Microblading, microshading and semi-permanent eyebrow make up—love it or leave it? You can decide after you read this.
Disclaimer, this article is for people who are still on the fence about it—because I was for years.
Although everything to do with appearances is a personal choice that must be respected, it seems as if the eyebrows have become arguably the most crucial part of every person’s makeup look.
So, after years of listening to the personal testimonials of my friends and getting frustrated at myself for taking so long to get ready, I decided to (finally) get my brows semi-permanently done.
A part of me was honestly a little scared of the possibly-two-year-long commitment. But, I just really wanted the convenience of looking presentable enough for a get-up-and-go kind of situation.
When I finally found Elin An, a Korean eyebrow artist with almost two decades of experience, I put on my big girl pants and off I went!
Now, allow me to chronicle a little of my experience as I remember it.
As soon as I got to Elin An’s Eyebrow and Nail Salon, Elin put some numbing cream on my brow area and sealed it with some plastic wrap. We chilled for the next 20-30 minutes while waiting for it to set in. When everything was ready to go, I lay on the procedure bed as she wiped it all off and did some face-mapping.
First, she took time measuring and outlining my eyebrows, then she gave me a mirror and asked for my feedback. I’m sure the process would’ve taken longer because she seemed to be very open to working with me to discuss a shape I was comfortable with, but knowing that she had almost 20 years of experience made me trust her instincts completely.
From there, the procedure moved swiftly. I distinctly remember the microblading’s faint scratching sounds, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. As she was microblading and shading, we talked more about how long she had been in Cebu and her experience in the industry.
At the age of 25, Elin started her business in South Korea after she trained under the watchful eye of her aunt who had been doing the same service for many years. There, she was an eyebrow artist for over 10 years.
Eventually, after her sister (who lives in Cebu) recommended the place, she decided to move to Cebu so her daughter could learn English. When she heard that microblading was also popular here, she opened “Elin An’s Eyebrow and Microblading Salon” and has been operating for five years now.
After the procedure, she handed me some hypoallergenic cream and explained the aftercare instructions. The ones I remember were: Avoid soaping, scratching or rubbing the eyebrow area for a week. As much as possible, keep them dry; No beach and swimming for two weeks, so the color doesn’t get affected; Block the eyebrow area from sun exposure for at least a week; Apply the cream twice a day for the next five days; Come back for the touch-up session, which will be a month after the original session.
She also told me that she didn’t make my eyebrows as dark for the first session because it is easier to add color than to lighten it. And, because everyone heals differently, a touch-up session would be the right time to ask her for any shape or color modifications because that’s when I would see what my eyebrows really looked like after they healed. Elin also explained that the brows would darken during healing before gradually lightening.
At the time I got them done, her Combo-brows (microblading and microshading) service was on promotion and the price also included one touch-up session in the package. As of writing this, I am about five days in after the touch-up session and my eyebrows (albeit a little itchy–which is normal) are healing just fine.
If you’re interested in having your eyebrows done and can spare a budget for it, I do recommend doing so because it has saved me a lot of time getting ready. Just make sure to find an artist you trust because a year and a half to two years is a long time for you to have eyebrows you don’t feel great about!