Which Is Better, Eyebrow Tattoo Or Microblading?

Though you may not think it, the eyebrows significantly impact how a face looks, which is why so many women use waxing, threading, and makeup to make them look perfect. However, with more permanent options like tattooing and microblading becoming available, many, including men with patchy eyebrows, have gone to get some of these procedures. But if you’re considering going, which one is better for you?

If you want semi-permanent work done on your eyebrows to make them look fuller and more defined, you should go for microblading rather than an eyebrow tattoo. Eyebrow tattoos are mainly shading, are permanent, and do a better job shading the eyebrow than making it look neat and maintained.

Though determining which of these two permanent and semi-permanent options is better may seem straightforward, there are some things to consider. Some differences between these options include the price, the availability, the maintenance, and even how long it lasts. For this reason, it is best to consider both carefully to ensure you do what suits your needs best.

Which Is The Better Option, Microblading Or Eyebrow Tattoos

The choice between which one of these two options is better is determined mainly by personal preference. Microblading, though a form of eyebrow tattooing, is quite different from the traditional eyebrow tattoo, which is why it gets performed primarily by licensed and qualified estheticians using another method to insert semi-permanent pigments under the skin.

The best way to determine which of these two techniques is better is to discuss them at length and see which option best suits you. Below are some main categories you should consider before making your final choice.

Microblading Vs. Eyebrow Tattoo – The Pain

One of the first reasons people try to see which one of these two experiences is the best is to see if the pain is the same, less, or more than the other. Though this should not be the determining factor for which one of the two procedures you get, it is good to know about and to be prepared.

Microblading – Microblading usually gets done with some numbing cream that serves as a mild anesthetic to ensure the person receiving the procedure is not in too much pain. The result is that most people call the feeling of the process an irritation rather than actual pain. Some say it feels like pinching, and others report that the process just feels like pressure.
Eyebrow Tattoo – Eyebrow tattoos get done more traditionally, meaning there is usually no anesthetic involved, and you will feel the whole process as it happens. Though some claim that getting a tattoo does not hurt, some have passed out during the process, and without numbing cream or anesthesia, the process is likely to be at least somewhat more painful.

Microblading Vs. Eyebrow Tattoo – The Price

Another thing you should consider, even if it isn’t the determining factor, is the price of the procedure you want to get done. The traditional eyebrow tattoo and microblading can be pretty expensive. However, the price ranges depending on the technique, expertise, the ink or pigment used, and even where you get it.

Microblading – Microblading can range in price quite drastically, with some salons offering the procedure for as little as 200 USD while others may ask as much as 2000 dollars. However, the average price for microblading is between 500 and 700 US dollars. There are also other techniques that you can add to make the process more costly but more effective.
Eyebrow Tattoo – The traditional eyebrow tattoo will also range in price depending on where you go and who the artist is. However, since most conventional eyebrow tattoos are simply a piece of skin that gets shaded with ink, the price can be relatively lower, reaching between 350 and 500 US dollars.

Microblading Vs. Eyebrow Tattoo – The Availability

Suppose you want an eyebrow tattoo or get permanent or semi-permanent eyebrow work done. In that case, getting a traditional eyebrow tattoo is hard since that procedure is primarily out of fashion.

Microblading – Since microblading has become extremely popular, it is easy to find a couple of cosmetic clinics or specialists in your area willing to do them. There is no shortage of places offering this cosmetic procedure, and new people are getting trained every day, making it very easy to find who does them and even allowing you to choose which place you prefer.
Eyebrow Tattoo – Eyebrow tattoos are a little less common in recent years, mainly due to the development of microblading and other techniques that can improve the look of your eyebrows without being as permanent or as “bulky” looking. For this reason, finding someone willing to do traditional eyebrow tattoos is more challenging, and even some tattoo parlors are unwilling.

Microblading Vs. Eyebrow Tattoo – The Permanence

Getting a tattoo can be scary if you haven’t before, and knowing that you are making a permanent mark on your skin can also be nerve-wracking. The permanence of the work you want to get done is a much bigger consideration than many of the other factors mentioned so far, and it is crucial you do not choose something you are happy having on you.

Microblading – When you get microblading to make your eyebrows look more well-maintained and complete, the procedure is called semi-permanent makeup. Microblading gets called semi-permanent because the color used during the process is more pigment than ink and is much less permanent than a traditional eyebrow tattoo.

The pigment used in microblading is more easily absorbed by the body allowing the microblading to fade and eventually not be visible. This semi-permanence allows the person getting microblading to change the style and shape of the brow without needing laser tattoo removal. In general, microblading lasts between one and two years and longer with touch-ups.
Eyebrow Tattoo – Eyebrow tattoos that get done the traditional way, the way most other tattoos get done today, will not fade, and the ink is plated in the skin a bit deeper than the microblading pigment is. Eyebrow tattoos done in this manner are permanent and may fade or discolor a little but will need to get removed with laser tattoo removal or other procedures.

For this reason, if you are planning to get an eyebrow tattoo as it got done before microblading became prevalent, you should consider it very carefully. Getting an eyebrow tattoo can mean you may be stuck with that shape and style for the remainder of your life if you do not have the funds to reduce or remove it.

Microblading Vs. Eyebrow Tattoo – The Look

Another determining factor for many who consider getting permanent or semi-permanent eyebrow procedures is how the eyebrow will look. The choice may be simple if you want to make your eyebrow appear darker and don’t care much for the rest.

Microblading – One of the reasons microblading has become so popular is because of how realistic it looks on the face. If the job got done well, some might struggle to tell whether you have gone for microblading or if your eyebrows are purely natural. If you want to keep the look of natural eyebrows but want them to be more well-defined or fuller, you should consider microblading.
Eyebrow Tattoo – On the other side of the spectrum, you will find the traditional eyebrow tattoo, similar to the regular tattooing practice of shading a specific area. However, since this is not a detailed and fine-lined drawing of your eyebrows, the color may seep through them, which is what gets used to make your eyebrows appear darker due to the ink under the hair.

Microblading Vs. Eyebrow Tattoo – The Technique

Though I have touched on the subject of technique in the categories above, you need to consider, we can go into more detail to discuss what these techniques are and how the process gets performed. Discussing these techniques will give you a clearer idea of what you are asking when you ask for an eyebrow tattoo or microblading.

Microblading – Though tattooing is considered an exact art, microblading is even more precise and delicate. When you receive a tattoo, the ink gets deposited into your skin via needles that prick the skin very quickly and repeatedly. However, with microblading, the process is much more delicate as lines are hand-drawn to make them thinner and more realistic.
Eyebrow Tattoo – As stated above, when you are getting a tattoo, your skin is pricked open, and ink is deposited under the skin to allow the color to stay inside. Though this process can also have some fine lines, it does not come close to the precision of hand drawing singular hairs. When you get an eyebrow tattoo traditionally, you will not see individual strands but a colored piece of skin.

Microblading Vs. Eyebrow Tattoo – The Maintenance

The last factor you should consider before you decide to get microblading or an eyebrow tattoo is maintenance. Though both of these methods of shaping or coloring your eyebrows get deemed to be tattoos, they do not have a remotely similar maintenance routine.

Microblading – Since microblading is a shallower tattoo, it is natural that the ink or pigment will fade after time; in fact, the ink gets specifically made to do that. Because cosmetic artists know people will change their minds and fashion will change, the pigment gets applied in a way that it will fade and, for some, disappear entirely. Doing this allows you to rethink and change as you feel.

However, because the ink that microblading uses will fade over time, you should go for regular maintenance and touch-ups if you enjoy the style and want to minimize fading.
Eyebrow Tattoo – On the other hand, if you want to add color to your eyebrows by getting a tattoo that you don’t need to maintain that much, you may prefer getting a traditional eyebrow tattoo. Like most other tattoos, the ink will stay in your skin for much longer and, in most cases, forever.

The benefit of this type of eyebrow tattoo is that you may feel the need for a touch-up once or twice, but you needn’t perform maintenance as often as with microblading. The negative side of getting an eyebrow tattoo is the chance of the color of the ink changing and the possibility of the ink spreading to other skin cells, something you have little control over.

Can You Get Both Eyebrow Tattoos And Microblading?

Though very few people will recommend that you do it, some people have attempted to make their eyebrow tattoos look better by getting microblading over them. However, the eyebrow tattoos are usually pretty old and possibly very faded, allowing the microblading to shape the tattoo and add detail that still looks more natural.

If you are looking for a way to combine microblading and a traditional eyebrow tattoo, you should look into the different types of microblading and cosmetic eyebrow tattooing. There are techniques called powder brows and micro shading, which can combine with microblading techniques to make the brow look more defined, fuller, and closer to that of a traditional eyebrow tattoo.

The Pros And Cons Of Microblading Vs. Eyebrow Tattoos

Now that we have discussed and looked at all the basics if you are still unsure which one of these techniques you should use, there is a simple way to weigh the positives and negatives in the form of pros and cons. There are pros and cons for both of these eyebrow-enhancing methods, and the lists below may help you choose which is better.

Microblading Pros

The process is less painful
Microblading looks more realistic
There are a lot of places offering microblading
You can change the style after some time
There is little risk of the pigment spreading
You can combine different techniques

Eyebrow Tattoo Pros

Eyebrow tattoos do not need much maintenance
Eyebrow tattoos are often cheaper
If done well, they will not fade

Microblading Cons

Microblading fades over time
It is generally more expensive
You have to get regular touch-ups

Eyebrow Tattoo Cons

The color can spread or change
Getting eyebrow tattoos is permanent
The process is more painful
There is little possibility of changing the look

Conclusion

Since both microblading and eyebrow tattoos are technically tattoos and have both positive and negative aspects to consider, the best choice is up to the individual. It would help if you always did your research on the matter before making a choice, and it is always best to ensure the artist’s work is excellent and reliable before deciding on which person’s services to use for this matter.

Some of my favorite designs, tattoo books, and aftercare products, selected for you

working on tattoo at my studio — **Working at the studio on one of my projects**

Thank you for reading my article, I hope that you have found it helpful. If you would have trouble finding ideas for your tattoo, wonder what is meaning of design that you have found or what to buy for aftercare, to make sure that your tattoo will be healing quickly and easily, here are some of my favorite products in one place, hope that this will also help.

Design and tattoo ideas

For some ideas you can have a look at those 3 books with hundreds of designs that I use with my clients, they are available on Amazon for Kindle or in classic, paper version (links below):

Tattoo meaning

If you would like to read more about the meaning of different tattoo styles and designs before you will decide what you would like to have, I can recommend a book that was really useful for me when I was starting my tattoo adventure – it’s “Conscious Ink: The Hidden Meaning of Tattoos” by Lisa Barretta (through the link you can find it on Amazon for around $10).

Tattoo aftercare

The skin at the tattoo site often dries out. To prevent it and speed up healing for my clients, I usually recommend one of those tattoo aftercare balms (you can find them on Amazon):