The Dangers of Do It Yourself (DIY) Microblading
Do you struggle with sparse, asymmetrical, or misshapen eyebrows? A relatively new and popular way to enhance the look of the brows is an eyebrow enhancement technique called microblading. The treatment uses a specialized hand-held tool with a unique blade that deposits dye into the second dermal layer of the skin, creating very fine, precise strokes that mimic natural eyebrow hair. This results in the creation of tiny lines that look like individual hairs, which can fill out or reshape the eyebrows as desired.
When performed properly by a trained professional, microblading is a simple, non-invasive treatment with very low risks of negative side effects. The treatment, however, should never be done by amateurs at home. Unfortunately, a horrific trend of do-it-yourself microblading seems to be trending. There are numerous YouTube videos by “brow experts” who microblade their own brows while falsely explaining how simple the process is and encourage others to do the same. To be clear, microblading should never be attempted at home.
Here are a few reasons why DIY microblading is a dangerous idea:
Risks of Infection
Since microblading involves the creation of tiny cuts to the skin, there is always a risk of infection caused by bacteria that uses the micro-incisions as a means to become entrenched in the skin. DIY microbladers face a far more significant risk of infection occurring as both the tools they use and the environment at home do not meet the level of cleanliness or sterility of a professional office.
Scarring
Another risk of DIY microblading is the potential to create overly deep cuts in the skin, resulting in permanent scarring in the area. Amateurs do not have an understanding of the fine balance of controlled skin damage, so it’s common for DIY microbladers to overdo it. Properly trained microblading professionals understand just how much pressure and intensity is necessary to produce good results without risking permanent scarring.
Bad Results
The final reason why at-home microblading is a bad idea is the likelihood of being botched. Good microblading results depend on creating very fine strokes that mimic surrounding natural eyebrow hair. It’s nearly impossible for DIY’ers to see well enough to make sure their strokes are even or proportional. Additionally, while microblading is not painful (most patients compare it to hair plucking), any small amount of discomfort while doing the treatment on yourself can potentially result in errors. The results provided by professional microblading will look more natural and last longer.
Final Conclusion: Leave Microblading to the Professionals
Microblading is a semi-permanent treatment that is highly visible as the brows are a focal aspect of facial appearance. Anyone considering DIY microblading should ask themselves if it is worth the risks of infections, scarring or a poor result.
Savannah Cohen is a Microblading Specialist. She received her education through Brow Design International of Houston as well as the prestigious Sauler Institute of Tattooing at Penn Medical School in Philadelphia. Savannah sees patients at our Westlake, Marble Falls, and Lamar Central locations.
it is done by depositing organic pigments into the skin in order to recreate the look of regular makeup