The three rules that matter most
If you remember nothing else from this page, remember these. Almost every disappointing microblading result I have had to correct comes from breaking one of them.
- Do not let them get wet for the first seven days.
- Do not pick the flakes. Not one. They take pigment with them.
- Do not panic at day ten and book a "fix" somewhere else.
Day by day
Days 1–2 — bold and slightly swollen
Your brows will look considerably darker, sharper and thicker than the shape we agreed. Fresh pigment sits high in the skin and there is mild swelling around each stroke. This is not the result; it is the scaffolding.
Blot gently with clean kitchen paper every hour or two on the first day. You are lifting the clear lymph fluid that seeps out before it dries into thick scabs — thick scabs pull more pigment out when they come away.
Days 3–4 — tightness and darkening
The surface dries and tightens. Colour often looks its darkest here, sometimes almost grey or ashy at the edges. Completely normal. Apply the aftercare balm you were given as a very thin film — enough to stop cracking, never enough to look shiny. Over-moisturising softens scabs prematurely and lifts pigment.
Days 5–8 — flaking
The brows begin shedding in small flakes, usually unevenly, so one brow may look finished while the other still looks like a caterpillar. This asymmetry is temporary.
They will itch. Do not scratch, do not rub on the pillow, and do not "help" a flake that is nearly off. Every flake you pull removes the pigment underneath it and can leave a permanent gap in a stroke.
Days 9–14 — the ghosting phase
This is where people cry. Once the flaking finishes, your brows can look pale, patchy, uneven, or as though the entire treatment has vanished.
Nothing has gone wrong. A fresh layer of skin has grown over the pigment and is temporarily masking it, rather like frosted glass. As that layer matures and thins over the following fortnight, the colour comes back up.
Do not book a correction during ghosting. I have seen people pay another artist to "fix" brows on day twelve that would have surfaced perfectly on their own by week four — and end up with pigment stacked far too heavily.
Weeks 3–4 — the true colour
The real result appears: softer, warmer and lighter than day one, usually about 30–40% less intense. This is the colour we were aiming for all along.
Week 6 — your perfecting session
Every set includes a perfecting session at six weeks, and it is not optional if you want them to look their best. No skin takes pigment perfectly evenly on the first pass. At this visit we fill in strokes that healed lighter, adjust the shape slightly if needed, and deepen colour if you want more definition. Only after this appointment are your brows actually finished.
What to keep away from your brows
For the first 7–10 days:
- Water directly on the brows — wash around them with a cloth
- Steam, saunas, hot baths, long hot showers
- Swimming — pools and the sea both
- Sweating and gym sessions
- Makeup on or near the brow area
- Sunbeds and direct sun
- Sleeping face-down
- Pets on the pillow
For the life of the brows:
- Retinol, AHAs, BHAs, glycolic and vitamin C anywhere near the brow area — these actively fade pigment
- Chemical peels and microdermabrasion over the brows
- Unprotected sun. In the Eastern Cape this is the biggest single cause of premature fading — sunscreen over healed brows genuinely buys you months
When something is actually wrong
Healing is uncomfortable but it should never be alarming. Contact me — or a doctor — if you see any of these:
- Spreading redness beyond the brow area after day three
- Yellow or green discharge, or pus
- Heat radiating from the area, or fever
- Swelling that increases rather than decreases after 48 hours
- Severe pain rather than tenderness or itching
These are uncommon, and much less likely when single-use needles are used and aftercare is followed — but they are worth recognising early.
Making them last longer
- Sunscreen on your brows every day once healed
- Keep acids and retinol above the brow line
- Book your colour boost at 12–18 months rather than waiting until the shape has gone — refreshing existing pigment costs less than starting over
- Stay hydrated; dehydrated skin holds pigment poorly
Questions during healing
Every client leaves with my number and I would far rather answer a photo at day nine than have someone worry through the weekend. Send it to 065 763 6831 on WhatsApp and I will tell you honestly whether what you are seeing is normal.
If you have not booked yet and you are still weighing it up, start with microblading in East London: prices, healing and what to expect, or check whether microblading, ombré or henna suits your skin best.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my brows look so dark after microblading?
Fresh pigment sits in the top layers of skin and the area is slightly swollen, which makes brows look up to 40% darker and sharper than the healed result. They lighten considerably over the first two weeks.
Can I wash my face after microblading?
Yes, but keep water off the brows for the first seven days. Wash around them with a cloth rather than splashing, and avoid hot showers where steam settles on the face.
What happens if I pick the scabs?
Picking pulls pigment out with the scab and leaves gaps in the strokes. It can also cause scarring, which prevents pigment being placed in that spot again.
My microblading has disappeared after 10 days — is it ruined?
Almost certainly not. This is the ghosting phase: new skin has grown over the pigment and is temporarily masking it. The colour resurfaces by around week four.
When can I exercise again?
Avoid sweating for at least seven days. Salt in sweat lifts pigment out of open skin, and gym equipment is a realistic infection risk while healing.
Do I really need the six-week session?
Yes. No skin takes pigment perfectly evenly on the first pass. It is included in your price and your brows are not finished without it.
Healing and not sure if it's normal?
Send me a photo. I would rather answer at day nine than have you worry all weekend.
Message Rochelle