Microblading Too Dark: How To Lighten It?

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If there is one beauty hack you’d be proud to share, what is it? Mine is eyebrow microblading.

You don’t have to do your eyebrows every day! Do you realize how much time that will save you? Not only that, but you’d have beautiful, effortless eyebrows. It’s like a tattoo, but not permanent.

But what if all doesn’t end well with your microblading procedure?

Is your microblading too dark? In this article, we’ll consider your options.

But first, do you really need to lighten it?

Sometimes microblading can be too dark just right after the procedure. For that, it might be best to just wait it out until fully healed. It will gradually fade, and it can even disappear during the healing process.

On the other hand, if it is already healed and is still too dark after that period, there are a few things you can do. We’ll discuss those below.


Contents

What Is Microblading?

Microblading Tool

In order to understand what could make the eyebrow microblading too dark, we first should know about what it is.

Microblading is a semi-permanent makeup procedure where microblading pigment is inserted into the upper layer of skin to “create” brows. This is done using a specialized eyebrow microblading needle.

This eyebrow makeup technique resembles embroidery. Every hair stroke will be hand-drawn for a very natural look.

This is manually done so you have to carefully select who does it for you. You don’t want screw-ups!

When it is properly done, the pigments will be deposited at the right layer of the skin, not too deep or too shallow.

If the pigment is deposited too shallowly, it could be quickly fade due to the natural cellular turnover.

On the other hand, if the pigments are on the deeper layers it can cause scarring. If the pigment gets trapped in the scar tissue, it may not easily fade.

Pro Tip: Make sure the one who does this to your eyebrows is really knowledgeable. This is not the place to choose a novice.

Since microblading looks like real hair, it can blend well with those who have thinning eyebrows.

Sometimes, you may think that it is too dark because you are simply not used to how dark it looks as compared to your naturally thin eyebrows.

It will keep the eyebrows in place all day and you don’t need to worry about smudging or fading.


Why Are My Eyebrows So Dark After Microblading?

Eyebrow microblading is a semi-permanent makeup procedure. You can expect that the brows will last for a long time. If it isn’t what you wanted, you’re pretty much gonna have to wait it out.

Sometimes your brows can appear too dark. What you do with dark eyebrow microblading will depend on what the cause is.

There are several things that could cause your eyebrow microblading to appear too dark:

Pigment Used Is Too Dark

Jet Black Microblade Pigment

There are different pigments that can be used for the microblading procedure. They come in various shades.

Here’s an example of various shades, from Mellie :

Jet Black Microblade Pigment

Although the microblading technician typically is responsible for choosing the pigments and even mixing them if needed, your opinion is still the top priority.

In order to select the right shade for you, you should be consulted first. They should ask you if you prefer darker and bold brows or a more subtle and soft look.

From there, they can choose the pigment that’s right for your goal. That’s why it is important to go to a reputable microblading technician.

They have the skills to do the procedure and are familiar with how to find the right shade to complement your natural hair and skin tones.

Eyebrow Microblading Is Freshly Done

Microblading involves placing pigments in the skin by first creating tiny wounds on it. Those wounds will still need to heal so you won’t be able to see the final result.

Sometimes, your eyebrows won’t look great right after the procedure. Not only will it look swollen and reddish but it may look like it is way too dark. Sometimes it will even disappear for a little while, and then come back as everything heals up.


Microblading Too Dark: How To Fix It

There are a few things that you can do to remedy eyebrow microblading that’s too dark. However, the process will depend on what caused it.

Let It Be

If the eyebrow microblading is too dark because it is just freshly done, all you have to do is to let it heal. It takes time for the skin to heal and once it does, you will see the final outcome, which is usually not too dark at all.

It usually takes about 7-14 days before the wound heals. However, the appearance could still change or fade in about a month.

Gradually, the eyebrow microblading will eventually fade. That’s why it is known as semi-permanent and why you’d need touch-ups.

However, if you are really dead-set on fading it because you think that it is really too dark, there are a couple of ways how you can help it fade faster.

Just be warned that doing such can cause patchiness or uneven brows. That’s because some spots could fade a lot faster than others.

Also, be warned that some of these could use aggressive products and mechanical force that could damage your skin. It is possible that your eyebrow microblading won’t fade fast with it because of how you react to it.

Don’t Ignore Aftercare Instructions

Microblading and microshading technicians will give you aftercare instructions. These instructions will help make sure that the skin heals properly and the eyebrow microblading lasts.

One of the instructions will almost certainly be to keep the area dry. It’s a great idea to get some shower protectors .

Shower protectors

Although you can ignore this instruction and just try to minimize water, you still have to be careful and gentle with your eyebrows.

You can use a gentle cleanser in the morning and at night. Make sure you handle the eyebrows properly so that they don’t get infected.

Exfoliate

Exfoliation of the eyebrows should only be done when your eyebrows are already healed. When exfoliating, use chemical exfoliants to help with faster cellular turnover.

There are a few chemical exfoliants that you can use: the acids AHA, BHA, and PHA. You can try using retinol to help speed up cell turnover.

If you choose to use retinol, make sure that you start with a low concentration first then work your way up.

Sweat

Sweating is another way you can fade out the dark eyebrow microblading.

A hot gym session that really makes you sweat can help fade out the eyebrows. By doing this three times a week regularly, you don’t just fade your eyebrows, you keep your body healthier!

Going to a sauna is a great way to sweat it out. The reason why you are encouraged to sweat if you want to fade your eyebrow microblading is that sweat helps draw out the pigment to the surface so that it can be removed.

Microdermabrasion

No products found.

Another way to get rid of the pigment is to undergo microdermabrasion. This is another way to exfoliate the skin but in a more advanced way.

This helps speed up the cell turnover and is usually done by professionals (but there are home machines available too). This procedure helps with the exfoliation of the upper skin layers.

You may not see the result in just a single microdermabrasion session, you may need multiple sessions to see it significantly fade.

Skip The Touch-Up

The microblading procedure comes with a touch-up session. This helps make sure that the eyebrow microblading results last.

Since you want it to fade because it is too dark, you should just skip the touch-up.

Aside from entirely missing the touch-up, you may opt to go for a lighter shade. If the eyebrow microblading has significantly lightened already, you may use a lighter shade to even out the eyebrow without darkening it once again.


How To Avoid Eyebrow Microblading That’s Too Dark

Although there are various ways that could possibly help the eyebrow microblading to fade, they may not work well on you as they did on others.

The fading could be random and patchy. You may get areas that are darker or lighter than the rest.

Nevertheless, the best way to prevent the hassle of it all is to simply avoid getting overly dark eyebrow microblading in the first place.

One of the best ways to avoid eyebrow microblading that’s too dark is to make sure that you go to a reputable, skilled technician. Do your research and ask around for recommendations.

Make sure that you look at the portfolio of the technician to see the kind of work they do.

It is important to discuss your desired outcome with the technician. This way, they can get an idea of what you’re looking for. They want you to look and feel great, and they don’t want you calling back and complaining!

By telling them your goals, they can home in on the right shade of pigment for you.

If you’re experiencing any side effects such as excessive redness, pain, or discomfort, it is important to contact the technician as soon as possible.

Don’t pick your eyebrows and avoid touching them. It can cause infections and leave you with worse problems than how dark your eyebrows are right now.

And be patient. The healing process can take weeks, and the intensity of the pigment can vary during that time. If things still don’t look right after a couple of weeks, you may want to check in with your salon to see what your options are.

Written by Kayla Young

Kayla is the founder of LuxeLuminous. She has worked professionally in the tanning industry for years. She has been interested in esthetics since childhood, and has tried every hair, skin, and makeup product ever produced (more or less).