Like any other tattooing procedure, ombre brows have an extensive healing period. This article will show you exactly what to expect when getting ombre powder brows and the various stages of the healing process.
Main Takeaways
- Ombre brows usually take 4 weeks to heal
- Expect itchiness, swollen red areas, and scabbing
- Brows will initially be very dark until the scabbing falls
- A touch-up appointment will be arranged after 4-6 weeks
- Avoid excessive moisture, exercise, and the sun for the first 10 days
- The final result will be revealed a few weeks after the second appointment
how long does it take for ombre brows to heal?
Ombre brows typically take 4 weeks to both completely heal and for the pigment to fully set in. The first 10 days are the most important, and it is crucial that you follow the aftercare instructions precisely. During this time, you can expect scabbing, itchiness, redness, and mild irritation.
The healing process definitely does vary from person to person based on a variety of different factors.
For example, oily skin and more mature skin may take a little longer to completely heal. It is also important you prepare for ombre brows the best way you can.
It is essential that you follow the aftercare instructions and be extra careful to take care of them properly.
If you experience excessive pain or discomfort, contact your eyebrow artist immediately.
Also Read: How To Remove Ombre Powder Brows (AVOID this!)
What Are Ombre Brows?
Ombre brows are a semi-permanent eyebrow tattooing technique that leaves the brows looking more full and defined. It is similar to microblading, but it has some key differences.
With microblading, the eyebrow artist uses a handheld tool to tattoo hair-like strokes into the brow.
With ombre brows, the eyebrow artist uses a machine that is very similar to a traditional tattoo needle.
This tool deposits hundreds of tiny dots of pigment into the skin that leaves a powdered-in, shaded effect.
To get the ombre effect, the eyebrow artist will saturate the pigment the least at the inner brow.
What Is the Healing Process like?
Although your brows will undergo a physical transformation during the healing process, you should also be prepared for the emotional consequences of the treatment.
Immediately after your ombre brows appointment, your brows will look very dark and you may feel dissapointed. It is important to know that this is not what the brows will end up looking like as they need to first heal and scab before the final result is revealed.
If your ombre brows look too light, remember that you will also be going in for a touch-up session around 5 weeks after your first appointment.
During this session, your brow artist will fix any gaps, unevenness, rough patches and once these issues have been fixed, you are sure to be pleased with your new brows.
ombre brows healing process – Day by day
Since the healing process can be quite extensive, it is helpful to know what each stage of healing looks like.
Day 1-2 Of Ombre Brows healing process
During the first two days after you get ombre brows, the first symptom that you’ll likely notice is mild irritation.
A lot of the time, this includes redness and swelling. It is very important that you do not pick, scratch, or touch your eyebrows in any way.
This can cause the brows to not heal properly, and it may even lead to infection.
Day 3-4 Of Ombre Brows healing process
During the third and fourth days of the healing process, you will probably notice that your brows look much darker than you thought they would.
Don’t freak out, as this is a completely normal and common part of the healing process.
They will probably still itch quite a bit, but remember not to touch them whatsoever.
During this stage, you can apply ointment to the area to relieve the irritation and to help it heal faster.
To apply the ointment, use a q-tip instead of your fingertips and only apply a thin layer over the brows.
Scabbing may also start to occur at this stage, so the ointment will help with this as well.
Day 5-6 Of Ombre Brows healing process
Day five is when the scabbing will most likely begin to form.
This is undeniably the most annoying part of the healing process, but it is completely normal and very common.
The amount of scabbing varies from person to person.
But excessive scabbing can be cause for concern, so contact your eyebrow artist if you think this is happening.
It is essential that you do not peel or pick at the scabs.
Let the scabs fall off on their own. If you don’t do this, the color and shape of the brows will likely be affected.
If they’re affected anyway, your eyebrow artist should be able to fix this at the first mandatory touch-up appointment.
Day 7-14 Of Ombre Brows healing process
The scabbing stage should be over sometime during the second week of the healing process.
When this happens, you may notice your eyebrows looking patchy, uneven, and too light.
This is known as the “ghosting phase.”
The ghosting phase is also a completely normal and common part of the healing process that you shouldn’t worry about.
You may think that your ombre brows have disappeared, but this is not the case.
After the scabbing falls off, a new layer of skin forms over the pigment.
This makes it appear lighter. But the pigment should return to normal after a few days.
If parts of the pigment do not come back, this is something else that your eyebrow artist will fix at the touch-up appointment.
Day 15-30 Of Ombre Brows healing process
After roughly two weeks, your ombre brows will probably look and feel mostly healed.
However, the pigment has not yet fully set into the skin, so you may notice the brows looking a bit off.
If they still look off by the end of the month, your eyebrow artist will also be able to fix this.
During this time, it is essential that you still follow the recommended aftercare instructions.
Avoid applying any makeup or excessive product to the area, as this can lead to infection and mess up the final results of the brow.
healing process after the touch-up appointment
The touch-up appointment is the brow artist’s opportunity to add more pigment if needed and to fix any uneven patches. They will need to break the skin once more and so you will be undergoing yet another healing process.
This cycle should not last as long but be prepared for a few weeks of healing time.
Types of Ombre Powder brow healing
There are two types of healing when it comes to ombre brows: Wet and dry healing.
The only difference between the two is that wet healing involves using an ointment after your ombre powder brows have been cleansed. The idea is that the ointment helps to moisturize the affected area and thus helps speed up the process of healing.
Other brow artists believe that dry healing gives better results, especially if you have oily skin.
When dry healing, you simply clean your brows with sterile water on a cotton pad and then wipe off any moisture.
Ask your brow artist on their opinion as they are the experts when it comes to powder brows. They will be able to advise you on what to do depending on your skin type.
How to best protect your ombre powder brows
After your powder brow appointment, there are a few rules you must adhere to:
Don’t get your brows wet
Avoid long showers as well as submerging your brows completely under water.
Steam, water, and sweat can cause the pigment to become uneven as well as make the healing period longer.
You should cleanse your brows with water or a solution provided by your brow expert twice a day. This is best done in front of the mirror using a cotton pad.
Avoid The Sun
Avoid sun exposure. Also, do not put sunblock on the area at this stage, as any products could affect the final results and lead to infection.
So if you are going out in the sun, make sure you wear protective gear like a hat to protect your brows from the sun.
Do Light Exercise
You should avoid any exercise during the first 10 days. This is because the sweat produced during a workout can interfere with the results of the ombre powder brow treatment. After this point, working out is okay.
However, eyebrow artists recommend that you only partake in exercise activities that produce a small amount of sweat such as yoga or brisk walking.
It is still recommended not to do heavy activities that cause a ton of sweat until the brows are completely healed.
Go For A Touch-Up
Your eyebrow artist will likely schedule your touch-up appointment four to six weeks after your initial appointment.
Even if you followed everything precisely in the aftercare instructions, you still may have some patchy or uneven parts that need touching up.
During the touch-up appointment, your eyebrow artist will assess the ombre brows and what they look like after they’ve completely healed.
Then, they will ask you what you do and do not like about them.
They will fix any changes that need to be made and create the final ombre brow look.
Conclusion
It usually takes 4 weeks for your ombre brows to fully heal and you should expect some itchiness, redness, and scabbing during this time. The first 10 days are crucial and you should avoid exposing your brows to excess water, makeup, lotions and the sun. Also, avoid working out until your brows have healed.
Don’t feel disappointed if your brows do not look great immediately after your appointment. They will be very dark, to begin with, but will fade and scab during the first 2 weeks. After 4-6 weeks you will go back for your touch-up appointment and after which your final result will be revealed.