Ombré Powder Brows, the mega hit of 2021 for transforming your eyebrows from natural brows into mega defined yet beautiful (and still natural) brows! It looks like tattooing, but it really isn't. So what is it? And what do you actually need to know before you start? Read it here!
What are Ombré Powder Brows?
The technique for creating Ombré Powder Brows simply consists of placing so-called 'dots' in the desired eyebrow shape. By placing these dots, also called pixels, you create a natural shading in a certain pigment colour. This natural shading is also called the powder effect. Using large or small pixels, you make the eyebrow more or less powdery. Every stylist works differently.
Ombré Powder Brows are eyebrows that last for about 2 to 3 years. So you get up in the morning with the perfect eyebrows. Also very handy on holiday, in the sauna or swimming pool and during sport.
To make it a real Ombré Powder Brow, the front sections are kept very soft. This creates the ombré effect. In practice, this is done with light pressure and long strokes of the device, spreading the pixels further apart so that they do not sit close together and therefore appear less dense or defined. So you do not see one solid line where the eyebrow ends at the front; instead, it fades.
What is the difference between microblading and Ombré Powder Brows?
First of all, the Powder Brow technique and device are completely different from microblading. The name says it all: micro blading = micro blade / knife cuts. With microblading you make small cuts in the skin, after which the pigment is absorbed into the cut. This treatment is often experienced as very painful and, unfortunately, besides being painful, people often do not read up on it enough. Microblading often only remains visible for up to 6 months. So a lot of pain and effort for a short-term solution.
But how are Powder Brows applied?
Ombré Powder Brows are applied by means of pigmentation with a microneedle, resembling a tattoo machine. However, a tattoo is applied in the 3rd skin layer, and pigmentation in the 1st skin layer. This means that applying Ombré Powder Brows is extremely superficial. As a result, this treatment is experienced as virtually painless, and some clients even fall asleep with us!
Is the result of microblading comparable to the result of Ombré Powder Brows?
No! They are absolutely not comparable. With microblading you slowly make small cuts, so you are simply creating lines. This technique is also often used to create hairstrokes: lines placed very naturally through the natural hairs, or in places where there is little or no hair, so that it looks as if you naturally have more hairs.
The result of Ombré Powder Brows is more natural, softer, more powdery and ultimately more suitable for the face. Of course everyone has their own opinion, and you may find microblading a lot more beautiful than Ombré Powder Brows.
Semi-permanent Ombré Brows / SPMU
Not only is the final result beautiful, it is also nice that it is semi-permanent. Why? Because trends keep changing over the years. And what you like or what is in fashion right now may be hilarious to look back on in a few years.
For example, a few years ago the trend was ultra-thin eyebrows. That is why many people now suffer from having fewer hairs. They used to remove a lot of hair, and the more often you pull hair out of the follicle in one place, the fewer hairs you may have a few years later.
Ombré Brows are semi-permanent because of the pigmentation technique. With pigmentation, the pigment is not applied deep into the skin, but in the first skin layer. When pigmented, the skin tries to make the pigment disappear on its own. About 50 – 60% of the pigment is rejected and disappears after the treatment. The final result of the Powder Brows is therefore much more natural than in the first few days after the treatment.
Ombré Powder Brows Touch-Up Treatment
What happens during a touch-up treatment of Ombré Brows? And why do you need a follow-up treatment?
First, you can see from the photo above that the eyebrow colour has decreased by 50 to 60%. This is because the skin naturally tries to get rid of the pigment. You can also see that the warmth in the eyebrow has decreased. In photo 1 you can see a lot of redness in the skin around the ombré effect. This is no longer visible in the last photo.
After the first treatment, many people are shocked. We will of course tell you in advance that the colour will look many times darker when we have finished the treatment than the final result will be.
As you can clearly see in the photo above, the healing process starts almost immediately. As with a tattoo, you will develop scabs. You should absolutely not pick or pull off these crusts. If you do, you can pull out part of the pigment or hinder the healing process. This is how you create the zebra effect: differences in pigment across the eyebrows. Not nice!
We also call it the zebra effect when you are in the middle of the healing process. You will see that you have lost some of the crusts while other parts still have crusts. As a result, you see the dark pigment on the scab and the light ombré colour on the skin.
The skin starts to itch because the crusts want to come off but are partly still attached.
You need a follow-up treatment so that, after the healing process, we can see whether the pigment has taken everywhere, whether the shape is right and whether the colour of the pigment is enough for the client's wishes. Everyone experiences it differently after 6-8 weeks. Sometimes there are clients who have nothing left of their first treatment, and sometimes there are clients who hardly need a touch-up.
So remember that every skin reacts differently to the treatment, and it is not a given that the desired result will be optimal after 1 treatment.
How long will it take until Ombré Powder Brows are completely healed?
The healing of pigmented eyebrows depends on many things. The following factors influence healing:
The healing process of the eyebrows therefore not only has to do with how the stylist places the eyebrows, but also with the aftercare. As we indicated earlier: everyone's skin is different, and so is every healing process. One person heals quickly, another a bit more slowly. In general, the eyebrows heal well within the first 2 weeks after the treatment. Note: if the aftercare instructions are not fully followed, the healing process can be greatly affected.
Almost everyone experiences slight swelling, redness around the eyebrows and a tight feeling in the skin right after the treatment. This will disappear within 24-48 hours. The full healing process takes on average between 4-10 days. But the true colour of the pigment is only visible after 1 full month.
It is a natural reaction that the pigment that has been placed first becomes darker (scabs), then appears lighter (scabs fall off), and then becomes lighter in the skin (partly disappears). Only after this process does the real colour show in the skin. This process takes a month, which is why a follow-up treatment may only be carried out after an average of 6 to 8 weeks.
the pH value of the skin
skin type: oily, greasy, dry etc.
alcohol consumption or smoking
sun protection
the aftercare procedure
How can Powder Brows lighten in colour faster?
As we just explained, the healing process requires complete care and attention. That way, you have the best chance that the pigment settles well in the skin. But there are also other reasons why a pigment fades faster over time.
Spending time on the sunbed or in full sun while sunbathing, sometimes with oil on the skin (!), can cause the eyebrows to lose an enormous amount of colour. Not so nice, because you had the treatment done so that you no longer have to draw on your eyebrows.
Put simply, human skin and pigmentation have their limits. If you pigment too deeply, you can get faded red and grey colours in the eyebrows. So there is simply no option to have your Ombré Brows placed deeper.
The only thing you have to do for optimal preservation of the eyebrows is to protect them with sun protection (preferably factor 50) in full sun or on the sunbed. And make sure that you hydrate the skin and do not damage it too much with scrubbing or cosmetic products that have a completely different effect than is intended for your beautiful Powder Brows!
Too much sun
Too much exfoliating of the skin
Using serums that make hyperpigmentation disappear
Not properly caring for and moisturising the skin
Who are Powder Brows meant for?
Ombré Powder Brows can be applied to any skin type: greasy, oily, dry, average, etc. Super nice! Because that way you do not have to worry that it would not be possible on your skin.
Powder Brows are also intended for people whose own eyebrows lack shape. With Powder Brows you get a defined shape, and you do not have to do anything about the shape except occasionally remove the hairs outside the shape.
Can men also get powder brows?
Yes! Some men (or women) have patches in the eyebrow with little or no hair. With the Powder Brow technique, small pixels are created to fill in these areas. The final result is very natural! And of course men can also have it done simply because they like it. 🙂
Side effects of Ombré Powder Brows
Powder Brows have side effects that are immediately visible / noticeable. That is because the skin is, as it were, put to work to remove the applied pigment. This is a completely natural reaction; you also experience it when you get a tattoo or a piercing. You get crusts where the pigment is placed, or the skin wants to grow back around the piercing.
All the side effects mentioned can be present in mild form. There are hardly any clients who experience the side effects as "unpleasant".
All in all, you have to put up with something to enjoy beautiful eyebrows for a long time. Either way, I think it's more than worth it. Just look for yourself …
Do you have any questions or would you like to book a permanent make-up treatment? Don't hesitate to contact us to discuss the possibilities!
My name is Isabella Levels and, with years of experience in the industry, I love sharing my permanent make-up knowledge and techniques. My passion lies in accentuating natural beauty, and I hope to inspire others with tips and insights that can help both beginners and professionals in their careers!
slight swelling
itching (crusts)
darker colour
rapid pigment fading