The kind of microblading aftercare tips one needs in Australia are not complicated. Make sure the area is clean, your artist will tell you to keep brows dry, so do that. Stay out of the sun and away from sweat, leave scabs be and put into practice whatever aftercare plan has been put before you. But it is not about the list. It is a matter of understanding what is important as each day of healing goes by, what the Australian climate can throw at you and how to tell if a flaky stage is nothing or something to be concerned about.
I am Celeste Mitchell. You want to know the way to care for microbladed eyebrows? Consider them a minor superficial wound rather than a bit of make-up. With fresh brows there should be no gym heroics and certainly no meddling with the pigment every few minutes to see if it has set. Just some cleaner habits and a good deal of patience.
Healing in Practice
People tend to fret over the notion that their new brows will heal in an orderly fashion. They rarely do. The opening fortnight has its rough patches: a dark colour to begin with, some scabbing and flaking, then a period where you might wonder if your brows have gone missing before it all sorts itself out.
Down here in Australia the heat, UV and humidity can put a fine point on aftercare. In Brisbane or Sydney or Darwin where summer is like wading through soup, a little more discipline is called for.
Reality Sets In
You would think the end result is there for all to see. Not so. Initially the strokes are sharper and stronger, but as the skin repairs they go lighter and eventually settle. Being aware of this timeline will stop you from doing any harm such as over-moisturising, over-cleaning or rushing in for a correction in a panic.
In my experience those who put half the internet to use are not the ones who fare best in the treatment room. It is the client who heeds directions, blots as instructed and does not put hands to the area.
First 48 Hours
Vulnerability to bacteria and moisture is at its peak in the first two days so keep things calm and uneventful. Boring is advisable. Your artist may have you do some lymph fluid blots; follow that to the letter. Get on top of the weeping early and you will not have to deal with as much crusting down the track.
Stick to what the practitioner says on day 1 and 2. Some will have you blot with gauze or cotton and put on a light coating of balm. Do not slather it on as though buttering toast, you will only soften the scabs and the pigment will not hold. And while general rules are fine, if your practitioner has put in writing a different protocol for wet-healing or cleansing based on his technique or your skin type, let that be your guide.
It is not very glamorous to sleep on your back but it protects the work. Side sleepers should put a travel pillow in place to prevent mashing a brow against the case. You may think it fussy until you see one brow heal differently for being irritated.
Days 3-14
Now you get twitchy. The brows will be darker, drier and patchy. Scabs form and with them the itch, right when you want to give in.
Resist the urge to pick. That is the recipe for skin trauma and uneven pigment. Let the flaking happen.
Then There Are Days 4 to 10
Some find these the most trying. The brows feel tight and look none too even and you are tempted to put right a small imperfection. Do not. Trouble is apt to start there. In the course of a few days you will have had bold, fresh brows, then they are drier and darker, then flaky, and once the scabs come off they are a good deal lighter. Before the colour is fully established, one may see a “ghosting” effect that leaves the strokes somewhat faint. Not everyone will have the same experience with it, but it is sufficiently commonplace as to be no cause for alarm.
| Healing Stage | What You May Notice | What To Do |
| Days 1–2 | Tenderness, fluid of a mild nature and pronounced colour | As you are told, blot; do not touch, and if the instruction is given leave the brows dry. Cleanliness is key. |
| Days 3–7 | Some tightness, scabbing and flaking will set in and the area can look darker | Show some restraint. No picking, no sweating or makeup on the brows. |
| Days 7–14 | You might notice patchiness or a bit of fading as the flakes come up | Stick to your aftercare routine, stay out of the sun and put the retinol and acids away. |
| Weeks 4–6 | The shape and colour have had time to settle | If so advised, go in for a touch-up at the four to six week mark and see how it has turned out. |
Consider the above table a guide and nothing more. The microblading healing process can be altered by a number of things: oily or sensitive skin, being in the sun, a history of cosmetic tattooing or simply being a heavy sweater.
Cleaning Without Making A Fuss
There is a fine line; an over-cleaned brow is like stirring the pot while a clean one is apt to heal well. In my observation most people will not undo their work through inaction, they do it by way of too much fuss, or heeding the counsel of someone whose only credential is having seen a few videos and putting on odd products.
Keep it simple. Nothing with fragrance or actives or a scrub should find its way to the brow.
What Is Appropriate
Your practitioner will have a plan, be it a particular aftercare product, a gentle cleanser or sterile water. Adhere to it instead of culling advice from half a dozen salons. And unless you have been given the all-clear, keep acids and retinol well clear of the brows during the healing period to forestall any irritation or early fading.
Then there is the matter of shower steam. A hot shower will soften the scabs even if you are not washing the brows directly. For a week or two make your showers less steamy and shorter, and resist the urge to stand under the water with your face upturned as though you were in some shampoo commercial.
Logistics can be an issue if you drive to work. Put a cap in the car if your practitioner deems it safe to wear one in a loose fashion. Those who take public transport in summer need to account for sweat. There is a world of difference between a ten minute walk to the station in the Brisbane humidity and going out in Hobart in the winter.
A Few Rules Of Thumb
For those short on time, this is the no-nonsense part. Proper aftercare is about nipping the costly errors in the bud.
- Do what your artist says. Keep the area clean and put on balm if you are to. But in the early stages of healing you are to eschew swimming, saunas, friction, hard exercise and the like.
- Sleep on your back where possible and see that hair, fake tan and skincare do not encroach.
- And don’t. Don’t pick at the scabs or put on makeup until the word is given.
- Exfoliants and retinoids are also off limits.
That pretty much covers the big ones when it comes to what not to do post-microblading. People tend to be lazy with the sun, or they apply too much product, or they pick at the flakes and sweat before they should.
On The Subject Of Sun
In Australia our UV is not to be trifled with so we will make an issue of sun protection. It is a fact that pigment will fade with UV exposure once healed. Your habits in this regard are as important as the procedure if you want the colour and shape to last.
Freshly healed brows and strong UV do not mix, so “she’ll be right” is not the way to go.
Brow Protection Going Forward
When you are fully healed, maintenance includes sunscreen for the brows. A hat, some shade, and daily facial sunscreen will serve you well. I would follow the Australian Government’s SunSmart advice on the matter; UV damage is cumulative. See the official Australian sun safety advice from Healthdirect for practical prevention guidance.
It is a question of the beach, weekend sport, the dog walk, or driving. Here in Brisbane a quick errand can mean more sun than you bargained for. If you are fair of complexion or work outdoors you can expect more fading than the person who is inside for the most part.
Touch-Ups
A fresh microblading is not something you do once and are done with; it is typically a matter of two steps. The initial appointment puts in the work, then at the review you will have the shape and retention put right and any part that has come in too light is addressed.
Patience is its own reward in this regard. There is no point in putting an appointment in the diary too soon when the skin is yet to settle.
When To Return
Provided your practitioner is in favour of it, the norm for a touch up is some 4 to 6 weeks on from the first session. This gives the skin time to run its course in healing so the artist can judge what has held.
Beyond that the schedule is more fluid. A person who has drier skin and does not put in as many hours in the sun or get into the pool is not going to require maintenance as quickly as one with a different lifestyle and more UV exposure, to say nothing of their immune response and skincare routine. While a lot of studios in Australia will put forward an annual or 12-18 month review, individual outcomes differ and you are better off with the opinion of your own practitioner than any general assurances.
Red Flags
You may see some flaking or feel tenderness and redness and that is to be expected. But if there is pus, a bad odour, fever, swelling that will not go down or pain that is getting worse, that is not how it is supposed to heal.
Common sense should prevail over wishful thinking here. Should anything appear amiss, leave the diagnosis of your face to someone other than a stranger on the internet.
Seeking Help
Signs of an infection from microblading are easy to spot: redness spreading past the brow, a throbbing after day or two, discharge of a yellow or green colour, hot skin, or a fever. An allergic reaction is another possibility, distinct from infection but calling for the same kind of prompt attention.
There is no need to be awkward about contacting your practitioner for medical advice if you think the healing is poor or an infection is setting in. In Australia one would make for a GP or urgent care if things are on the up. Your brow artist’s feelings are of no consequence to your skin. Have it seen to.
It is worth noting that online sources can be unreliable when it comes to aftercare and beauty choices. The ABS had 78.6% of Australians using the internet for personal goods and services in the last 12 months of the 2021 Census. But you do not want to be applying forum medicine to your brows.
If You Are Not Happy With The Result
It is not always a disaster, but sometimes they heal out too bold or unevenly or in a way that is not to your liking. Do not be in a hurry to put it right, let it fully heal and have it assessed.
The subject of safe removal for brows is one to broach. There are ways to do it but they are not suited to all pigments or stages of healing.
Correction
Put your faith in the original practitioner and go back to them if you are dissatisfied. Failing that, a second opinion from a cosmetic tattooer of repute who has done corrections is in order. The Australian market has its share of names like Luxe Ink, Mazical Eyes, Lana Tarek, Alexia, Sydney Microblading, Cosmetic Tattoo Melbourne, The Brow Design Co and Australian Beauty School, but one should look at credentials and the portfolio, not just recognition.
Leave well enough alone until the skin is ready or have it corrected by way of saline, laser or a change of colour. As for acid peels on new brows or trying to fade them yourself in a panic, do not be tempted. A qualified practitioner is the one to put your mind at ease with an in-person assessment of risks, what you can realistically expect and when.
Who we have in mind for this guide
Anyone who has had some new cosmetic brow work done and is after an aftercare plan that is practical and suited to Australia will find it here. It is of particular use if your environment is active, or hot and humid and sunny; such conditions have a way of impeding the healing process more quickly than one might think.
Then there are those with immune issues, skin problems in the brow area, a propensity for infection or just not the best wound healer. In which case you cannot make do with general advice and must seek out a medical professional or your practitioner for something more personal.
One day to get ready?
Make sure you have the essentials covered before your appointment: a clean pillowcase, an approved aftercare product, a gentle cleanser should you be advised to have one, and a means of keeping off the gym and out of the sun and sweat for the week ahead. We would put you to the 14 days of care section of this article first as that is where the bulk of avoidable errors are made.
Is this for beginners?
If you can take instruction and not fidget with things, eyebrow tattoo aftercare is easy enough. But for one who cannot stay out of the direct sun or a dusty workplace, or who is inclined to go swimming and put on a heavy sweat while the brows are healing, it is not so suitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will hear these from me most of the time, typically in the wake of a mirror session under the unforgiving light of the bathroom.
Do And Don’ts post Microblading
On the do side: keep it spotless, let any scabbing or flaking do its thing and don’t deviate from your practitioner’s aftercare. Steer clear of the sun and sweating. As for the don’ts: no picking, no soaking, no active skincare in the vicinity and unless the artist gives leave, no makeup on the brows until they are healed.
Washing microbladed brows after a week?
In many cases you can be gentle about it but your practitioner’s approach and how you are healing will dictate that. Do not see day 7 as carte blanche to wash away if the skin is still raw or scabs are in place; stick to what was put in writing.
Which days are the worst?
Most would say between day 4 and 10, when the itching and dryness and flaking are plain to see. You are also more apt to pick or over-moisturise in that time.
Any way to hasten the healing?
There are no miracles. The unglamorous routine of washing your hands and not touching the area, eschewing the sun and sweating and having the patience to let the skin be will serve you better. Putting on extra products in an attempt to get a head start is counterproductive.
When is poor healing a cause for concern?
Let patchiness in the first few weeks be. What you should be on the look out for is pain, heat or swelling on the increase, a fever or discharge with an odour. Those are indicators of an infection or the like and warrant a prompt assessment.
Celeste’s final word
Treat your aftercare as part and parcel of the microblading procedure if you are to have even, neat results. There is no point in making it optional. The timeline may seem odd and the Australian sun will diminish the pigment quicker than you realise, but most of the trouble comes from people who fuss or pick or put the cart before the horse.
I would say fresh brows call for consistency rather than panic. Protect them, keep them clean and allow them to heal without interference. If there is anything amiss, get some help. It is the sensible way to do it and far superior to what you will find online.
Related reading: safe removal choices for brows.
