Fashion & Beauty Blitz: Browsing for Brows

As a child, I had REALLY thick bushy brows. I hated them, and was thrilled the first time my Mom let me get them waxed in 8th grade. Finally I now had the thin sculpted brows I had dreamed of...

Me as a kid with my thick brows...that I hated!

...until I didn't want to live that dream anymore! When I was in college (2004-2008), thin brows were in for everyone: actresses, models, singers, etc. Through years of waxing and plucking, my brows became thinner and thinner which made me self-conscious, prompting me to start filling them in with a brow pencil. 

My microbladed brows a few years ago. It's crazy how the shape of your brows can change your whole look!

A few months after my microblading procedure. I got it when it first came out, and everything wasn't perfected yet.

Then, thick brows made a comeback. As I purchased my umpteenth brown pencil and pomade, I could kick myself for every time I thought my thick brows were ugly. A few years ago, microblading hit the scene and for a TV segment showcasing the new beauty trend, I got my brows microbladed (you can see it here on Season 3, Episode 3). That lasted for about a year, and then I just let my brows 'heal' to see if I could notice any changes or new growth. No change. 

I began researching different types of brow treatments earlier this year because honestly I was just tired of filling them in. Even worse, I hated the extra time I had to spend in the morning doing my brows...and it would suck when one came out perfect and the other was far from it. Ladies, if you're reading this and fill in your brows...you feel my pain!

My brows the day I went in for the procedure. You can see the remnants of the microblading.

I came across a new treatment called Ombre Brows and read so many good details about it: it last for up to a few years, less scarring than microblading, more precise shaping, etc. Once I looked up the price though, I thought twice. I found a place locally here in Virginia Beach (shout out to The Makeup School by Sarah Rillon) and researched their work (I'd worked with Sarah before so I know she was legit!). I really had to talk myself into it though because the price of the procedure was pushing $1,000...but it is said to last 2-3 years, so I figure it was worth the investment. 

A photo after the tech 'outlined' my brows.

Upon arrival, you have to fill out lots of paperwork basically confirming you are able to get this procedure, you're not under a doctor's care for any health issues, liability clauses, etc. Once in the room, the tech asks you a few questions about your brows, the shape you want, and then what would look best on your face. I actually went in with pictures of my brows filled in so she could see what I wanted. The first thing she did was outline my brows with a "chalk" of some sort and then outlined and filled them with a dark pencil so I could get a feel for the shape, arch, and fullness. 

After the tech "filled in" my brows with the chalk prior to starting the procedure. She also outlined them in concealer so I could see the full effect.

I liked this part the best because I could actually see what I was getting before I got it. We played around with extending the ends or bringing certain areas higher or lower and then it was time for the actual procedure. She numbed me a bit with a non-invasive numbing agent and then it was time. The little machine doesn't sound that bad as it's gliding on your brows, but I'm not going to lie, it did hurt! I'm a "beauty is pain" kind of person so I was okay with the pain. It didn't hurt as bad as getting a tattoo, but it was up there. She stopped periodically to ask if I was okay, or if I flinched a little, would add more of the numbing agent. I didn't see the procedure as it was happening, but I had confidence in it because they were fully outlined and filled how I wanted them prior to starting. About 2 hours later we were done.

Brows about 30 minutes after the procedure was done. You can see they were SUPER dark and pronounced.

I was warned the brows would be super dark and pronounced initially once done, which was fine because it was a Saturday (pre-quarantine) and I didn't have anywhere to go. The tech let me know the color would fade about 50%+ after about 14 days. All procedures require a touch-up about 6-12 weeks after the first procedure to see how they're healing and darken them if desired too. The healing and care process wasn't bad at all: I had to wash my brows twice daily with Cetaphil, put ointment on them after washing, avoid profusely sweating (I did light workouts for 2 weeks instead of my usual routine), let them peel on their own, and avoid getting them wet (even in the shower) outside of the daily washing. For 1-2 days about a week after the procedure, they REALLY peeled and lightly scabbed (which is normal), but they actually healed way quicker than I thought.

Here are my brows 3 days after getting them done. You have to avoid makeup around your brow area for up to 14 days.

Here are my brows, with no make up on, about 1 month after getting them done.

Overall, I'm really happy with the results and LOVE not having to worry about doing my brows daily. I was scheduled for my touch up...but COVID-19 is here...so I have scheduled my new appointment for June where I will just have them darkened a tad. I would totally recommend anyone doing the ombre brow procedure if you're self-conscious about your brows. Of course you still have to clean your brows (tweeze, wax, etc.), but that's nothing compared to having to fill them in daily. I can't wait to see how they progress over the next few months and years. 

These are how the brows look currently (They're about 3 months old now). As you can see, they're much lighter. Excited about my touchup to make them a little darker. (Yes, that's Aria. She's getting SO big!!)

Let me know if you've gotten any permanent beauty procedures done or if you have any questions about my Ombre Brow procedure!