“I tried brow ombré – the longer-lasting, subtle alternative to microblading”

what-is-brow-ombre

Credit: chloeburcham

Beauty


“I tried brow ombré – the longer-lasting, subtle alternative to microblading”

By Chloe Burcham

2 years ago

4 min read

If you’re tired of filling in your brows every morning, brow ombre could be the perfect treatment for you.


When it comes to beauty, eyebrow make-up is big business. While my teenage years were spent over-plucking my brows and throughout my early 20s I ignored their existence entirely, somewhere around 2011 brow make-up became not only a trend but a full-blown obsession. From Cara Delevingne’s famous bushy brows to Benefit’s entire brow wardrobe (I seem to remember they once launched seven eyebrow products in one go), a firm focus on brows became a part of our everyday make-up routine. I, for one, have not looked back since.

But, as the adage goes, with age comes wisdom. I’ve personally found that I have pared back my beauty look in recent years and now choose to wear less make-up than ever. Now, don’t get me wrong – I am a beauty editor, so I do love going ‘full glam’ should an opportunity arise. But when it comes to everyday make-up, I’ve become pretty lazy. Now that I have stripped back my routine, I’m always on the lookout for a product or treatment that’ll do the hard work for me. I’ll invest in a good face tan and skip foundation for a few days; I tint my eyelashes so I can forgo mascara and not look like a dormouse. But brows are the one thing I’ve yet to tackle. 

Of course, a good tint and shape will have your brows looking pretty good for a couple of weeks. But if (like me) your brows are slightly uneven, sparse or downright unruly, you might still rely on make-up to get them looking picture-perfect. Which is where brow ombré comes in.

What is brow ombré?

Brow ombré (sometimes referred to as powdered brows) is a semi-permanent make-up technique. A handheld device is used to inject pigment into the skin in tiny dots, creating the illusion of a naturally shaded brow. 

What’s the difference between microblading and brow ombré?

While microblading and brow ombré are both semi-permanent make-up techniques, there are some key differences. Microblading uses a handheld device to carve hair-like strokes into the skin, creating a fluffy ‘brow hair’ effect. Brow ombré, on the other hand, applies pigment in very small dots, which gives a subtler ‘powdered’ effect. The result is more similar to what you’d get if you’d just filled your brows in with your favourite brow pencil or powder.

Microblading also isn’t suitable for all skin types – if you’ve got especially oily skin, brow ombré may be a better option for you as it takes longer to fade. On average, ombré brows lasts between one and three years.

What should I expect during a brow ombré treatment?

I visited Brows By Sarah in Altrincham for my brow ombré appointment. After a full consultation where we discussed my desired brow shape, colour and thickness, Sarah got to work drawing on my ideal eyebrows. Once you’re happy with the colour and overall shape, the handheld machine is used to apply the pigment. 

While numbing cream can be applied, I personally didn’t find it painful in the slightest – and trust me, I’m a bit of a baby. Instead, it felt like a soft scratching. The whole process took around an hour from start to finish and I left with what looked like the best brow make-up I’ve ever had in my life. 

What is the aftercare process for ombré brows?

There’s a fairly large aftercare ordeal that you have to go through with both microblading and ombré brows. For the first couple of days, my brows looked really quite bold. It wasn’t anything crazy, but the colour is initially a little darker than the finished result. During this time you have to avoid getting your brows wet or applying any make-up to the area. 

After a couple of days, your brows will start to scab and flake (the not-so-fun part). I was actually at a hen do the weekend my brows decided to leave the party, which was less than ideal – but thankfully, this only lasted a day or so. 

Once your brows have flaked away, it takes around a week for the pigment to truly return. Sarah compared this to when you pick a scab and the skin underneath is milky and pale. Once fully healed, the pigment returns. 

A top-up treatment is required after six weeks to ensure that you’re happy with the result and to deepen the colour or tweak the shape if necessary. 

How much does brow ombré cost?

Brow ombre prices vary, but you can expect to pay £200-£350. 

The final result

I had my brow ombré treatment just three weeks ago, so I’m still going through the healing process. But so far, I couldn’t be happier with the result. It completely negates the need for brow make-up, which is perfect for lazy days when I want to roll out of bed and get straight on with my day. If I want to go full glam, I can still brush some brow gel through my eyebrows for a fuller, fluffier effect. 

My top-up session is booked in for a month away, and then I’ll hopefully enjoy smooth sailing with these eyebrows for up to three years.

Main image: Instagram @chloeburcham

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