Eyebrow Tattooing

by Valerie Gladstone — January 21, 2008

What do you think about eyebrow tattooing?

I believe very strongly that this is something that should not be done, unless you are absolutely certain you want that color eyebrows for the rest of your life. As we get older, our brows drop a bit and if the tattooing is not in the right place, you will look awfully funny with the tattooing a couple of millimeters above your true brows. If you are certain this is what you want, I recommend using an eyebrow pencil and mascara and stay away from tattoos.

It is important to realize that eyebrow tattooing has many other kinds of practical applications, particularly for people who are suffering from certain diseases. For instance, eyebrows do not always grow back after chemotherapy. People who suffer from multiple sclerosis or other diseases that cause shaky hands simply may not be able to apply makeup very well. Permanent cosmetic eyebrow tattoos might also be a solution for individuals who are blind or have vision problems (such as cataracts) and have no way of assessing how they look.

What to Expect from Cosmetic Eyebrow Tattooing
Cosmetic eyebrow tattoos are also a Godsend for women suffering from alopecia (a condition that causes hair loss). If you are allergic to makeup, tattoos can also allow you to enhance your appearance without suffering a physical reaction. However, desire to look beautiful when you wake up in the morning may be a good enough reason to desire cosmetic tattooing. It spares women the trouble of "putting on their eyebrows" in the morning.

Cosmetic Eyebrow Tattoo Procedure
The application of permanent eyebrows is done the same way as regular tattooing. A tattoo gun, which automatically dispenses biocompatible inks to the area to be tattooed, is used for the procedure. The inks, which are delivered below the skin, are made of iron oxide or titanium dioxide pigments. If the work is very painstaking, the professional applying your new eyebrows might apply the pigment manually with a hand-held needle. Hand-held needles allow for particularly fine tattooing.

There is some debate about which method is better, manual or electric, for delivering pigment beneath the skin. Although the tattoo gun is faster, it does seem to be more painful for some individuals. Manual tattooing also causes less bruising, swelling, and bleeding. Also if you want very thin eyebrows, or particularly delicate tattoo work, manual tattooing with needles might be a better choice.

Before you have your eyebrows tattooed, you do need to have an initial consultation with the professional applying the procedure. If you have a prolapsed mitral heart valve, you may need to take antibiotics beforehand to prevent a bacterial infection in your heart. You may also be asked to eliminate the use of aspirin and nicotine before the operation to minimize the chance of swelling or bleeding. The only real risk of the surgery is an allergic reaction to the pigments.

Who Makes an Ideal Candidate for Cosmetic Eyebrow Surgery?
Almost everyone is a good candidate for eyebrow tattooing except for individuals who have Herpes Simplex. The operation could trigger an outbreak of sores that could leave unpleasant scarring on the treated area. If you take anticoagulants or immunosuppressive drugs or have an acute illness, do not undergo permanent cosmetic procedures.

If you are not very tolerant to pain, the cosmetician or doctor may apply a topical anesthetic to the area before the eyebrow tattooing is begun. The longest part of the procedure for most is waiting for the area to be numb. The actual tattooing of the eyebrow takes less time, especially if the cosmetician or doctor is using some kind of stencil or outline to guide their work. In general, tattooing with a gun takes less time than more elaborate handwork. However, handwork can provide a better-looking result.

After-Effects of Cosmetic Eyebrow Tattoo
An eyebrow tattoo expert will tattoo individual lines to represent individual hairs to give a more natural-looking tattooed eyebrow result. Unfortunately, some tattoo "artists" will apply eyebrows as a solid block of color. Because the face is so exposed to scrutiny by others, solid color blocks are not an appropriate method of tattooing eyebrows. Solid tattoo eyebrows look rather artificial. If you are considering eyebrow tattooing, ask the tattoo artist to show you some pictures of their prior eyebrow work. Make sure you like what you see before having your eyebrows tattooed. If the results of a tattoo are not good, it is quite difficult to correct them.

Because of the eyebrow location, close to the eye, eyebrow tattoo procedures need to be delicate. After the procedure, you can expect some bruising or swelling that can last for a week but in general lasts no longer than 3 days. Swelling is reduced through the use of ice packs.

After your permanent eyebrows are applied, you will also be discouraged from using products that contain alpha-hydroxy acid as they can partially remove or dissolve the tattoo. Although most pigments are considered to be permanent they might fade over time. Light of all kinds, but especially sunlight, can play a role in lightening the color of your tattooed eyebrows. Women with vitiligo who choose permanent makeup also must limit their time in the sun.

As this work can be considered to be somewhat artistic, you might want to find a specialist in the field. Before choosing a cosmetician, ask to see a portfolio of his or her work. The best practitioners of permanent tattoo artists will be certified by the American Academy of Micropigmentation and charge between $400 and $600 an hour.