How To Care For Your Skin After Eyebrow Microblading Removal
If you’ve just had your eyebrow microblading removed, first off, breathe. Whether you didn’t like how your brows turned out, the colour was too strong, or you just didn’t feel like yourself with them on, there’s no shame in deciding to get them taken off. But once the removal’s done, that’s not the end of the story. Your skin’s been through a bit, and it’s going to need some looking after.
Below’s a rundown of what to expect and what to do once the pigment has been treated. It’s not complicated, but it is vital-and a little patience now will pay off in the long run.
Right After the Removal
You may notice a bit of redness or swelling. That’s normal. It might also be tender, similar to a mild sunburn. Some people get light scabbing or flaking after a day or two – it just depends on your skin and the type of removal used.
Don’t panic if things don’t look great straight away. Healing takes time, and weird-looking brows for a few days doesn’t mean it’s gone wrong. Those early signs (redness, tightness, dry patches) usually mean your body’s doing what it’s supposed to. Your job is just to keep things calm and clean.
Don’t Overclean – But Don’t Ignore It Either
You’ll want to keep the area clean, obviously, but now’s not the time for scrubbing or splashing on loads of product. Stick to gentle stuff. Think lukewarm water and a plain, fragrance-free cleanser. No exfoliants. No fancy serums.
And when you dry your face? Pat, don’t rub. It’s boring advice, sure, but it works. Also, always use a clean towel. Reusing one that’s been lying around the bathroom isn’t worth the risk of introducing bacteria.
Hands Off
Seriously-don’t touch. That includes picking at scabs, poking at flakes, or testing if it still hurts. Let it be. Picking too early disrupts the healing and even cause scars.
If it gets itchy or tight, try a bit of balm (something light, ideally something your removal tech suggested). If it’s driving you mad, distraction helps. Pop on a podcast. Keep your hands busy. Whatever stops you from picking is the right move. You should have been given an aftercare product to use by the clinic you visited for removal.
Sun = Bad Idea
You know this one, but it’s worth repeating: the sun is not your friend right now. Even a quick walk outside can cause trouble if you’re not careful.
Wear a hat. Avoid tanning beds. Don’t try to “let it air out” by lying in the garden. Give it a good two weeks, minimum, before you even think about sun exposure. After that, SPF is non-negotiable.
And it’s not just about looks-sun exposure too soon can lead to permanent darkening of the skin where the removal took place.
Skip the Makeup (For Now)
This is the tough one. Even if your brows look uneven or patchy after removal, don’t rush to cover them with brow pencils or foundation. It’s not worth the risk.
Makeup can interfere with healing and potentially introduce bacteria. Give it at least a week – or until any scabbing is gone-before bringing out the brow products again. It’ll feel like forever, but it’s a short wait in the grand scheme of things.
Go Easy on the Skincare
Anything with retinol, glycolic acid, or vitamin C? Save it for later. These ingredients are great most of the time, but not when your skin’s trying to recover from eyebrow microblading removal.
Same goes for facials, chemical peels, and anything that makes your skin “tingle.” Just… don’t. If you’re unsure about a product, wait, or ask a professional. A simple routine is usually best while things are healing.
Avoid Steamy Situations
This includes hot showers, steam rooms, saunas, and heavy workouts that get you sweaty. Moisture softens the skin and can mess with scabbing, making it fall off too early or unevenly. And that’s what we don’t want.
If you’re dying for a workout, try something low-intensity that won’t make you sweat buckets. Think walks, yoga, or light stretching-anything that won’t steam up your face.
Support Healing from the Inside
It sounds a bit wellness-influencer-y, but it’s true: your skin heals better when your body’s doing well overall. Drink plenty of water. Get some sleep. Eat food with vitamins in it-think veg, fruit, stuff with omega-3s.
Be nice to yourself. That includes not freaking out every time you look in the mirror. Stress won’t speed things up, and you deserve a bit of peace while your skin does its job.
Don’t Expect Instant Perfection
This might be the hardest bit. Even when you follow all the advice, your brows might not look “done” right away. It can take weeks to fully settle. Most people require more than one removal session to remove all the pigment. Laser is usually faster, a product like LiFT salt and saline may take many more sessions for the ink to finally reach the top and scab off.
Try to be patient. It’s frustrating, especially if the original microblading didn’t turn out how you wanted. But this part’s just a phase. You’re giving your skin a reset. And that’s worth doing right.