Tattoo Removal
Like most beauty trends, eyebrows have been in and out of fashion. From 90’s pencil brows to 2021 fluffy soap brows, the trends are never-ending. Around 2018, we saw an increase in cosmetic microblade tattoos. Almost everyone and their mom were getting microbladed eyebrow tattoos.
Theoretically, over time the cosmetic ink will fade out and you will go back for a refreshed look. However, the ink does not always fade over time, or the ink turns a different color, or the trend changes or the brows were not well done in the first place. That’s where microblading removal comes in.
There are a few methods on how to remove microblading tattoos. From Microblading removal creams to saline removal, the most effective and safest method is laser tattoo removal. In this article, we will be breaking down how to remove microblading tattoos safely and effectively.
Microblading is a form of tattooing with cosmetic ink that is ideally semi-permanent. With a fine line needle that resembles an x-acto knife and cosmetic ink pigment, a microblading tattoo artist will embed fine hairs in and above the eyebrow to create the desired shape and thickness. Microbladed eyebrows can come in all different colors to match the person. Similar to regular tattooing methods, the ink is embedded into the client’s epidermis.
When it comes to removing microblading tattoos, the process is similar to removing a regular tattoo. You’ll come in every 6-8 weeks for a session and over time, the tattoo will fade completely. There are many reasons why someone would opt into removing their microblading tattoos. From the tattoo color, shape, or it’s just not fading away, people always have their reasons for choosing removal.
Fading a microblading tattoo is slightly different than complete removal. It often results in fewer laser sessions and those who opt into fading are often lightning up a small part of the microbladed tattoo.
Other methods for a microblading fade are to use an exfoliant gently over time, rosehip seed oil, or saline removal. These methods are not recommended as laser removal is the safest option, but they do exist that could potentially work.
There are several ways you can remove a tattoo, not all of them are recommended. It’s important to be mindful of removal methods and the outcome you can expect to receive. Listed are 7 methods that could fade or remove a microbladed tattoo and we’ll break down which methods are effective or not.
This option is not recommended. Much like receiving a regular tattoo, aftercare protocols are important to follow so that the tattoo can heal properly. Avoiding the recommended aftercare could result in faded or patchy microbladed eyebrows. Going against the recommended aftercare protocols can also result in infections or scarification.
Typically cosmetic ink only lasts in the skin for 6-24 months. You could wait until the ink fades naturally which would save you money and discomfort, but you lose out on time. Some downsides to being patient for the ink to fade away include, having to keep eyebrows that you don’t love longer than you’d like or the ink might take longer than 6-24 months to fade away.
DIY is great for home decor but when it comes to tattoo removal, it’s best to see a professional. Social media might advocate for salt and lemon DIY scrubs, and saline microblading removal but in the end, you’ll be left with scar tissue and misshaped tattoo ink. Tattoo ink lives in the epidermis, scrubbing the dermis will only result in scar tissue development and maybe a faded tattoo look from the tissue build-up. Leave the DIY to home improvements and avoid eyebrow tattoo removal DIY methods.
Apparently massaging rosehip seed oil on the microblade tattoo 3 times a day for 2 weeks will fade your tattoo ink. This is not a reliable method for removal. You might see some eyebrow hair growth and skin benefits, but it will not erase the tattoo ink in your skin.
It’s always recommended to be mindful of how often you exfoliate your skin. Exfoliation is great for removing dead skin cells and encouraging circulation, but over-exfoliating can damage the skin barrier and cause scar tissue to develop. It’s not recommended to exfoliate the microbladed tattoo for removal. It will not penetrate the epidermis and will only cause damage to your dermis.
Topical creams are also not recommended because again, they will damage the dermis (top barrier) of your skin and can not penetrate the epidermis. Tattoo removal creams can also burn the skin and cause scarification or hypo/hyperpigmentation (bleaching or darkening of the skin pigmentation). Read more about tattoo removal creams and if they actually work in this article.
Aestheticians make cosmetic procedures their profession. Which includes various services from microblading eyebrow hairs, skin peeling, facials, microdermabrasion, and even removal options. It’s important when seeking an aesthetician for removal options to do your homework. Ensure the person is reliable, licensed, and has experience with microblading removal or fading. A good aesthetician would have a proven track record of their client’s successful removals with before and after images, reviews, and would provide accurate clinical expectations for when the tattoo will be gone.
You could revisit a microblading technician to fix the results instead of opting in for removal, but they might recommend removal if it’s necessary. Some microblading technicians might be able to offer removal options for their clients. Depending on the type of method they are able to offer, it could be beneficial or potentially more harmful.
Methods such as laser removal are ideal, and methods like saline removal can damage the skin. If you opt into removal with a microblading technician, ensure they have the proper method available and are licensed to operate the machinery. You’ll also want to see some of their results and be aware of how long they have been practicing. Final results may take longer with an inexperienced technician.
Saline can be injected or microbladed into the skin to remove the pigments. Re-microlading with saline essentially opens the skin and allows the saline solution to seep into the epidermis. This method theoretically removes the tattoo pigment, but can also damage the skin. Med-spas often opt into saline removal because it’s easy and does not require technical skill. Some disadvantages of using saline removal methods are, the solution can cause damage to the skin, it could burn the skin, cause scarification, or hypo/hyperpigmentation which could cause a skin bleach effect or darker pigmentation to form. You’ll also likely have to endure multiple saline removal sessions with a higher risk of skin damage.
Laser tattoo removal works by breaking apart the ink particles into tiny digestible pieces for your white blood cells to carry away through the immune system. With time and continued sessions, the laser will break down the ink layer by layer until it’s fully removed. This is the safest removal option because it maintains the integrity of your skin without damaging the skin’s barrier. Learn more about how tattoo removal works here.
Much like typical tattoo removal, how long it takes for the tattoo to be gone depends on the ink and density. Typically it takes between 5-10 sessions to see removal results. More information on pricing for eyebrow tattoo removal can be found here. The advantages to choosing laser tattoo removal over other methods include the fact that laser removal is FDA approved, it’s a noninvasive procedure, your skin integrity will be intact, there are minimal adverse reactions, aftercare is easy, and results are beautiful as shown below.
Here are a few examples of microblading results after laser tattoo removal. View our full Before and After Tattoo Removal Gallery.
Laser tattoo removal is the fastest and safest way to remove microblading tattoos. We recommend the Candela PicoWay which is FDA certified and noninvasive. This laser will provide the best results with minimal to no cosmetic ink remaining.
At home methods to remove microbladed eyebrows include oils, exfoliants, and creams. It is not recommended to perform removal procedures at home, but fading results can occur overtime if used diligently.
Yes it’s possible! Cosmetic ink does not have heavy metals and components that are meant to last a lifetime. Overtime, the microblading should fade away naturally and laser removal speeds up that process.
So, can you remove microblading? The answer is yes. Are you looking for cosmetic tattoo removal? Book a free consultation with a Removery specialist today! Removery has locations across the US, Australia, and Canada. Learn more about microblading removal cost guide and see more tattoo removal results here.
We’re on a mission to give you the most straightforward, easy and efficient laser tattoo removal experience. Your estimate will be entirely bespoke to your tattoo; the size, the colours, the ink. It won’t take long and afterwards you’ll have a plan to finally get rid of your unwanted tattoo and get back to being you.
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