BROW CORRECTIONS
& BROW COVERUPS
The art of Cosmetic Tattooing has come a long way in the last 5-10 years. From techniques, tools & trends; the industry has not been immune to the passage of time & evolving preferences. The beauty/cosmetic industry is notorious for riding waves of “hot trends” and “fad beauty” styles, because of this – there is a current and constant market of women seeking Brow Corrections or Brow Coverups & Brow Removal.
If dealing with an old faded and unfavorable brow tattoo, that no longer aligns with a desired look, fret not. In most cases there are effective ways to correct, cover up, & even remove outdated or unsatisfactory results. Before taking any corrective measures, it’s important to consult with a trained professional with experience in corrective Microblading or Permanent Makeup, who can assess the current brows. An honest and well-trained artist will easily identify areas of opportunity and can determine the best and proper course of action. The following are common hurdles often met by artist:
Color Corrections: If the existing color has turned or shifted unnatural (red, pink, green, blue, grey) or faded unevenly, color corrections can most times restore them to a favorable color. As trained artist we use specialized pigments to neutralize or tone an existing color to a more suitable shade.
Shape Adjustments: Everyone wants perfect brows – however there is a popular saying in the world of Cosmetic Tattooing; “Brows are Sisters, Not Twins”. With this being said, one of the biggest complaints of both clients and artist is, the brows are not “perfect”.
We must remember, facial asymmetry is common and experienced by everyone, male, female, young or mature. Asymmetrical facial features are common – with asymmetry ranging from very mild to severe. The goal in Brow Correcting will be to bring the face better symmetry and balance. It is best and preferred to follow the client’s natural brow shape and facial structure as much as possible, while making small enhancements as needed. Correcting the shape of the brows can make a significant difference, and an experienced artist works to reshape, redefine the eyebrows, ensuring they complement facial features.
Ink Saturation: Ink saturation level is the biggest factor in deciding if a Brow Correction or Coverup is possible. The most successful cases occur when the client has a prior tattoo that is 50% or more faded. This allows for the application of more pigment and will allow a favorable healing. Remember, the skin is like a sponge, and a sponge can hold up to a certain amount of water, while the skin can only hold up to a certain amount of ink. Cases with heavy or deep ink saturation pose a dire concern, as the skin will not allow for more pigment to be applied.
Scar Tissue: Scar tissue is very common with older brow tattoos performed in traditional body art studios and especially with old Microblading. Scar tissue is extremely difficult and can be impossible to work with. Anytime the skin is injured or wounded (whether intentional or not) there is a slight possibility and formation of scar tissue. In the hands of a trained professional the chances of developing scar tissue after a tattoo are very minimal. Scar tissue presents on the skin as indentations, and often times appear shiny. The problem arises when trying to correct or coverup a prior brow tattoo, the skin behaves resistant accept the new color, and oftentimes bleeds and swells, causing the new ink/pigment not to be accepted.
Brow Correction & Brow Coverup FAQ'S
A Brow Correction consists of improving, fixing, or enhancing the appearance of an unattractive brow tattoo, due to an unfavorable color or shape, or both. Click here to see before & after correction photos.
Unfavorable Color, Asymmetrical Brows, Incorrect Brow Shape, Poor Ink Retention, Incorrect Ink Selection, Sub-par Healing
This is one of the most asked questions, and ideally the answer would be NO. Correcting or covering up an old brow tattoo with Microblading is extremely difficult and in most cases impossible, unless the old brow tattoo has completely faded with no traces of ink and scar tissue. Opting to Microblade over an existing brow tattoo, will not fully cover the old tattoo and healed results always tend to show a splotchy dense mixture of the old and new ink.
Selecting a qualified and experienced artist is crucial – sometimes you only have 1 time to get it right. Look for a professional with a proven track record in corrective work. Review their portfolio, read client reviews, and ensure they prioritize your vision while also remaining realistic.
Seek a trained artist who specializes in corrective brow work. Color corrections are most successful when the old color has faded at least 50%, the more fading the better.
A Microblading Correction happens when an artist corrects the tone of pigment/hairstrokes which may have healed or aged a bit ashy or grey. It consists of layering the proper toning pigment which may have an orange or red base, which reintroduces warmth back into the color. Since each client heals differently, the correct color choice is made by the artist and is based on the clients’ skin undertone and the brows current hue.
Yes. Provided the current shape, ink saturation, and scar tissue are minimal, I highly and explicitly recommend Microshading. This technique involves softly shading and blending the entire brow area, covering up the old Microblading and creating a more cohesive, natural appearance.
Brow Corrections & Coverups will require maintenance over time. Regular touch-up appointments will help maintain the desired look, especially the color & tone, in addition to ensuring longevity.
This is a very good question, and there are many factors that come into play. One of the main causes for eyebrow color/tones shifting is an unbalanced light-fastness formulation.
The many variations of Brown is a result of mixing any of the following colors; red, green, yellow, orange, white, black, blue, etc. This is what gives us colors such as Light Brown, Medium Brown, Dark Brown, Darkest Brown, Blackish Brown and so on. Each Brown formulation varies in temperature and fall under one of the following: Cool Toned, Neutral, or Warm Toned. Some browns have more red (warm toned), some have more yellow (neutral), and some more green (cool toned), etc
Each artist must choose or modify their pigments according to their respective clients’ skin undertone, desired target color & desired technique – which plays a vital role in how color heals in the skin. Another important factor; as the brows age, color particles breakdown & in the breaking down process each color breaks down at a different rate thus leaving behind a residual unfavorable color like red, green, or blue. This happens most often with low quality subpar pigment formulations, or improper pigment selections/modifications.
