It seems like everywhere you look, there’s either a story or a slew of before-and-after photos that have something to do with microblading, the brow transformation treatment that is taking the industry by storm. Totally different than waxing, tweezing and threading, microblading creates super flattering arches that last upward of one to three years.
Like all trends in beauty, all it takes is one really well-versed expert to get wind of an idea and conjure up a whole new way to use a product or treatment. And, of course, that goes for microblading, too.
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While we don’t see it being phased out from creating perfect brows, it is now being used to help with hair loss. Just like how the treatment uses a super fine row of needles to create marks on the skin that resemble hair, the same goes for when it’s done on the scalp to camouflage the look of thin, sparse hair. Yes, it’s technically a form of permanent makeup, but having your scalp microbladed—it sounds way scarier than it is—can give you pretty fast results and put you on the track to fuller-looking hair in no time.
“Microblading is the practice of implanting hair strokes with cosmetic-grade pigment into the skin using a manual method. By creating an almost ‘Art Deco’ style pattern on the scalp, we can simulate the hair growth patter and create the illusion of a fuller head of hair,” says Sarah Victor of Sarah Victor Beauty, who performs the treatment.
However, unlike more conventional methods of treating thinning hair and hair loss, like lasers, PRP and even supplements, microblading won’t do anything to alter the growth pattern of the hair.
Best for those who have naturally straight or wavy and darker hair—Victor says it’s not the best option for those with exceptionally oily scalps or various skin conditions on the scalp, and those with oily scalps should do a traditional tattooing method—color is deposited into the skin with a hand tool with various groupings of needles. “Using the tool, I implant the pigment in a pattern, which I determine after seeing how the client parts their hair,” adds Victor.
The main point of difference between microblading the eyebrows versus the scalp is the length of time and the cost. “The entire eyebrow can take about 20 minutes to do whereas the scalp can take an hour.” Even though the results will last for about 12 months, biannual touch-ups will be needed for a refresh in color.
