As great as permanent makeup procedures are, there’s one thing that stops many from taking the leap of faith – the idea of pain. Almost all permanent makeup treatments are invasive, and powder brows are no different.
This brow enhancement treatment gives us soft and feathery brows, enhancing our natural features and saving us the trouble of drawing brows every time we get ready. And the good news is, the procedure is minimally invasive and nowhere similar to tattoos in terms of depth of pigment implantation.
This raises the question, does getting powder brows hurt? Let’s find out:
What Are Powder Brows?
First things first, let’s understand what powder brows are and how the treatment goes. It is a permanent makeup procedure in which the technician uses a handheld PMU device to deposit pigment. The pigment doesn’t penetrate deep into the skin and the shading technique used in the process requires putting pixelated dots in the brow region instead of strokes, to give the brows a fuller and symmetrical appearance.
Either way, it involves the use of needles to deposit pigment, which brings us back to our original question, does the process hurt?
Do Powder Brows Hurt?
Without anesthesia or topical numbing cream, the process certainly hurts. Fortunately, no makeup artist conducts the procedure without applying numbing cream a few minutes before they begin. And they do not start working until the cream has taken effect and the area of treatment is sufficiently numbed. The procedure of powder brows also plays a role here. Unlike other brow treatments, powder brows don’t involve depositing the pigment too deep into the skin, hence the level of pain is already minimal.
Ultimately, it all comes down to every individual’s tolerance to pain. Many clients close their eyes during the procedure and take a nap because they find the process painless. On the other hand, some feel slight discomfort or some level of pain during the treatment. In either case, almost everyone finds the pain manageable.
If you don’t find the pain manageable, there are certain things you need to do to make sure you don’t go through unnecessary discomfort, or miss out on your favorite procedure because of the pain.
What Can We Do to Minimize the Pain?
Don’t give up on the treatment solely due to the level of pain, especially since you can change it and make it more manageable. Here are some suggestions to make the pain more tolerable:
- Find a Good Artist
If you feel the pain levels to be too high, it is time to change your artist. Reputable technicians and artists use everything in their arsenal to minimize the pain, including the way they add pigment, the pressure of their hands, and the application of numbing cream. Some might apply it just at the right time, others might have developed a technique of applying it twice, etc. Look for reviews on the internet that rave about the painless experience and you’d find the right artist for you.
- Talk to your Artist
If pain management is a serious concern of yours, be sure to communicate it to your artist during the consultation. A well-reputed artist who values the comfort of their clients would go the extra mile to be careful and might even suggest a few professional tips to help with the pain. One of them includes taking Tylenol a few hours before the appointment and not taking any blood thinners before the appointment.
- Take a Few Precautions Before your Appointment
Many times, with powder brows, the procedure itself isn’t painful but other factors make it that way. To ensure you don’t become a victim of similar circumstances, you must take the following precautions before your appointment:
- If you are on Accutane or use adapalene, tretinoin, Differin gel, retinol, or retinoids in any form, then your skin is sensitive which makes the pain worse than it is. We strongly suggest that you only book your appointment for powder brows a month after you’ve stopped using all of the above serums, creams, gel, and oral medication.
- On the day of your appointment, skip the coffee and do not consume alcohol. Both these beverages are blood thinners and make us bleed more than normal during the procedure, therefore making it more painful.
- A week before the appointment, stop waxing and plucking your brows and forehead as they make the skin extremely sensitive and highly responsive to pain.
- You need to go all of two weeks before the appointment without sunbathing and tanning. Both these activities make the skin highly sensitive and the powder brows treatment much more painful than usual.
- Do not partake in any kind of facial treatments, at the salon or home, a few weeks before the appointment. Treatments such as acid peels, hydra facial, etc. make the skin sensitive and sore, and the procedure can be extra painful.
What About Scabbing?
Don’t make your treatment painful for yourself by picking at the scabs. Scabbing is part of the healing process and they fall on their own and leave a nice pigment behind. Picking your scabs on the other hand will not only reopen your unhealed wounds and cause you pain, but it also removes the pigment, leaving botched and spacey results.
In short, leave your scabs alone. They’ll develop a few days after the procedure and remove on their own. All you need to do is gently wash the brows every morning and you are done.
Get your Powder Brows Without the Pain in Alameda, CA
If you love the results of powder brows but find the pain unbearable, it’s about time you look for an experienced artist. If you happen to be in Alameda, CA, book your appointment with Powder Brows by Claudia and you’d be surprised how breezy the procedure can be.
Our team of skilled makeup artists is trained not just in makeup artistry but also in client comfort. We’d help you achieve the look you desire without letting you go through unnecessary pain and discomfort. Call us or visit our website to schedule your consultation today!”