Washing your face and showering is an essential part of your daily routine. However, after getting microblading procedures done on your eyebrows, you’ll need to modify your showering habits for the first week to ensure the best results. While avoiding direct water contact with your brows is important in the early healing stages, there are ways to safely shower and wash your face after your microblading procedure.
This guide will break down everything you need to know about showering safely after microblading. We’ll cover when you can resume your normal shower habits, how to properly wash your face and hair while avoiding your brows, and answer common frequently asked questions about washing up after microblading. Following these guidelines will help you keep your brows clean while promoting optimal healing and pigment retention for long-lasting results.
So if you’re wondering “Can I shower after microblading?” the answer is yes – with the proper precautions during that critical first week. Let’s diving into the details of how and when you can safely shower and wash up after your microblading procedure.
When Can I Shower After Microblading?
The short answer is that you can resume showering normally about 7 days after your microblading procedure. However, during that first critical week of healing, you’ll need to take extra precautions to avoid getting water directly onto your brows.
When you first get microblading done, the pigment sits very superficially in your skin. It takes about a week for that pigment to fully bond and integrate into your skin cells. Getting water directly onto your brows during this initial healing stage can cause the pigment to lift, fade or bleed, reducing the longevity of your results.
So for at least the first 7 days post-procedure, it’s important to avoid letting any water, lotions, soaps or makeup touch your eyebrow area. This means no submerging your brows in water and no direct contact with shower heads, faucets or splashing water.
During this first week after microblading, you’ll need to wash your face and body carefully to avoid your brows:
- Lean away from the shower head while bathing to keep water from hitting your eyebrows.
- Cup water in your hands and gently wash your face, taking care to avoid rubbing or splashing your brows. Pat dry gently with a towel.
- Take baths instead of showers if possible. Keep your brows above the waterline and avoid soaking them.
- When washing your hair, shampoo at the roots only and angle your head down to avoid conditioner running onto your brows.
- Pat your brows dry very gently after showering with a clean tissue or soft towel – no rubbing.
After about 7-10 days, once that initial pigment has fully bonded into your skin, you can resume your normal shower routine. However, you should still pat your brows dry gently instead of roughly rubbing a towel on them. And avoid using any exfoliants, scrubs or harsh cleansers on your brows for at least 4 weeks post-procedure.
Following these guidelines will help you keep your brows clean while properly healing after microblading, maximizing your results and pigment retention.
How To Shower Safely?
During the critical first week after your microblading procedure, you’ll need to modify your shower routine to avoid wetting your brows directly. Here are the steps to safely showering or bathing while your brows heal:
- Turn away from the shower head. This is the most important step. Keeping your face at an angle away from the direct spray of the shower will avoid water hitting your brows.
- Wash your hair last after any soap or body wash has been rinsed away. This will minimize product runoff onto your eyebrows.
- Apply conditioner to the ends and middle lengths of your hair only, avoiding your roots and keeping product away from your brows.
- While conditioner soaks, shampoo your hair roots and scalp, tilting your head down and bending at the waist to direct water and shampoo away from your brows. Rinse thoroughly.
- With conditioner still in hair, gently wash your face and body while avoiding direct contact with your eyebrows. Cup water in your hands and pat it onto your face.
- Rinse conditioner from your hair last, continuing to keep your face at an angle away from the water.
- Gently pat your brows dry with a soft tissue or towel. Avoid rubbing. Replace the towel frequently and blot brows dry – do not wipe or swipe.
- Take baths instead of showers if possible. Keep your brows above the waterline and avoid soaking them. Wash your hair last to avoid conditioner runoff.
After the first week, when you can resume normal showering, still practice caution:
- Continue to pat your brows dry with a soft tissue or towel. No rubbing.
- Avoid exfoliants, scrubs or other harsh products on your brows for 4 weeks post-procedure to allow pigment to fully integrate.
- Be gentle when washing your brows – avoid rubbing or applying pressure.
Simple modifications like these can make all the difference in healing time and the longevity of your microblading results. By avoiding directly wetting your brows for the first critical week and always patting dry gently, you’ll help keep your pigment in place for months to come.
What Should I Do If My Eyebrows Get Wet After Microblading?
Despite your best efforts, it’s possible your eyebrows may get accidentally wet during the first week after your microblading procedure. This can happen due to unforeseen circumstances like severe weather, heavy sweating or unintentional splashing of water.
If your brows do get wet soon after microblading:
- Pat them dry immediately with a clean tissue or soft towel. Gently blot – do not rub.
- Avoid applying heat like from a blow dryer, as this can damage healing skin and lift pigment.
- Do not scrub or wash your brows, as this can exacerbate pigment loss.
- Avoid makeup for at least 24 hours to allow brows to fully dry out.
- Monitor your brows over the next few days for any signs of fading, bleeding or loss of pigment.
- Some loss of pigment is normal right after getting wet, especially in the first week, but large gaps or noticeable fading may require a touch-up sooner.
Getting water on your eyebrows during the first 2 to 4 weeks after microblading can potentially lift or wash away some of the pigment that has not fully bonded into your skin cells. However, pigment fading due to water contact is usually more noticeable in the first 7 days when your brows are most superficial.
In general, the longer you can avoid wetting your brows (up to 2 full weeks), the better your results will be. But if you do accidentally get them wet:
- Pat dry gently and immediately.
- Avoid scrubbing or washing.
- Do not apply heat.
- Monitor for signs of fading over the next few days.
- Schedule a touch-up sooner if needed.
With proper aftercare, most of your pigment should remain intact even after getting wet right after microblading. But staying diligent about not wetting your brows for at least the first week will maximize your results and the longevity of your microbladed eyebrows between touch-ups.
Some Aftercare Tips For Microblading
- Avoid getting brows wet for 7-10 days. Pat dry gently if they get accidentally wet.
- Don’t use any lotions, makeup or skincare products on brows for at least a week.
- Avoid direct sunlight and wear sunscreen on brows to prevent fading.
- Be gentle when washing your face. Avoid exfoliants and harsh cleansers on brows for 4 weeks.
- Don’t pick at any forming scabs or flakes. Let brow tattoo heal completely.
- Sleep on your back and avoid resting your brows on pillows for at least 3-5 days.
- Avoid strenuous exercise and sweating for a week to prevent pigment loss.
- Don’t rub or itch your brows. Patting gently is okay.
- Consider using an antibiotic ointment on brows for the first few days to support healing and prevent infection.
- Check for signs of infection like increased redness, swelling, heat or discharge from brows. Contact your artist if needed.
- Schedule a touch-up in 1 to 1.5 years to refresh shape and add more pigment.
- Follow aftercare instructions provided by your microblading technician.
The most important things are to avoid wetting brows for at least a week, be very gentle while they heal, and not pick at any scabbing or flaking skin. If you follow these tips and your practitioner’s advice, you’ll set yourself up for the best results from your microblading procedure.
Following the proper aftercare guidelines during the initial healing period is key to achieving long-lasting results from your microblading procedure. While avoiding wetting your brows for at least 7 days and being extremely gentle during that time seems simple, adhering to these steps will make a big difference in minimizing fading and achieving optimal pigment retention. With patience and careful showering habits, you can heal your microbladed brows properly and enjoy your beautifully enhanced eyebrows for months to come.
FAQs
1. My brows got wet, will they still heal?
Yes, but you may see some pigment loss. Pat dry brows immediately. Avoid washing or scrubbing. Monitor for fading and schedule a touch-up sooner if needed.
2. How long should I avoid exercise after microblading?
Avoid strenuous exercise and sweating for at least 1 week to minimize pigment loss. After that, pat brows dry immediately after working out.
3. Can I apply cetaphil to brows during healing?
Avoid any lotions, creams or ointments on brows for at least 7-10 days to allow healing. Stick to gently washing with water and patting dry during this period.
4. Is neosporin okay for microbladed brows?
Antibiotic ointment can help prevent infection and support healing, so applying a small amount after microblading for a few days is generally fine. But avoid products with numbing agents.
5. How long does microblading take to fully heal?
Most microblading takes 2-4 weeks for skin to fully heal and pigment to integrate. But proper aftercare and avoiding wetting brows for 7-10 days is critical during the initial healing period.
6. Can I put makeup on after microblading?
Wait 7-10 days to allow brows to properly heal before applying makeup.