The Power of the Brow.
The Power of the Brow.
I admittedly have always been obsessed with eyebrows.
I was not blessed with full and thick brows but have always used pencils, tinting and microblading to give my brows more definition. Around 2018 I had microblading done for the first time and loved the way it enhanced the shape and color of my eyebrows.
Over time, the microblading started to fade to a dull grey/black color and the shape felt a little heavy for my face. Looking back at photos when I had no hair during chemo, I can see just how intense my brow color and shape was and how it didn’t suit my features anymore. I did a ton of research on Reddit and googled every possible solution to this and it seemed that laser removal was my only option to a clean start.
I went to Franklin Skin and Laser in Nashville and they did a fantastic job with my removal. It took two sessions of laser (spaced 8 weeks apart) to really get the ink removed and even after that there was still a soft yellowish color left that faded over time. The cost is a few hundred dollars per session, and the number of sessions varies based on the work being removed and your skin type. Prepare yourself because often the reaction to the laser creates a bright pinkish red color and you will have to live with that for a few weeks before you can laser it again.
The pain of that laser procedure is intense but it’s over quick.
It’s like a rubber band snapping against your face which is over in maybe 10 seconds per brow. I did this right after finishing chemo when my brows were at their sparsest and was worried about my hair growing back but they assured me that the laser removal only removes ink and doesn’t affect your hair. While my brows were almost neon pink for a few weeks I used a good concealer (this one by Monika Blunder is excellent and I use it lightly for my undereye area as well) and then a very fine brow pencil (MAKE beauty makes my favorite one) to fill them in. They looked a little off for a bit, but I was in the phase of growing back my fluffy post chemo-hair and had no lashes, so I figured while everything was growing back it was the best time to do it.
Once the laser did its job and my old microblading had faded, I tried just dying and filling in my brows but I missed the definition that it gave my face and hated taking the time to draw them in every single day. Another eyebrow artist was recommended to me called Primrose Beauty Studio and I’m so glad I found them! The owner, Emily, was so lovely and met me for a consultation to show me her technique, draw in a new more subtle shape, and explain the process of Nano Brows to me.
Nano brows are more like a light tattoo, where microblading actually cuts into your skin.
Nano brows felt like a good choice for me so we scheduled my first appointment. The first round of nano brows is a 2-2.5 hour session where you lay still and relax on the table (bring headphones and listen to a good podcast or two) while the artist uses a tiny machine with a pen that creates tiny brush strokes of ink to mimic hair. The immediate results are always a bit dramatic, but fade over about two weeks and heal to a subtle and soft look. Six to eight weeks later you go back for a touch up. I’m so thrilled with how my brows turned out! We went with a thinner shape that’s more like my actual brows and a more subtle arch. I can still fill them in with a few brush strokes if I want to ramp up the definition if I’m wearing more makeup, but generally I can just wake up and my brows look defined and natural. I’d highly recommend both laser removal and nano brows if you’re stuck with heavy microblading and wanting a fresh start.
My Favorite Brow Products.
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