyebrows With Hair Strokes
Any eyebrow tattoo involving hair strokes requires two sessions. After the tattoo heals, you will need to go for another touch-up. Following the initial treatment, it should be scheduled approximately 6-8 weeks later.
In a touch-up, the goal is to fix imperfections that developed after the healing process, like patchy areas. At this time, your tech will reapply pigment and adjust your eyebrow shape as needed.
Pros and Cons of Microblading
Pros of Microblading
- Natural-looking brows can be achieved with microblading. The strokes look like real hair when done by an experienced professional.Â
- Microblading will save you money and time! Consider what you pay for eyebrow pencils, shaping brushes, waxing, and tweezing, and microblading appears to be a wise investment (and one that will save you time and stress).Â
- No maintenance is required. Microblading has probably one of the biggest benefits. Once the procedure is complete and healed, your brows will look perfect. Just be aware your microblading can temporarily fade while it heals.Â
- Microblading is waterproof. You don’t have to worry about smudging or smearing with microblading so you can swim, sauna, jacuzzi, and work out without touching up.
Cons of Microblading
- Similar to a paper cut, microblading creates small skin cuts in which ink is deposited. Unfortunately, some artists with inadequate training can injure their clients’ skin despite the cuts being small. Moreover, any touch-up procedures will only result in further skin damage if this has occured.
- Following the trapping of the ink, the ink is locked into the skin. Locking ink in the entire cut takes more effort and may not be evenly distributed. Also, if it bleeds, protecting ink inside will be difficult.
With luck, after the first ink injection, your brows will look amazing for years. But sometimes it doesn’t go that way, and you may need a second and third pass to ensure the ink is evenly distributed.
Potentially, this will cause the stroke to thicken over time, resulting in a fat, blurry stroke that doesn’t look natural.
Pros and Cons of Hair Strokes
Pros
- Machine hair strokes are almost painless, and no numbing cream is necessary
- Machine hair strokes are also less likely to bleed, so the ink results remain intact
- It is easy to make the stroke darker by repeating the same path until the result is what you want
Cons
- The needle may penetrate the skin too deeply if the machine is overused. It is ideal if you move your hand lightly and the needle touches the skin delicately
- That the machine can be difficult to control due to its vibration. This can be unnerving to both technicians and clients of hair strokes!
What About the Costs?
Microblading is usually slightly cheaper than hair stroke brows, but there’s both generally in the sub-$1000 range, depending on your location. The cost differences between salons may be more significant than the price difference between procedures.
Microblading or Nano Hair Stroke Brows: Which should you get?
Beautiful brows are possible with nano brows and microblading. Both can give you a stunning look.
Microblading is the most popular semi-permanent brow makeup, and the technicians will be most familiar with this process. For a lot of people, it’s the easiest way to go.
But if you’ve got combination/oily skin, large pores, textured skin, or mature skin, you should lean toward hair stroke brows.You will get a better result.
Remember that hair stroke brows will typically last a little longer than microblading.
Conclusion
Which are you going to choose, microblading or hair stroke brows? Either one can produce great brows, and much will come down to your skin type and how long you want the procedure to last.
Good luck, and we hope you love your brows!
