What To Do If Microblading Is Too Thick?

Many clients report freshly microbladed eyebrows appearing thicker or heavier than desired immediately after the procedure. This is actually very common and in most cases, brows will lighten, thin out and spread pigment more evenly as the skin heals over the next 2 to 4 weeks.

Several factors contribute to thick brows right after microblading, including swelling of the healing skin, the technicians’ tendency to apply slightly more pigment to account for fade, unsettled pigment sitting superficially and post-procedure bruising. Eye makeup applied directly after can also make your brows appear temporarily thicker than they actually are.

As the skin heals and pigment bonds deeper into the dermis, migrating and spreading through the brow area, brows will often soften in color, lose some of their bulky appearance and refine into a more natural, feathered shape.

So while overly thick brows are common and normal right after microblading, patience is key to achieve the best results. Give your eyebrows at least 2 full weeks to heal before assessing true thickness and deciding on any corrective measures.

In this guide, we’ll cover why freshly microbladed brows often seem thick initially, how brows typically change and thin out during healing, options if brows remain too thick after 2 weeks and when to consider a brow touch-up procedure.

By understanding these factors and waiting for full healing, you’ll optimize your chances of achieving beautifully natural-looking eyebrows with just the right amount of thickness and definition.

Why The Microblading Is Too Thick Immediately After The Procedure?

Here are some expanded reasons why microbladed eyebrows may seem thick immediately after the procedure:

Swelling of healing skin – The microblading process causes tiny wounds in the skin as the pigment is inserted. This results in some swelling of the skin around the brows, which pushes the pigment upwards and makes brows appear temporarily heavier and thicker. This swelling generally subsides within a week.
Excess pigment applied – Technicians often apply 10-20% more pigment during the initial microblading session to account for expected fade as the skin heals. This ensures enough pigment will remain to achieve the desired thickness after healing.
Unsettled pigment – Right after the procedure, much of the pigment still sits superficially in the upper layers of skin. As it migrates and bonds more deeply over the next 2-4 weeks of healing, brows will often appear less heavy.
Bruising under the skin – The microblading needles cause some bruising under the skin and within the dermis. This underlying bruising, combined with surface swelling, can make freshly microbladed brows seem temporarily puffy and thick.
Eye shadow applied immediately – Some clients like to apply eye makeup and reshape brows right after the procedure, before seeing how pigment will settle during healing. This can give a skewed impression of initial thickness that fades over the next few weeks.
Imaging issues – Photos taken right after microblading can accentuate any perceived thickness due to flash, uneven pigment and swelling visible in images that subsides over time.
Unfamiliarity with shape – The freshly tattooed brows may feel thick and unfamiliar since clients are unused to brows shaped this way. But thickness often softens as pigment spreads and clients adjust to the new shape.

In summary, several contributing factors – including initial skin swelling, excess applied pigment, unsettled ink, underlying bruising and applied eye makeup – often cause newly microbladed brows to seem overly thick immediately following the procedure. But patience and allowance for the skin to heal fully over 2-4 weeks are key to achieving brows of the ideal thickness and naturalness for each client.

What To Do If Microblading Is Too Thick Immediately After The Procedure?

Here are the steps to take if your microbladed eyebrows seem too thick immediately after the procedure:

Resist the urge to manipulate your brows. Leave them be to heal properly over the next 2-4 weeks.
Avoid applying any makeup, products or heat to your brows for at least 7-14 days to allow the pigment time to settle in.
Monitor your brows closely for the next 1-2 weeks as swelling subsides and pigment begins migrating. Thickness may gradually improve on its own.
Take before and after photos at the 2 week mark once initial swelling has subsided. This will provide a more accurate view of your healed brow shape and thickness.
If brows remain too thick or heavy even after 2 weeks of healing, contact your technician. They can assess pigment removal or lightening options if needed.
As a last resort, consider concealing excess pigment with brow powder or pencil makeup until your next touch-up appointment. Apply conservatively.
At 4 weeks post-procedure, schedule a touch-up appointment if desired to lighten specific areas, thin strokes and fine-tune thickness. Touch-ups are often included for free.
Be patient. Healing can be unpredictable and take up to a month. Give your brows a chance to fully settle before deciding on permanent pigment removal or significant corrections.

In summary, resist manipulating brows immediately and give them 2-4 full weeks – the typical healing period – to see how pigment will spread and thickness may gradually improve on its own. Contact your technician at the 2-3 week mark for a professional assessment of shape and thickness. A timely touch-up can then safely refine undesirable volume before it becomes set in your skin.

How Brows Change During Healing?

Here are the details on how microbladed eyebrows typically change as the skin heals over 2-4 weeks:

Pigment migration – As the skin repairs itself post-procedure, the pigment begins to migrate and slowly spread through the dermis. This naturally lightens and thins strokes that initially seemed heavy or thick. Pigment movement softens harsh lines and creates a more feathered, natural shape.
Deeper pigment bonding – As healing progresses, the pigment particles begin bonding more firmly and deeply into the dermis. This both darkens the color to its permanent shade and fixes it in a way that reduces the apparent volume and thickness of brows.
Color change from red to brown – The pigment initially appears reddish or purple in color due to being close to the wound and lymph fluid in the skin. But as healing completes over 2-3 weeks, the pigment itself darkens to its true brown shade, further refining pigment distribution and thickness.
Softening of edges – As pigment migrates and bonds, the microbladed strokes begin to blend together at the edges, softening any sharply defined or blocky areas that contributed to seeming thick immediately after.
Distribution of pigment cells – The tiny particles of pigment spread more evenly throughout the tattooed brow area as the skin regenerates. This fills in any uneven sparse patches that may have made brows seem thick in places right after the procedure.
Volume loss from 10%-20% – Most clients typically lose between 10%-20% of their original pigment volume as brows heal over 4 weeks. This means brows that felt thick at first tend to thin out and reduce in overall pigment coverage naturally by the time healing completes.
Gradual improvement over time -Microbladed brows usually continue to refine, feather out and lose perceived thickness gradually over the first few weeks as pigment bonds deeper into the dermis and fully spreads. Patience during this process is important to achieve optimal results.

In summary, microbladed eyebrows undergo significant changes as the healing process plays out over the first critical 2-4 week window. By understanding how thickness often improves naturally through pigment migration, deeper bonding, color shifts, softening of edges and eventual volume loss, clients gain the patience to allow their brows the needed time to heal fully before pursuing any expensive or irreversible corrective measures.

What To Do If Microblading Is Too Thick After The Healing Process Is Complete?

Here are the options if your microbladed eyebrows are still too thick even after the 2-4 week healing period:

Schedule a brow touch-up appointment – This is often the best first step. Your microblading technician can thin specific strokes, lighten areas that are too dark and refine your shape to achieve a more ideal thickness. Touch-ups are typically included for free within 1-3 months of your initial procedure.
Consider laser brow reduction – A skilled laser specialist can safely remove some pigment from overly thick areas to make brows appear lighter and thinner. This is a permanent solution. Discuss risks like potential scarring and uneven results with your provider.
Use brow makeup to conceal excess pigment – Applying light-colored brow powder or pencil makeup just to the thickest areas can immediately make brows appear less heavy. This is a temporary, low-commitment option that allows you to “test drive” thinner brows.
Do nothing – If thickness is liveable but not ideal, you can avoid further treatments and rely on gradual pigment fade over time to naturally thin your brows. Just be prepared for needed touch-ups to come more frequently.
Remove all pigment – In extreme cases where eyebrows remain unacceptably thick even after healing, laser removal or dermabrasion may be needed to completely remove existing pigment and start the microblading process from scratch. This is drastic, expensive and carries risks.

Overall, the best first step is a targeted microblading touch-up aimed at thinning specific areas and refinement strokes to achieve the most natural-looking results. Laser brow reduction and makeup concealment are second-tier options if minor thickness remains after a touch-up. But only pursue pigment removal if thickness cannot be lived with, as this involves permanent alteration.

Freshly microbladed eyebrows often seem thicker or heavier than desired immediately after the procedure due to factors like swelling, excess applied pigment and unsettled ink. But as the skin heals over 2-4 weeks, brows typically soften, thin out and distribute pigment more evenly.

So to accurately assess true thickness and decide on any needed corrections, give your eyebrows at least 2 full weeks to heal fully first. Monitor for signs of gradual improvement from pigment migration and bonding.

If brows remain too thick after healing, a targeted microblading touch-up is usually your best option to refine shape and thin strokes. Makeup, laser reduction and complete pigment removal are riskier second-tier options.

So be patient, resist manipulation and allow your brows time to heal fully before intervening. With care and proper aftercare, you can optimize your chances of achieving beautifully natural eyebrows with just the right amount of body and definition.

FAQs

1. How long does it take for microbladed eyebrows to thin out?

The healing process takes 2-4 full weeks. Most thickness improvement occurs in the first 1-2 weeks as swelling reduces and pigment migrates.

2. Can microblading fade on its own?

Yes, microblading pigment naturally fades slightly over time which can make overly thick brows appear thinner. But a touch-up will be required sooner.

3. Will microbladed eyebrows always be too thick?

Not necessarily. Brows often thin out and distribute pigment more evenly as they fully heal. Give it 2-4 weeks and consider a touch-up to refine shape.

4. Is laser best for fixing too-thick brows?

Laser can help but also poses risks like scarring and targeting incorrect pigment. A touch-up by your microblading technician is a gentler first option.

5. How long after microblading can I get a touch-up?

Most technicians recommend waiting 2-4 full weeks for brows to fully heal before a touch-up to reduce any unnecessary pigment removal.

6. How long until microblading looks better?

Brows will likely appear thicker and heavier immediately after but improve as pigment settles over 2-4 weeks of healing. Wait at least 2 weeks to assess true shape and thickness.

7. How can I make microbladed eyebrows thinner?

If brows remain too thick after healing (2+ weeks), options include having pigment lightened or removed via laser, commissioning a brow touch-up to adjust shape/ thickness, or using makeup to conceal some color.

8. Will microbladed eyebrows get thinner?

As the skin heals and pigment bonds, brows will often appear slightly thinner and distribute color more evenly. But await full healing at 2-4 weeks for true assessment.

9. How long until swelling goes down after microblading?

Initial swelling generally subsides within 3-10 days. But pigment continues migrating/bonding for up to 4 weeks, potentially changing thickness along the way.

10. Can I make microbladed eyebrows thinner myself?

No, avoid manipulating healing brows yourself. Seek a professional touch-up once brows are fully healed at 2-4 weeks if desired thickness is not achieved.