Ombré Brows: What To Know About The Buzzy Eyebrow Treatment

Eyebrows are essentially the statement piece of the face. Over the years, we've seen plenty of eyebrow styles with 2023's trendiest eyebrow shapes already coming to fruition. What makes people care about eyebrows so much is the ability that they give to completely change your face. With its transformative nature, there is no surprise that there are so many new procedures and products to upgrade your eyebrows.

One procedure that has been gaining a lot of buzz is the ombré brows. Ombré brows are perfect for the person who finds themselves overfilling in their eyebrows and using eyebrow tints for the perfect look. The procedure has been around for a few years and could be considered a fresh take on the microblading trend. While this technique is not for everyone, it's a great style for those who want natural-looking eyebrows. However, before going into it, there are a few things to know about the semi-permanent procedure.

According to Elise Louise, ombré brows are a technique that creates a dark tail that gradually gets lighter leading to the front of the eyebrow. The name was inspired by the hair-dying technique of the same name, which creates a gradient effect from light to dark. ombré brows are done by using a fine needle to tattoo fine dots along your eyebrows. Once the eyebrows are done and healed, they should look like naturally thick eyebrows.

Other than the looks, what makes the procedure so appealing is how long the eyebrows last once they are healed. "Ombré brows can last anywhere from two to five years with regular top-ups. Your results can also depend on factors such as lifestyle, skin type, and sun exposure," explained Jaimineey Patel, head of education at Blink Brow Bar, while talking to Cosmopolitan. Ombré brow touch-ups after the initial check-in should happen once a year.

Preparation for ombré brows is surprisingly very simple. Allie Yamaguchi, a celebrity eyebrow specialist and esthetician, warned Byrdie that people just need to stay away from certain products before the procedure. "Laying off blood thinners is number one for me," she explained. "This means, absolutely no alcohol, pain relievers, other specific medications, or Botox until after the service has been done." The reason is that blood thinning agents cause individuals to bleed much heavier than they naturally would. This ultimately leads to poor pigment retention in the long run, which ruins the service.

It is also important to watch what vitamins you take in as well. Toronto Brow Shop warns that taking fish oil and vitamin E is not recommended a week before the procedure. While these supplements are popular to regrow your eyebrows after years of over-tweezing, they can also alter your skin and lead it to become compromised during the process.

There are a few things to note before deciding to get ombré brows done. According to Elise Lousie, the style is not for everyone. People who have very sparse or thin brows will not get the full benefit of the procedure. The publication recommends those with thin brows opt for powder brows instead, in order to get a look that's similar, but more flattering.

Also, while there are no documented side effects, there have been complaints about color changes. "I have witnessed color changes in the pigment under the skin over time and this is due to sun exposure or bad pigment selection from the brow technician," Yamaguchi said to Byrdie. She went on to explain that anyone who wants to get this procedure done should dedicate serious time to researching the establishment and esthetician before deciding to go through with the service.

Aftercare is very important when it comes to getting the best out of your eyebrows. Joey Healy, a celebrity eyebrow specialist based in New York, told Byrdie that individuals should avoid getting their eyebrows wet for at least 10 days after the procedure. This includes going into the shower, excessive sweating, or even wearing makeup. They also warned that during this time, it's normal to experience scabbing for the first few days. This should be rectified with an antibacterial ointment and followed up later with an over-the-counter ointment like petroleum jelly.

Healy also stressed the importance of getting a touch-up shortly after the initial procedure. "Anyone who's providing this service who's good and reputable would like you to come back to check on your results about two or three weeks later and see if there's more to do or little adjustments to make," Healy explained to the publication.