You've probably been hearing a lot of buzz about eyebrow microblading recently. And while the service can go terribly wrong in the hands of an unskilled technician ( like this disaster-eek! ), when it's done properly, it can be a serious game-changer.
Someone who just outed themselves as a fan of the eyebrow microblading trend? Mandy Moore. She posted an Instagram Stories selfie saying "New brows, new lease on life." (Seriously though, what is it about a good brow day that just magically makes you feel like a boss?)
Finding it hard to see where Mandy got her eyebrow microblading? That's the point! Thankfully, Mandy's brow guru, Kristie Streicher ( check out her Instagram for major browspo-yes, that's a thing), gave us a little BTS of the microblading process. In the pic below, you can see that when she brushes Mandy's hairs down, there are a few microblading strokes there.
As for what microblading entails, think of it as a semi-permanent tattoo-hence why you really need to make sure you're seeing a trained professional (ask to see many before/afters they've done and read through reviews on Yelp before committing to a service). Here's how Kristie describes the process for her signature service, Microfeathering, on her website :
"After numbing the area with a topical cream, small incisions are created using a fine and very precise blade. Pigment is then deposited into the incisions, resulting in an incredibly natural appearing 'eyebrow hair.'"
She goes on to explain that this is a two-visit process (spread 6 to 8 weeks apart) to ensure the most natural-looking result (each visit lasts around 1.5 to 2 hours). Mircroblading isn't cheap, with a treatment course with Kristie running $1,200 (this is pretty much industry standard), but the results can last anywhere from 8 to 12 months depending on the person.
It's important to note that there is a bit of aftercare required (Kristie suggests keeping a thin layer of Neosporin and SPF 30+ on the brows while they heal and avoiding excessive sweating for a week), and that you may experience some redness, bruising, or swelling immediately after the service.
But honestly, after seeing Mandy's brows, all of that seems totally worth it, right?