Eyebrow tattoos are a cosmetic procedure designed to give you low-maintenance, fuss-free eyebrows that always look great. If you have thin eyebrows due to overplucking or eyebrow hair loss, you may have considered eyebrow tattooing. But getting a facial tattoo isn’t a decision to take lightly. The results are permanent — so is eyebrow tattooing worth the risk?
Here, you’ll learn everything you need to know about eyebrow tattooing, from the pros and cons to the costs, longevity, and possible alternatives to this procedure.
Eyebrow tattooing is a type of permanent makeup used to give instant, long-term definition and depth to your eyebrows. As with any tattoo, the tattoo artist uses a needle to insert pigment into the second layer of skin (the dermis), creating permanent colouring across the natural browline.
Good eyebrow tattoos can offer natural-looking, long-term results. This is usually the result of semi-permanent eyebrow tattooing:
Eyebrow tattoos can be permanent or semi-permanent. It’s less common for modern beauty therapists to offer permanent tattoos for eyebrows, as the colour can fade to an unnatural blue-grey shade that never fully disappears.
Modern techniques are usually semi-permanent, which means the pigment doesn’t penetrate the skin as deeply, and a wider range of pigments can be applied. Similar to microblading, this helps create a more natural look.
Debating whether to get an eyebrow tattoo? Weigh up these advantages and drawbacks to decide if it’s the right eyebrow restoration option for you.
Lots of people feel eyebrow tattooing is too high-risk, and seek alternative options like microblading or eyebrow transplantation to restore their brows.
Eyebrow tattoos can be painful. While your tattoo artist will normally apply a topical anaesthetic to the area beforehand, this won’t completely eliminate the discomfort of getting a tattoo.
Semi-permanent eyebrow tattooing is usually a little less painful than permanent tattoos, as the needle doesn’t penetrate the skin as deeply.
Semi-permanent eyebrow tattoos usually last between one and three years before you need a top-up. Getting additional or top-up tattoos will cost extra, so consider the ongoing financial impact of getting an eyebrow tattoo.
However, the pigment is unlikely to completely fade even after several years. So you need to be certain about getting this procedure, even if you’re opting for a semi-permanent technique.
UK eyebrow tattoo costs range from around £300 to £700, depending on the type of restoration you want and the artist’s expertise. Barely-there eyebrow tattoo filling tends to be cheaper than full eyebrow restoration.
Unfortunately, there have been instances where eyebrow tattoos have gone wrong. And because this is such a permanent, visible procedure, there’s no disguising a botched eyebrow tattoo.
One study found that around 90% of people with permanent eyebrow makeup were satisfied with their procedure, so mistakes like this aren’t too common [1]. But it’s worth doing plenty of research so you know you’re getting an eyebrow tattoo from a reputable, skilled stylist.
There are several alternative eyebrow restoration options available for those who aren’t keen on the idea of a permanent or even semi-permanent facial tattoo. These alternatives include:
Many celebrities turn to eyebrow transplants to get fuller brows that look completely natural.
Eyebrow tattooing carries a few more risks than microblading. Unlike a tattoo, which is carried out using a needle, microblading involves rubbing pigment into tiny hair-like incisions. This can give you a more natural-looking result than a tattoo.
Both methods take time to heal and scab over before they start to look natural. Results will fade over time, so you’ll need to revisit your stylist every few months or years for additional treatments.
Eyebrow transplants tend to be more expensive than eyebrow tattoos, but there are several advantages to getting an eyebrow transplant vs microblading or an eyebrow tattoo:
At the Wimpole Clinic, we perform the highest quality eyebrow transplants at a range of hair transplant clinic locations across the UK. This includes regrowing overplucked brows, adding density to sparse eyebrows, and correcting faded or botched eyebrow tattoos:
Book a consultation with our eyebrow transplant advisors for an assessment of your brows and to learn more about getting an FUE eyebrow transplant.
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