The first two weeks after microblading can be surprising if nobody has told you what to expect. Your brows will look darker than you asked for, then they will flake, then for a few days they may look like they have almost disappeared. All of that is normal, and none of it is the final result.
This guide walks through the microblading healing process day by day, so you know what is happening at each stage and how to look after your brows through it. The same stages apply to ombre brows and combination brows, with small differences noted below.
The healing timeline at a glance
| When | What you will see |
|---|---|
| Day of | Darker, bolder, sharply defined brows; some light oozing |
| Days 1 to 4 | Still dark, slightly tight or itchy as the skin begins to heal |
| Days 5 to 12 | Flaking and peeling; color looks patchy or faded underneath |
| Days 10 to 14 | Flaking finishes; brows can look lighter than expected |
| Weeks 3 to 4 | Color returns and settles into its true, softer shade |
| Weeks 6 to 8 | Fully healed; time for your touch up |
Day of your appointment
You will leave with brows that look darker, bolder and more sharply defined than the result you chose. That is expected. The color sits on top of fresh skin, and some of it will soften as the surface heals. Healed color typically comes in noticeably lighter than what you walk out with on day one.
For the rest of the day, gently blot the area with a clean tissue to absorb any clear fluid, and keep doing so until it stops. Some redness and swelling is normal, which is why we suggest not making social plans for the same day.
Days 1 to 7: wash and moisturize
This is the stage where your routine matters most. Each morning and night:
- Gently wash the brows with water and a gentle, unscented cleanser, using only your fingertips and a very light touch.
- Let them dry completely by patting with a clean tissue.
- Once dry, use a sterile cotton swab to gently dab (not rub) a tiny amount of the healing balm we give you onto each brow, about the size of half a grain of rice. If your brows look glossy, you have used too much.
Your brows will still look dark through the first few days, and they may feel tight or a little itchy. Itching is normal and is a sign of healing. Do not scratch.
Days 5 to 12: the flaking phase
Somewhere around day five, the brows start to flake and peel. Once flaking begins, you can stop washing and simply keep moisturizing.
The most important rule of the whole process applies here: do not pick. Let every flake come away on its own. Picking pulls pigment out with the skin and leaves gaps that will need filling later. Try not to sleep on your face, and do everything you can to avoid rolling onto your brows at night.
As the flakes lift, the color underneath can look patchy, uneven or much lighter. Many people call this the ghosting phase. It is temporary.
Days 10 to 14: flaking ends
When your brows are no longer flaky, typically between days 10 and 14, this phase of healing is complete and you can go back to your normal routine. You may feel that your brows have faded too much at this point. Do not judge them yet: the color is still coming back up through the new skin.
Keep products with active ingredients off your brows, such as acne treatments, anti-aging products and salicylic acid, and protect them from the sun.
Weeks 3 to 4: the true color appears
Around week three, the softer, true color surfaces and the brows settle by week four. This is the first time you see something close to your real result.
On combination brows, the hair strokes heal faster and lighter than the shaded areas, so the two can look slightly out of balance around week two. They even out by week four. Ombre brows follow the same pattern, sitting darker and slightly warm for the first week before the softer color comes through.
Weeks 6 to 8: your touch up
Full healing takes about six to eight weeks, and that is when the Brow Touch Up is booked. It is a separate $150 appointment. Skin holds pigment unevenly, so the touch up fills any strokes or patches that did not hold, evens out the density, and refines the shape now that it can be judged fully healed. It is also the right time to ask for slightly fuller, slightly darker or a fractionally higher arch.
What to avoid while your brows heal
For 10 to 14 days after your appointment, or until the flaking has finished:
- Do not get your brows wet beyond the gentle washing above. That includes swimming, saunas and hot tubs. Keep showers short and cooler, and keep your face out of the spray.
- No sweating, exercise, workouts or hot yoga.
- No sun exposure or tanning beds.
- No makeup, lotion, face wash or serums on the brows.
- No Neosporin or petroleum-based products, only the healing balm.
- No threading, waxing or hair removal products near the brows.
- No products with AHAs, retinol, lactic or glycolic acid, no acne products and no skin lightening products.
- Do not bleach, tint or dye the brows.
- No laser treatments and no facials for 30 days.
Our full pre-care and aftercare guide has the complete list, including what to avoid before your appointment.
When to call us
Redness, tenderness, itching and flaking are all part of normal healing. If pain and redness keep getting worse for more than 72 hours, contact us right away and seek medical attention.
After healing: keep your brows looking fresh
Once healed, sunscreen of SPF 50 or higher on your brows is the best protection against fading. Keep exfoliants and peels away from the area, and tell any laser technician about your brows before treatment. For how long your result will last and when to refresh it, read how long microblading lasts.
Still choosing a technique? Compare microblading vs ombre vs combination brows, or book your appointment online.