Eyebrow Tattoo vs Microblading: [7 Differences Explained]

Eyebrows are crucial features of our faces that give facial aesthetics and beauty. The contour, thickness, and eyebrow symmetry all contribute to facial harmony while accentuating your eyes and delicately framing the forehead and nose.

So it’s important to ensure that the brows are always well done and seamlessly symmetrical all the time. But doing the eyebrows every day and every few hours in a particular way can prove to be very difficult and time-consuming. The necessity gave rise to the cosmetic procedure of getting the eyebrows done, which is microblading and good old tattooing.

Microblading is a type of permanent procedure in which ink is put into the skin behind the brows. It’s a very similar procedure to eyebrow tattooing, but still, it’s fairly distinct from regular eyebrow tattoos in some very crucial respects. Whereas eyebrow tattooing works like any other tattoo, microblading involves the manual insertion of pigment.

So, eyebrow tattoo vs microblading, what’s better? Let’s have a detailed description of both of these methods:

Overview Of Eyebrow Tattoo VS Microblading

Here is a short overview of the major differences between both processes:

Topic	Eyebrow Tattoo	Microblading
Appearance	Moderate, drawn flat look	Excellent, Natural-looking
Longevity	Permanent	Semi-permanent
Cheap	Yes	No
Removable	No	Yes

Eyebrow Tattoo: How Does It Work?

The procedure for tattooing the brows is the same as for every other tattoo. Your tattooist will use ink-filled tattoo needles that are connected to a power source.

With a fast tapping stroke, the needle will repeatedly enter the skin’s layer to deposit the ink into the intended place. Because traditional methods of tattooing only provide a sort of shading effect, the finished effects will be very natural.

But if the ink has high saturation, the arches, and hairs of the brows can look like a blob of color instead of natural depth. Although the colors might fade and the lines might blur over time, tattoos are permanent. It’s extremely difficult, and mostly impossible, to erase a brow tattoo after it has been applied.

Pros And Cons

Now that you know what an eyebrow tattoo is, you might want to look at the pros and cons to finalize whether or not you want it done on your eyebrows:

Microblading: What Is It?

Microblading is an aesthetician-performed procedure that results in natural, thicker eyebrows. First, a numbing lotion will be applied. Then, short and tiny incisions will be created in the eyebrow to match the original hair of the eyebrow. The ink is then applied to the already made incision.

Because of the cream that is applied before the incision and the tiny cuts made by the micro blades, this process is quite painless. There should be almost no bleeding.

As only a limited amount of pigmentation is applied, the color stays set in the tiny incisions rather than spilling outward.

Eyebrows done using microblading will fade over time. The appearance of the microblading will last somewhat from a few months to a few years. You can, however, extend the duration of the results by undertaking recurrent treatment sessions to maintain the newly achieved appearance.

Pros And Cons

Whether or not you want to adopt this process of getting your eyebrows done can be decided after you look at the pros and cons:

Eyebrow Tattoo VS Microblading: What Are The Differences?

Both eyebrow tattooing and microblading are cosmetic procedures for getting your eyebrows done in the way you like them. But both of these processes are very different and specific to the needs of the user. The differences among these processes make them unique and favorable to a large pool of clients.

Let’s look at the differences between these two processes:

Longevity Of The Eyebrows

Microblading is a semi-permanent process because it is a process that includes injecting pigment only at the epidermal junction of the skin. In contrast, in brow tattoos, ink is injected deeper into the skin’s layer and thus is not removable.

There is a lot of conflicting information about how long microblading lasts, although it normally lasts between 1 and 1.5 years. It may only last 9 months in some circumstances, but with good maintenance and proper care, it can survive up to 2 to 3 years. However, biological variables like age, skin type, hormone imbalance, and pre-existing medical disorders can all affect longevity.

Additional Read: Best Eyebrow Tattoo Ink

Removability Of Each Process

Microblading has an advantage here, which is that one can simply choose to let the tattoos dissipate if they don’t like to change their appearance. The used pigments in the brow will progressively fade, and they will get thinner and much less noticeable. You can also speed up this fading process.

If something goes wrong with this process and you don’t like the outcome, you have a few alternatives for getting it removed. But as mentioned below, an eyebrow tattoo is irremovable.

Pigments And Ink Used

Microblading pigments are available in a variety of colors, both in an organic and inorganic form. The color of microblading ink will fade with time, but its tone remains consistent. Microblading pigment will slowly fade over time and change into a milder version of its original color, giving the user a very natural look. So the final product retains a natural aspect until it completely fades away.

On the other hand, eyebrow tattoos are done with tattoo ink, whereas microblading works with a specific pigment. In this method, the ink is faded over time, which is very different from the fading of pigment. When the tattoo ink is faded, it often takes on a slight blue-green tinge, notably all around the edges of the tattoos.

Method Of Application In Eyebrow Tattoo And Microblading

Although both of these eyebrow treatments appear to be executed in a very similar manner, there is still a substantial difference between microblading and eyebrow tattooing. Microblading experts manually create very specific micro-cuts with a small blade. Tattooists, however, utilize a machine to inject that permanent tattoo ink into the skin’s layer.

In micro-blading, an esthetician meticulously uses pen-like equipment to do the process by hand. The equipment has various configurations and has 7–17 needles. But the brow tattooing can be done both manually and by a machine. The machine uses a single set of needle bundles. The latter one is becoming more popular these days.

When the pigment of microblading is injected into the skin’s upper dermis, the ink will go just underneath the basal membrane that separates the epidermis from the dermis, but tattoo ink penetrates further beneath the dermis and into the lowest layers.

Appearance And Outlook In Both Process

In comparison to eyebrow tattoos, which have a very drawn-on look and a flat eyebrow appearance, microblading gives more of a natural look. Microblading experts create small lines that closely resemble the natural appearance and contour of every single brow hair.

The lines made by this process mix in with the natural brows to give you an almost undetectable appearance. A skilled microblading artist can also make the treated regions appear denser than natural ones.

But with the tattoo needle used in eyebrow tattooing, even the best-trained tattoo artists struggle to create the fine strokes of microblading. So having a tattoo somehow doesn’t give you the same level of precision. The tattooed eyebrows have a firmer appearance and seem more like you used brow fillers than you have a natural brow.

Pain Caused In Eyebrow Tattoo And Microblading

The layer of thin skin is punctured a lot with both microblading and tattooing. So, a certain level of pain and discomfort is sure to be felt. Microblading is described by some clients as a small pinching feeling, while others define this as pressure. But no client reported feeling any pain.

Numbing solutions are used by both eyebrow tattoo and microblading professionals to dull the skin before the process. This is a normal procedure in every cosmetics salon as well as in tattoo parlors. If you’re worried about discomfort during the eyebrow tattooing, consult the artist and ask if any sort of anesthetics are used.

Price

Microblading is more expensive, costing up to $2000. But with discounted prices, promotions, and getting it done by rookie artisans, it can typically cost $250. The average price range is about $400-$900, which is both inexpensive and also does not compromise your eyebrow’s appearance or your safety.

And, depending on where you get it done, eyebrow tattooing usually costs between $250 and $775. The price can go up to $1000. And this price range will help you get the tattoo done by a reputed artist.

Which One To Choose: Eyebrow Tattoo VS Microblading?

Both of these methods have their pros and cons. So the most important factor in deciding which process to use is your needs. Your preference will help you decide. Here are the questions you should ask yourself before choosing any of these methods:

Do You Prefer Blading Or Needling?

As we already know, micro-blading is a manual process of scraping the pigment into the skin, and eyebrow tattooing is where needles are used to inject the ink.

Blading:

Microblading is performed using a hand instrument that only scrapes into the top and thin layer of your skin. This process is less unpleasant than eyebrow tattooing. This process also causes less skin damage, along with a faster recovery time.

Additionally, this process requires less pigment. So it will prevent the color from bleeding into the skin and ruining the shape.

Needling:

In eyebrow tattooing, a machine is usually used to run the needles over your skin. This allows the ink to enter deeper into your skin through the needles. These tattoos are usually more distressing than microblading because of the deeper penetration.

Also, because of the depths of the pricks, more ink is used than what is required, which causes the color to flow into the other skin cells. Your skin would also need to mend from the injury done by the deeper punctures. So the recovery time will be prolonged.

What Kind Of Look Do I Want?

Contrary to popular belief, the objective of these two methods isn’t just to fill in the brow gaps or produce new eyebrows, but to have an eyebrow look that suits you the best. An additional purpose is that you choose to not make your favorite brow look regularly.

Microblading is a technique that is used to define and sculpt eyebrows. The strokes in the techniques are very tiny and fine to match the existent brows, so they’re not ideal for clients who want to fill in the eyebrows.

An eyebrow tattoo is highly advised if you desire a thicker and broader mid-brow. Alternatively, because of its process, microblading gives a more natural effect than eyebrow tattoos.

Final Verdict

If you weigh all the pros and cons and consider eyebrow tattoo vs microblading, you might see that micro-blading is a clear winner. This process will give you a precise imitation of brow hair, which will provide you with a more natural and organic look. In this sense, it can be said that your choice is correct.

But if you want permanent and fuller-looking eyebrows, then most definitely eyebrow tattooing is what’s best for you. Also, in terms of price and maintenance, eyebrow tattooing is more convenient than microblading. In the end, it comes down to your preference.

So read carefully, and choose the process that suits you the best.