Question 1

What is Microblading?

Accepted Answer

Microblading/Microstroking or eyebrow embroidery, is a semi-permanent makeup procedure that allows to dramatically correct or fully reconstruct lost eyebrow. First introduced in Asia, Microblading is performed by manual deposit of pigment under top layer of the skin by a special pen with a very fine blade. The technique involves drawing individual, crisp hair strokes that provide the most natural looking.

Question 2

What is semi-permanent makeup (AKA cosmetic tattoo)?

Accepted Answer

It is a cosmetic technique which employs tattoos as the means of producing designs that resemble makeup, such as eyelining and other permanent enhancing colours to the skin of the face, lips, eyelids, hair and areola.
 
It is also used to produce artificial eyebrows, particularly in people who lost them as a consequence of old age, disease, such as alopecia totalis, chemotherapy, or a genetic disturbance, and to disguise scars and white spots in the skin such as in vitiligo. It is also used to restore or enhance the breast's areola, such as after breast surgery.

Question 3

How long will the microblading or semi-permanent makeup last?

Accepted Answer

Colour retention is affected by different factors and life styles including the shade of the original colour, the person’s age and metabolism, skin type and condition, exposure to UV radiation (sun, tanning booths), smoking, certain drugs and medications, and skin peeling treatments such as Retin-A or microdermabrasion.
 
In general, the colour could last from eight months upto three years and can be enhanced and refreshed by a maintenance visit when needed. We highly recommend a yearly colour reboost.

Question 4

What do I need to know before I come?

Accepted Answer

Anyone in normal good health and over 18 years old can have the procedure done.
 
However, if you have any diseases which affect your healing such as diabetes, you may not retain colour well and should check with your doctor whether he/she will allow you to have the work done, depending on how advanced your conditions.
 
Avoid ingesting things which make you bleed and bruise such as ibuprofen, alcohol, vitamin E supplements and caffeine -- which can also make some people more sensitive.  Aspirin should be avoided, if possible, 72 hours before hand.  
 
No medication should ever be discontinued without first consulting your doctor.
 
Flu or Cold: Please stay home, reschedule your appointment if you have cold or flu or sinus/respiratory infection.
 
Do not skip the meal prior to attending your appointment. Provide your body with plenty of sustenance and fuel to last a good few hours of the procedure. Drink a lot of healthy fluids such as water, soups, juices, herbal teas to maintain your fluid levels while being tattooed as dehydration will intensify the discomfort of a tattoo, giving your a headache and feeling ill.
​
For Eyebrows
Any tweezing or waxing should be done at least 72 hours prior to the procedure. 
Electrolysis no less than 5 days before.
Do not resume any method of hair removal for at least two weeks.
Wash your hair before coming if possible as you have to keep the brows dry after the procedure and during healing process unless get help from salons.
For Eyeliners
Do not wear contact lenses during or immediately following the eyeliner procedure. You may resume wearing your contact lenses as soon as your eyes return to their pre-tattooed condition. Bring your glasses and sunglasses to wear home. Eyes may be light sensitive.
Do not dye or perm lashes for 2 days prior. 
Do not use eyelash curler the day of the procedure. 
Eyelift or blepharoplasty: Wait about 3 months.
Eyelash extensions: AFTER permanent makeup, not before. Or remove them before your procedure.
Pinkeye: As soon as their infection has cleared, medication completed.
If you have had any type of eye surgery, consult with the doctor about how long you should wait before having a permanent eyeliner procedure. 
For Lips
If you are going to do Lip injection, do lip permanent makeup prior, let the lips healed first, then the lip filler injection later.
If you have had any type of lip surgery, consult with the doctor about how long you should wait before having a permanent makeup procedure on the lips. Lips that have been injected with fillers may not hold colour well and cause colour migration.
If you have any history of cold sores/fever blisters/herpes simplex, you need to obtain a prescription for antiviral medications (Zovirax, Acyclovir, etc) and take them as directed 48-72 hours before AND after the procedure you will be required to contact your doctor to obtain the proper prescription to prevent such outbreaks, which otherwise would be severe. 
 
For more information please read in our Terms & Conditions page.

Question 5

What should I expect at my first appointment?

Accepted Answer

At your first visit, you'll fill out the disclosure form and we will go through all details.
 
You can wear your own makeup to show us what you think you'd like (but please, avoid waterproof mascara and staining lip colours).   Then, we'll use cosmetics to adjust what you've done as necessary, and simulate the result we intend to achieve.  Only when we've agreed about shape, colour and placement, and we both understand what that means, do we apply permanent colour.  After we remove your makeup, we apply topical anesthetic to the area we will tattoo. It will take 15-30 minutes for the surface of the skin to numb up.  You'll still have a little sensation as we work, but mostly a scratching or tickling that isn't bad at all.  Also, we will reinforce the anesthetic as we work to keep you comfortable.  
 
After removing the initial anesthetic, we may redraw the colour topically with tattoo pigment, if there's any question about shape and placement, and work through that design to be sure we're doing what you want. 
 
Allow 2-3 hours for each procedure initially.  When we're done, you'll be given aftercare instructions, ointment and sent home to heal.

Question 6

What is the healing period like?

Accepted Answer

Some people experience a little swelling or redness straight after their treatment. It soon disappears.
 
After the treatment the brows, eyes or lips will appear darker and slightly start to scab, leaving the area itchy and tight.
 
There may also be slight bruising with lip procedures. This will last between 3-7 days. It is very important to follow our Aftercare instructions.
 
You will be given healing ointment to help with irritation and infection. After the scabs fall off, the pigment will continue lighten, don't panic and calm down. This is absolutely normal. This is why it's important to do a 4-6 weeks touch-up to achieve the richness of colour and ensure they are finished completely.
 
You can expect 5-7 days to heal after the treatment and 4-6 weeks to heal completely.

Question 7

Touch-Up Procedure

Accepted Answer

After approximately 4-6 weeks, your eyebrows will have mostly healed during the “shedding” or “scabbing” process. As a result, the initial intensity and thickness will fade, and the desired colour shade will start appearing.  
 
You should schedule a touch-up session.  
 
Any areas needing correction or modification will be filled in. The procedure aims to encourages the pigment to embed more permanently into the skin. Some people at times have a resistant skin type where the pigment doesn’t like to take. You may need more than one touch up with additional cost if you are one of the few that fall into this category.
 
It is very important that you come back within 4-6 weeks for your touch-up, if you leave it over the time frame the colour in the skin will fade, and we will need to start all over again. If that happened, then there is an additional charge. 
 
A yearly touch-up is recommended after this procedure.

Question 8

Test Patch for semi-permanent procedure

Accepted Answer

Test Patch is available upon request with an additional charge.
 
On the procedure day, we will conduct a patch/scratch test behind the ear with the anesthetics and colour pigment you are going to use, this way, it will ensure that if you are going to react, you will react straight away or later 48 hours as we have scratched the skin. We will allow you to make your own determination of the results and consent form will be filled.

Question 9

What if I have my eyebrow tattooed from another clinic?

Accepted Answer

1. If you have had your eyebrows previously tattooed and are interested in a cover-up/re-work, you MUST email us a clear photo prior to booking your appointment. Our practitioner will look at the pictures to determine whether we can work with you.
 
Take 3 photos:
one straight shot, and
one from each side of your brows, so we can see each tail clearly.
 
Ensure the pictures are makeup and filter free with natural lighting (daylight preferred).
 
2. The shading or combination technique will be used to cover up the existing eyebrow tattoo. Microblading technique will be performed only when the existing tattoo is very and/or faded. Our practitioner will discuss and make a recommendation for what is best with your situation.
 
3. As described above, additional cover up/correction/reconstruction works must be applied on top of the existing work, you will be charged an additional of $100 on top of our listed prices. For more detail about our pricing, please visit our Price page.

Schedule today: 021 216 0465
40 St. Benedicts Street
Eden Terrace, Auckland, NZ

Frequently Asked Questions