Most eyebrow treatments including powder brows, microblading, and henna, require you to keep them dry 24 hours after treatment. Here are some easy tips on how to protect your eyebrows in the shower, the bathtub, and how to wash your hair without getting your brows wet.
What Happens if My Eyebrows get Wet After a brow treatment?
It’s totally fine if your eyebrows get slightly wet after microblading or after getting ombre brows.
For example, dampness, light rain, and the occasional tear are all perfectly safe.
If done correctly, washing is beneficial.
The problem arises if water and heat merge (sweating), if there is abrasion (e.g. in a shower), or if mixed with chemicals (e.g. in a chlorinated swimming pool).
Exposure to heat, abrasion, and/or chemicals may interfere with the pigment while it’s still in the process of being absorbed by your body.
This can lead to excessive fading and/or discoloration. How severe the effect is will depend on the level of exposure.
how to keep eyebrows dry in the shower
The best way to keep eyebrows dry in the shower is by using a plastic sun visor or a peaked cap. Waterproof peaked caps work well. If you have a peaked cap that isn’t waterproof, you can use a shower cap to protect everything but the peak. Alternatively, you can use goggles/a snorkeling mask.
You may also want to apply barrier cream before you go into the shower for a bit of extra protection. Water will run off the cream rather than penetrate and make your brows wet. This makes it easier to shower without getting your eyebrows wet.
You should of course not rely on barrier cream on its own. Remember to apply it lightly so you avoid clogging your pores.
You may also be tempted to use plastic film, but it is likely to be virtually useless in the shower. If you want to protect your brows in the shower properly, you will need to use some kind of waterproof tape to give it any chance of staying on.
how to wash your hair without getting eyebrows wet
The best way to avoid your brows getting wet, would of course be to not wash your hair for 24-48 hours after having the treatment.
However, if there’s a pressing need, this is how you wash your hair without wetting your eyebrows:
Instructions:
- Bend from the waist forwards or kneel down.
- Bend your face down to be at least parallel to the ground if not angled slightly towards your torso.
- Apply the water to the base of your scalp.
- Let it run down to the ends of your hair.
- Then move the spray away from your hair (you can tuck it between your knees) and apply the shampoo.
- Once you have finished shampooing, put the spray back to the base of your scalp.
- Let the water run down slowly again.
- When your hair is fully rinsed, put the spray away again, then squeeze out the excess moisture before you bring your head up again.
If you’re in the shower, take the spray off the hanger.
If you’re in the bathtub, use a handheld spray if you have one.
If you don’t, use pitchers of water carefully.
How To Clean Your Face After Microblading
It’s best to avoid using soap and water to clean your face after microblading.
This is because it’s very hard to keep the water and soap out of your eyebrows.
You can use micellar water or a cleanser.
Instructions:
- Soak a cotton pad or facecloth and put the micellar water or cleanser onto that.
- Then clean your face much as usual, just be very careful around the eyebrow area.
Another option would be to use cleaning wipes.
These are only slightly moist so there’s very little risk of water getting into your eyebrows.
If you do go down this route, it’s advisable to dispose of the wipes in the trash rather than by flushing, even if the wipes are advertised as “flushable”.
How To Wash Your Eyebrows After Microblading
On the day of your microblading appointment:
- Use plain sterile water to wash your eyebrows.
- Put it on a cotton swab or pad and dab your eyebrows gently.
- Then tap your eyebrows very gently with a tissue to dry them.
From the second day after your microblading appointment:
- Use a little clean water and a very mild soap. The water can be cold or warm as you prefer. Avoid hot water.
- Wash your eyebrows very gently.
- Then pat them dry using either a clean towel or facecloth or a paper towel.
If you opt to use a towel or facecloth, make sure it is absolutely clean. In other words, it should have been washed and then left completely unused.
Once you’ve dried your eyebrows put the towel back in the wash.
The need for hygiene means that using face cloths can often be more convenient than using towels.
How To Protect Your Eyebrows In The Bath tub
The best way to protect your eyebrows in the bathtub is to keep the temperature as low as you can. Then bathe yourself as quickly as you can. This is because the main hazard is steam. You can also use a barrier cream and/or taped-on plastic film for extra protection.
Barrier cream and plastic film are more likely to be useful in the bathtub than in the shower.
They are, however, still unlikely to stand up to a lot of steam.
That’s why you need to keep the temperature down and get out quickly.
As previously mentioned, if you use a barrier cream, remember to apply it lightly to avoid clogging your pores.
When Can I Wash My Eyebrows After Microblading?
You can and should wash your eyebrows about three to four hours after your microblading appointment.
In fact, you may need to wash them two or three times on the day of your treatment.
This is to ensure that your (slight) wounds are kept clean.
In particular, it’s to ensure that the lymph is removed as it rises to the surface.
Simply dab your brows with a soft cotton wool pad and use clean, cold water.
After that, you should wash them every day over the course of the healing process.
This usually lasts for 1-2 weeks after your appointment. Once your eyebrows have completely healed, you can wash them as usual.
What To Do If Your Eyebrows Get Wet After Microblading
Here’s a quick guide on what to do if your eyebrows get wet:
- First of all, don’t panic. If your eyebrows are wet from plain water just dab them dry gently as quickly as you can.
- If they’re wet from something else, then rinse carefully with plain water.
- Then dry them gently.
If your eyebrows get very wet, then it’s a good idea to contact the beautician who performed your treatment.
They may want to monitor what happens with your eyebrows.
Depending on what damage there is (if any), they may advise you to go in for a follow-up appointment.
Keep in mind, however, that your eyebrows will usually need to heal first.
Minor damage can usually be fixed with a retouch or refresh of your treatment.
More severe damage may need you to have the treatment entirely redone.
Obviously, this is best avoided due to the inconvenience and cost. It is, however, an option in a worst-case situation.
How To Protect Your Eyebrows From Chlorine When Swimming
The only effective way to protect your eyebrows from chlorine when swimming is to wear either a snorkeling mask or swimming goggles that cover your eyebrows as well as your eyes. Whichever option you choose, make sure that it fits you properly as it needs to stay securely in place while you’re moving vigorously.
It’s strongly advisable to avoid chlorinated pools completely until your eyebrows have fully healed after microblading.
That usually takes 1-2 weeks. If you must do it, then you need to be extremely careful.
Even after that, it’s still best to wear eye protection if you go swimming in a chlorinated pool.
The chlorine plus the action of the water can make your microbladed eyebrows fade a lot faster than they otherwise would have.
What Other Precautions Should You Take After Microblading?
Here is a guide to the other main precautions you should take after microblading.
- Use a healing ointment as directed by your beautician, apply it lightly
- Avoid heat. If you must go out in hot weather, wear a visor/cap/hat and/or a sweatband if necessary. You also need to use sunscreen but apply it lightly.
- Avoid using makeup around the brow area
- Keep your hair away from the brow
- Resist the temptation to pick at your scab
- Wear a silk eye mask and sleep on a silk pillow. Ideally, you should sleep without your face touching a pillow. Realistically, however, if this is not your preferred sleeping position, you will not be comfortable in it. Using a silk eye mask and silk pillow is a good compromise