Here's How Long It Takes For Microblading To Fade
The beauty world has seen a wide array of great and terrible eyebrow trends over the past several decades. For example, in the 2010s, people were trying to recover from the overplucking of the '90s thin eyebrow trend. Everyone was doing all they could to make their sparse brows bushy and bold. However, the eyebrow trends have shifted once again, and now it's all about feathered, fluffy brows or, even more surprisingly, the bleached eyebrow trend.
With different eyebrow shapes and colors coming in and out of fashion, it can be challenging to commit to only one brow look. However, if you dread filling in your brows daily, a semi-permanent treatment like microblading can relieve you from this chore. Restorative tattoo artist Shaughnessy Otsuji explained to Allure, that "Microblading is a form of cosmetic tattooing ... This technique uses a handheld tool consisting of multiple fine needles to create the look of realistic hair strokes by implanting pigment beneath the skin." Considering how unpredictable the trends are, though, if you have had your eyebrows microbladed or are planning to get them microbladed, you might want to know just how long it'll last so you be sure to stay in style.
Why microblading may fade quicker than you expected
One of the benefits of microblading is that it doesn't last forever, though it lasts much longer than other coloring options like eyebrow tinting. Professional cosmetic tattooer Bethany Wolosky told Allure, "If you don't touch them up again after 12 to 18 months, they'll eventually completely fade away." But this expected timeline can get cut short under certain conditions. In another interview with Allure, board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D., warned readers, "When it comes to pigment, there are slow metabolizers, fast metabolizers, and in-between metabolizers."
This means that some people's brow pigment could take just months to fade while others might last for years. Wolosky elaborated that you can predict how well your skin will hold onto its pigment based on its type. If you have more oily skin than dry, it's likely that the microblading will not last as long. She added that anemia could also cause your body to deplete the iron oxide in the pigment, meaning it would disappear faster. It would be unfortunate to spend money on microblading if it fades quicker than you had hoped, but the nerve-wracking alternative is that it lasts longer than you had wanted.
Microblading could last longer than you anticipated
It's rare that microblading will last longer than two years, according to Mona Gohara, M.D. However, it is not impossible. When writing for Allure, Nicola Dall'asen revealed that her microblading had lasted over three years. Dall'asen commented on this experience saying, "People can change a lot in five years ... so had I known I was signing up for something that would last this long, I probably wouldn't have sought it out."
Melanie Palm, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, explained why Dall'asen's brow pigment has been so enduring. Palm told her that "Microblading pigments can either derive from organic or inorganic compounds ... Inorganic compounds used in microblading pigment include iron oxide and chromium oxide." According to Palm, these inorganic substances are much more durable over time. So, if you want to avoid having your eyebrows tattooed on longer than a year or two, be active at your appointment and ask your practitioner about which compound they are using.
If it's a little too late for that, and you have microblading that you wish would fade, you have some options. Gohara mentioned that professional saline removal and professional laser treatments are two ways you could potentially fade out your brows. However, if you love your long-lasting brows and don't want them to fade, you can sit back and know you're getting the most bang for your buck.