Beauty Marks, Ink FAQ
MicroBlading
Microblading is a form of Semi-Permanent Makeup. It is performed using a blade made up of several sharp pins in a row. The blade is dipped in pigment(ink) before each stroke, implanting pigment as you go, creating hair-like strokes. We map our your shape & thread your eyebrows before beginning.
We use a topical numbing cream before starting. If you feel anything, it has been described as more of a scratch or plucking sensation. We also use a numbing gel after your first set of strokes are placed; once your secondary numbing is in place, most people don't feel much of anything.
All Permanent Makeup needs a touch up 6-8 weeks after the initial appointment to color correct, fill in missing strokes, and perfect the existing work. After the touch up, your new brows should last you anywhere from 18-24 months if you received Microblading & 2-3 years if you received Ombre Powder Brows! Taking care of your brows (SPF, following after care instructions) will go a long way in preserving your strokes & color.
We like to incorporate as much of your natural hair into the new shape as possible. For that reason, we suggest to clients to let their brows grow out for a bit before coming in. We will clean up any hairs outside of the agreed upon shape using either a brow razor or threading - client's choice.
If you fill in your brows daily, have had chemo in the past & your brows have yet to grow back, or just naturally have very little brow hair, then you are a candidate for Microblading! If you have naturally oily skin, we'll probably suggest a combo or powder brow. It tends to last longer on oily skin than just microblading alone.
Powder Brows & Combination brows utilize machine shading, which provides tiny pixels of color throughout the brow shape. Machine shading is done with a traditional tattoo machine with a small diameter single needle. Just machine shading would be a powder brow; or you can add shading in throughout microbladed strokes to give the appearance of more density, which would be a combination brow. Permanent Eyebrows are truly customizable - not one style, shape, or stroke pattern is used on everyone.
Threading
Threading is an organic form of hair removal, using only cotton thread that has been twisted to remove the hair from the root. If the hair is visible, it can be threaded; including fine, baby hairs. Because of its ability to create a perfectly straight line, threading is best known for shaping brows. However, it is also frequently used to remove unwanted facial hair in areas like the chin, upper lip, sideburns, or full facial threading.
In short, no! When your hair grows back, it will be blunt at the end because it hasn’t had a chance to taper yet & it hasn’t been sun bleached. This will lead many people to believe that it’s thickening or getting darker, when that’s just not the case(& also scientifically impossible). In fact, if you stay on a consistent hair removal regimen, the hair will thin over time & become more sparse.
Hair removal of any kind opens your pores. If you are new to hair removal, your skin can respond to the new experience in a negative way, causing breakouts in the area of removal. We use a cleansing agent following threading to minimize potentially damaging bacteria, but it’s important to note that using dirty makeup brushes, laying on a dirty pillowcase, or simply not taking care of the newly smooth skin once you leave our studio can lead to breakouts. If you keep up with a hair removal regimen, your skin will calm over time & get used to the routine.
Henna brows
Henna is a dye made from the Lawsonia inermis plant, that is naturally grown in Africa & Asia. It is ground up & used as a dye for many purposes throughout the world. We get our Henna, that is specially formulated to tint brows, from a company called Brow Code - based out of Australia.
If your eyebrows are naturally light in color, or you would like a less permanent option than Microblading to keep your brows looking filled in, then Henna Brow Tinting is the service for you. Offering colors from blonde to black, with every color in between, a henna mixture is applied to your eyebrows in the desired shape and when it’s wiped away, you’re left with eyebrow hairs that are colored for 4-6 weeks & a filled in stain on the skin that lasts anywhere from 7-14 days. Each henna appointment includes threading and shaping.
If your eyebrows are naturally light in color, or you would like a less permanent option than Microblading to keep your brows looking filled in, then Henna Brow Tinting is the service for you. Offering colors from blonde to black, with every color in between, a henna mixture is applied to your eyebrows in the desired shape and when it’s wiped away, you’re left with eyebrow hairs that are colored for 4-6 weeks & a filled in stain on the skin that lasts anywhere from 7-14 days. Each henna appointment includes threading and shaping.
You can exfoliate your brows at home prior to your procedure! You can use coconut oil & a mascara wand to scrub away dead, flaky skin. When you come in for your appointment, you will have fresh, soft skin for the Henna to dye! Please note, this needs to be done at least a day in advance, as any oils can prevent the Henna from developing as well. After your procedure, avoid water for 24 hours so that the Henna has that time to fully develop & bond with your skin. The more you baby them & avoid rubbing or scrubbing them, the longer the color will last on your skin.
Lash Extensions
Eyelash Extensions are applied to your natural eyelashes using a specially formulated adhesive, which is different from strip lash or wig glue. Each natural lash is isolated before placing the extension, so that no natural lashes are glued together(prohibiting growth). There are different lengths, diameters, curls, & colors of extensions. The designs and looks possible are endless - lash extensions are truly customizable.
First, the adhesive used for individually placed extensions is formulated to be applied close to the lash line for prolonged periods of time, unlike strip lashes or clusters, which are meant for one time use. In addition, eyelash extensions allow your natural lashes to continue to grow & shed like normal, because they’re only applied to 1 natural lash. Clusters, which are only meant for a few days at the most, are bonded to multiple lashes, which if left in place for weeks at a time, will prevent your own lashes from growing & shedding, causing breakage or pain at the lash line.
First, the adhesive used for individually placed extensions is formulated to be applied close to the lash line for prolonged periods of time, unlike strip lashes or clusters, which are meant for one time use. In addition, eyelash extensions allow your natural lashes to continue to grow & shed like normal, because they’re only applied to 1 natural lash. Clusters, which are only meant for a few days at the most, are bonded to multiple lashes, which if left in place for weeks at a time, will prevent your own lashes from growing & shedding, causing breakage or pain at the lash line.
No! Eyelash extensions, when properly applied, do NOT cause your natural lashes to fall out. If you pick at the extensions and pull them out with your natural lash attached, then yes, your natural lashes will thin & shorten over time. If you want the aesthetic boost of extensions while strengthening your natural lashes, talk to your lash artist today about extension-friendly lash serums available!
Classic Extensions use one extension per natural lash. They have a larger diameter because only one extension is being used per natural lash. Volume Extensions are a smaller diameter and are fanned out to create one fan that is applied to each natural lash. Hybrids utilize a mixture of both classic extensions + volume fans; full volume uses only volume fans placed on each natural lash.
Fills are performed every 2-3 weeks to remove grown out extensions & replace a lash that may have lost an extension.. Fills are only for clients that have existing extension sets. We do take foreign fills, but please note there is a foreign fill upcharge to ask our artists to work over someone else’s work. It is the client's responsibility to ensure fill appointments are booked at a regular interval.
Extensions can last, on average, between 2-3 weeks before needing a fill. How long each client can go between fills depends on how well they care for them at home, their natural lash growth cycle, & their lifestyle. Things that can shorten the time between fills are: seasonal allergies that cause eye rubbing & watering, lack of lash cleansing & brushing, stomach sleeping(rubbing your face into the pillow frequently), frequent use of the sauna, facial products with Glycol, & cosmetics that contain Glycol.
Yes! Many clients only get extensions for weddings, prom, vacations, & more! They find not having to apply mascara for those occasions to be so freeing! They also enjoy the effortless step up in appearance that simple mascara use cannot. It is up to the client whether they let the extensions grow out naturally or they come in for professional removal.
