Microblading or Ombre?
What's right for you?
Semi-permanent eyebrows give people an option to have the full, fluffy, or defined brows they've always wanted. Unfortunately, microblading is getting all the attention, even when there's options better suited to the people most likely to seek brow enhancement. So it's time to shine a light on the brow method that deserves a little more recognition: Ombre.
Ombre brows are created using a series of small dots and shading instead of the stroke technique used in microblading. The effect is softer and less obvious than microblading.
Who is best suited for Ombre?
Ombre is suitable for just about everyone, because it’s so easily tailored to your individual needs. Missing some hair on the tails of your brows? Ombre is for you! Tired of filling them in with eyebrow pencil everyday? Ombre can remove eyebrow maintenance from your morning routine. Don’t have any hair at all? Ombre may not make it look like you’ve got full bushy eyebrows, but it results in a natural powder look instead of the awkward and obvious eyebrow stamps that would be achieved through microblading.
"Won't microblading look more natural?"
You might think that a technique designed to copy your natural hair strokes would leave you with the most natural result, but unfortunately this isn’t always the case. While microblading can look great after the initial healing process, the strokes often fade outwards, resulting in chunky and blurry lines.
People with thin or sensitive skin, red undertones, oily skin, acne, or very little natural eyebrow hair will look back on their microbladed brows and wish they’d known about the other options. It is often impossible to cover poorly done or faded microblading strokes, and even touch-ups can’t do much to fix them.
This isn't our work, but it's something we noticed early on with microblading in our own business. Over time, those 'natural' strokes fade and blur into a messy gray outline that extends far beyond the client's natural eyebrow.
Why choose Ombre?
Ombre brows are different. Instead of thin hair-like strokes that tend to fade outward, this technique is focused on creating a more delicate and long-lasting look. It’s similar to the effect you would have from filling your brows in with an eyebrow pencil, but perfectly tailored to your shape and style.
Overall, Ombre eyebrows will last longer, fade better, and keep the skin under your brows healthier. Because microblading is done with a small blade that cuts into the brow, the skin builds up scar tissue with every additional session. Ombre is both gentler and lasts longer than microblading.
And when they do fade? They will fade evenly, be soft at the edges, and will not leave behind any of the blurry gray pigment that microblading is known for.
Microblading is not ideal for a large amount of our clients.
People with:
If you have sensitive skin, red undertones, or rosacea, microblading is quick to cause trauma and will bleed easily. Not only is this uncomfortable, but it also leads to the pigment being unable to stay evenly in the strokes made by the needle. Since the pigment is washed off by the blood, microblading strokes will fade thick and patchy. Additionally, the blood mixes with the pigment as it heals and causes the strokes to turn gray or black.
Looking for more about sensitive skin, red undertones, or rosacea? We have a blog post for that!
Click below.
Red Undertones and Microblading
With oily skin, the pigment tends to fade very quickly. This is partially because the pigment is unable to stay in the strokes made by the blade and partially because of the skincare lifestyle that comes alongside having oily skin. When the brows are washed or scrubbed frequently, it will increase the cell turnover rate and cause the pigment to fade faster.
Looking for more about oily skin? We have a blog post for that!
Click below.
If your skin is very thin or you're starting to see some wrinkles, microblading is unlikely to produce the sharp thin strokes that you're used to seeing. Instead, the strokes will end up chunky due to the skin texture.
Looking for more about mature skin? We have a blog post for that!
Click below.
Everyone's skin holds pigment differently, meaning different fading times and experiences. With scar tissue mixed in, this gets even more complicated. If you have a scar through your brow, there's no telling how the pigment might fade differently in that space. It could end up looking uneven, and the blade will likely create a larger build up of scar tissue on top of an already sensitive area.
Looking for more about eyebrow scarring? We have a blog post for that!
Click below.
Those who are on heavy medications are not recommended for microblading due to a heavy bleed risk. A lot of medical regimens include blood thinners or medicines that have similar effects. Blood thinners will lead to heavy bleeding, which results in uneven and patchy brows as the pigment fades.
If you find yourself with little to no eyebrow hair, microblading will look unnatural as the strokes will have nothing to blend into. If you have sparse hair towards the tail of your eyebrow, the microblading will look disconnected between the front and tail of your brow. It will look a different color and shape, leaving an odd stamp underneath your natural brow.
are often not eligible for microblading. This is because of the risks involved, including increased bleeding, skin damage, and quick fading. If you experience any of these issues, Ombre is your best option to achieve fuller brows.
Curious about your own brows? Take our free quiz to find out whether microblading is suitable for you.
Looking for more info? We do case studies! Here's a few of our favorites:
It’s important to know that
Not all Ombre is created equal.
Here at Aphrodite’s Secret, we have mastered our ombre technique through years of study and practice. When we create your perfect eyebrows, we freehand draw the shape so that they don’t look boxy or sharp. Each client has a unique bone structure and needs their brows tailored to them. The goal is to achieve a very natural look for your everyday life.
While we specialize in and recommend ombre brows, everyone should have a consultation before scheduling their brow service. Even if you're 100% certain that you want brow enhancements, we strongly recommend a consultation anyway.
Make the right choice the first time.
Our free consultations include:
- Customized eyebrow drawing to determine the best shape for your everyday life
- Color-matching to find the best match for your skin and hair color
- Detailed technique discussion with our highly experienced brow artists
These consultations come with no pressure or requirement to follow through with the service. It is completely free and you can decide whether you want the service after the consultation.