Nano Brows: Your Guide & When To Choose It Over Microblading
Nano Brows: Your Guide & When To Choose It Over Microblading
Drawn to the fuller brow look? We’ll fill you in on the rising permanent makeup trend designed to last. This treatment can be best described as a surface-layer eyebrow tattoo and is achieved through a technique called nano brows.
Nano brows is a form of cosmetic tattooing that utilizes an ultra-slender, flexible single nano needle to create strokes that are nearly indistinguishable from your natural hairs. Artists use a nanoneedle machine, which operates similarly to a tattoo gun, to inject pigment into the epidermis (the top layer of the skin) to fill in any gaps in your eyebrow hairs. Many individuals choose to undergo this procedure for an instant solution to create fuller brows and overcome hair loss due to aging or a medical condition. The final result is often called nano brows because the ink’s natural stroke-like appearance makes it nearly indistinguishable from your real hair follicles.
Nano brows are often thought of as a more refined version of microblading. Like your brows, these treatments should be thought of as sisters, not twins and their distinct differences should be evaluated before booking an appointment. Factors from your skin type, availability for touch-up appointments, and your desired look all can help determine if nano brows is right for you.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about nano brows, what to expect from the treatment and how it compares to microblading.
The Basics To Know About The Nano Brows Procedure
Credit: @studiosashiko/Instagram
Nano brows are created with a digital device that has a single needle for maximum precision and accuracy. Nano brows is best for individuals looking for the most natural results possible and often recommended for those with thicker or oily skin. Each session will likely be two to three hours long, with your initial consultation taking up at least half of this time frame.
Results from this initial procedure should last for approximately two to three years before a touch-up is needed. As with any skin treatment, several personal considerations will contribute to your unique maintenance timeline. Some of these factors include your skin type, skincare routine and sun exposure habits. Individuals with oilier or acne-prone skin and those who often engage in sweat-inducing activities, from intense exercise to sitting in saunas, will typically require less time in between sessions. Like with any tattoo procedure, lifestyle habits such as regular exfoliation and frequent UV ray exposure will also cause your nano brows to fade more quickly. To slow down this process, make sure to refrain from using tanning beds and going out in direct sunlight. Applying sunscreen with at least SPF 30 will help to lessen these fading effects. Starting with this next session, you need to book an annual nano brows treatment for regular upkeep.
Nano brows are an efficient beauty solution for a variety of aesthetic concerns. This permanent makeup treatment allows you to wake up with your eyebrows already filled in and can save you a significant amount of time over the years that you would be spending on this step of your daily routine. Nano brows are also a great option for correcting previously tattooed eyebrows.
On a more serious note, this cosmetic treatment can help restore the look of any brow hair loss due to an autoimmune disease, chemotherapy, or injury with damaged skin around the area. The needle’s ultra-fine shape prevents the device from inflicting deep scarring or high levels of trauma to the skin and allows for detailed work that avoids any vulnerable sections of the brow. With any injury-related concerns, an artist will advise you if it is safe to undergo a nano brows treatment.
How Does It Compare To Microblading
Credit: Grace (@barevanity), Nano Brows Specialist at Studio Sashiko
Nano brows deposits ink further into the skin than microblading to help it last longer and provide the most natural look possible. Microblading is a semi-permanent treatment that uses a handheld tool with several fine needles. These thin pigment strokes create a hair-like appearance for fuller, more well-defined brows. Your initial treatment should last 1-2 years before needing to schedule a touch-up appointment.
Microblading only injects the ink into the very top portion of your epidermis and offers a more mutable look. This technique makes microblading a great option for those with thinner or dry skin textures and individuals who are more hesitant to test out brow tattoo treatments. However, this procedure can leave the skin more vulnerable to scarring and trauma from the multiple needles injecting into its surface.
Credit: Grace (@barevanity), Nano Brows Specialist at Studio Sashiko
Due to these potential risks, it is essential to conduct extensive research when seeking a microblading technician. A highly trained, reputable expert often specializes in this treatment and knows all of the necessary precautions to prevent these adverse side effects – both through procedural tactics and providing proper aftercare instructions.
In terms of price, both treatments start at approximately $500 per session and can reach upwards of $2,000. The cost of your nano brow experience depends on your artist’s location, experience and expertise level. Nano brows require more detailed work, so the prices are often a bit higher than microblading sessions.
How To Prepare For A Nano Brows Appointment
Before stepping into a studio, the most important first step is to conduct thorough research on the local artists in your area and take a deep-dive into their portfolios. Once you find an expert whose work aligns with your desired results, you want to schedule an initial consultation and learn more about the specific artist’s process.
Any highly-qualified artist will initiate your consultation with an in-depth conversation on your permanent makeup history, any skin conditions or concerns.
Credit: Grace (@barevanity), Nano Brows Specialist at Studio Sashiko
If you do not have previous experience with brow tattooing, your artist will have you test the pigment on your skin for at least 24 hours before the treatment to ensure that you are not allergic. Make sure to schedule a 15-minute appointment ahead of your nano brows session to complete this test.
To prepare for your appointment, refrain from using retinol or Vitamin A-containing skincare products for a month, booking a facial within two weeks and waxing or tweezing your eyebrows within the week before your nano brows treatment. These regimens can make the skin more sensitive and give it a thinner texture. This result can leave the skin more susceptible to tearing and bleeding during the nano brows process.
In the 48-72 hours leading up to the procedure, do not expose your skin to direct sunlight or tanning or consume caffeine, alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen and fish oil supplements. These habits can dehydrate your skin and leave it more vulnerable during the treatment and healing process. The medications and supplements listed above are known to have blood-thinning effects and can hinder your recovery journey.
What To Expect During The Treatment Process
Upon arriving at the studio, your artist will discuss all of the details necessary to achieve your desired results. “The first half of the appointment mostly consists of the initial consultation and brow design process. During this consultation, we’ll discuss the client’s desired brow shape and size, and pigment colours that complement their skin,” Shaughnessy Otsuji, the owner of Studio Sashiko, explained to Hypebae.
The treatment will be performed during the second portion of your session. This entire process likely will take approximately two hours. You will need to schedule a follow-up appointment approximately four to eight weeks later to check in on your brow results and allow the artist to perform any touch-ups for the best results. “If the goal is a much darker, fuller or fluffier brow, this can be done by layering more nano strokes at a follow-up appointment so as to not over work the skin,” Otsuji told the outlet. This session will likely take under an hour.
Be prepared for some degree of pain throughout the procedure. While it depends highly on your individual threshold, nano brows can range from slightly less tolerable than a waxing session to some fairly intense pain. Fortunately, topical anaesthetics are usually used to minimize your discomfort.
Otsuji confirmed this common practice later in the interview. She clarified that the artists at Studio Sashiko reach for Zensa Numbing Cream to soothe the area and promote the healing process. “We often see clients become so relaxed that they fall asleep during the procedure!”, Otsuji disclosed to the publication. The product contains vitamin E to reduce inflammation during the tattooing process and boosts the healing process. It does not contain vasoconstrictors that would impair the settling of the ink and is both vegan and steroid-free. Zensa Numbing Cream’s effects last for two to three hours and can safely be reapplied on broken skin to prolong the numbing sensation.
The Importance of Proper Aftercare Practices
As with any tattoo procedure, proper aftercare is essential for successful healing and achieving your desired aesthetic results. After the nano brows treatment, your eyebrows will likely be slightly red and swollen for one or two days. Keeping the fresh minor wounds clean and as dry as possible is vital at this stage. Otsuji recommends gently washing the area with a wet wipe or a damp towel and patting the skin dry.
The peeling process should start around three days after the treatment and only last through around the fourth day. Refrain from picking at any scabs and allow the dry skin to shed off naturally. Avoid any sweat-inducing routines for the week following your nano brows session. These activities include high-intensity exercise, saunas or hot baths and showers. You also should not wear any makeup around the area for at least seven days. Any chemical peel, microdermabrasion, tanning beds or light therapy treatments should be avoided for at least 30 days after your last nano brows session.
For optimal long-term results, nano brows require regular sun protection and nourishment. Remember to use sunscreen with at least 30 SPF protection when going out into direct sunlight. Hydrate the area with a product, such as Zensa Healing Cream, to reduce irritation, itching and soothe the skin for bright, crisp and smooth-looking brow tattoos.
