How to Maintain Your Microbladed Eyebrows

You've invested time and money into beautiful microbladed eyebrows—now it's time to protect that investment! Proper long-term maintenance can extend your results from 12 months to 24+ months, keeping your brows looking fresh and beautiful for years to come.

This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about maintaining your microbladed eyebrows after they've healed. For the initial healing period, see our aftercare complete guide.

Understanding Microblading Longevity

How Long Microblading Lasts

Average Duration: 12-24 Months

Factors Affecting Longevity:

• Skin type (oily fades faster than dry)
• Age and metabolism
• Sun exposure
• Skincare products used
• Lifestyle and activities
• Touch-up frequency
• Quality of initial work

What "Fading" Looks Like

Natural Fade Process:

• Months 1-6: Brows look perfect and vibrant
• Months 7-12: Subtle gradual lightening begins
• Months 13-18: Noticeable fading, less defined
• Months 19-24: Significantly lighter, may need refresh

Microblading fades gradually and naturally, not suddenly or patchily (when properly maintained). See our before and after gallery for examples of healed results at different stages.

Daily Maintenance Routine

Morning Routine

Cleansing (Gently!)

1. Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser
2. Avoid scrubbing directly on brows
3. Pat dry with clean towel (don't rub)
4. No harsh exfoliators on brow area

Sun Protection (Essential!)

1. Apply a mineral-based SPF 30+ sunscreen daily
2. Cover brow area specifically
3. Reapply if spending extended time outdoors
4. UV rays are the #1 cause of premature fading

Makeup Application

1. Can apply makeup over healed brows
2. Use gentle products
3. Avoid oil-based products on brows
4. Most find they need minimal brow makeup

Evening Routine

Makeup Removal

1. Use gentle, oil-free makeup remover
2. Be careful around brow area
3. Don't scrub harshly
4. Pat dry gently

Cleansing

1. Gentle face wash avoiding brow scrubbing
2. Pat dry
3. Apply nighttime skincare (avoid brows with acids)

Moisturizing

1. Can moisturize around brows
2. Avoid heavy oils directly on microbladed area
3. Light, fragrance-free products best

Products to Avoid on Brow Area

Skincare Ingredients That Fade Microblading

Acids and Exfoliants:

• Glycolic acid
• Salicylic acid
• Lactic acid
• AHAs and BHAs
• Chemical exfoliants
• Physical scrubs

Why They're Problematic:

• Accelerate skin cell turnover
• Speed up pigment fading
• Can cause premature lightening
• May lead to uneven fading

Anti-Aging Ingredients:

• Retinol/Retinoids
• Prescription retinoids (consult your dermatologist)
• Vitamin C (high concentration)
• Peptide serums

Why They Fade Brows:

• Increase cellular turnover
• Exfoliating effect
• Push pigment out faster

Other Products to Avoid on Brows:

• Benzoyl peroxide
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Witch hazel
• Alcohol-based toners
• Strong astringents

How to Use These Products Safely

You Can Still Use Anti-Aging Products!

Safe Application:

1. Apply products to entire face FIRST
2. Use clean tissue to gently wipe off brow area
3. Continue with rest of routine
4. This way you get benefits without affecting brows

Or:

1. Apply products carefully, avoiding brow area completely
2. Use Q-tip for precision application around brows
3. Takes more time but protects your investment

Sun Protection for Microbladed Brows

Why Sun Protection is Critical

UV Damage Effects:

• Fades pigment significantly faster
• Can change pigment color
• Causes premature lightening
• #1 preventable cause of fading

Sunscreen Habits:

Daily:

• Apply a mineral-based SPF 30+ sunscreen every morning
• Use broad-spectrum protection
• Reapply every 2 hours if outside
• Make it non-negotiable habit

Additional Protection:

• Wear hats in direct sun
• Seek shade when possible
• Avoid peak sun hours (10am-4pm)
• Use sunglasses (protects brow area too)

Best Sunscreens for Microbladed Brows

Look For:

• A mineral/physical sunscreen (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide)
• Fragrance-free formula
• Non-comedogenic
• Face-specific formulas

Avoid:

• Heavy, oily formulas
• Waterproof (hard to remove without scrubbing)
• Tinted (can stain brows)

Lifestyle Factors and Maintenance

Swimming and Water Activities

Chlorine Exposure:

• Can gradually fade pigment
• Not prohibited after healing
• Minimize when possible

Salt Water:

• Also can fade over time
• Rinse face with fresh water after ocean swimming
• Apply sunscreen before beach

Hot Tubs/Saunas:

• Heat and steam can affect pigment
• Not forbidden but don't overdo
• Occasional use is fine

Exercise and Sweating

After Healing (Post 4-6 Weeks):

• Exercise freely!
• Sweat won't damage healed microblading
• Just cleanse gently after workouts

Minimize:

• Excessive sweating directly into brow area
• Use headband to catch sweat if needed

Facials and Spa Treatments

What's Safe:

• Regular facials (just avoid brow area with acids)
• Gentle facial massages
• Hydrating treatments
• LED light therapy

What to Avoid or Modify:

• Chemical peels (keep off brows)
• Microdermabrasion (avoid brow area)
• Laser treatments (may affect pigment)
• Dermaplaning (stay away from brows)

Always Tell Esthetician: "I have microbladed eyebrows—please avoid acids and harsh treatments on my brow area."

Other Beauty Treatments

Botox/Fillers:

• Wait 2-4 weeks after microblading to get Botox/fillers near brows
• Wait 2 weeks after injectables to get microblading
• Consult both your injector and microblading artist

Laser Hair Removal:

• Never on microbladed brow area
• Can remove pigment
• Be very careful with full-face laser treatments

Eyelash Extensions/Lifts:

• Safe after microblading heals
• Just be gentle during removal

Grooming Your Natural Brows

What You Can Do

Tweezing:

• Remove stray hairs outside microbladed area
• Clean up perimeter
• Maintain shape

Trimming:

• Trim overly long hairs
• Use small scissors
• Be careful not to cut too short

Brushing:

• Brush daily with spoolie
• Keeps brows looking groomed
• Encourages natural hair growth

For tips on the best shape for your face, check out our eyebrow shape guide.

What to Avoid

Don't Tweeze Within Microbladed Area:

• Can disrupt pattern
• May remove pigment inadvertently
• Let microblading do the work

Don't Wax or Thread Over Microblading:

• Can remove pigment
• May damage skin in treated area
• Tweeze strays instead

Don't Use Hair Growth Serums on Microbladed Brows:

• Some ingredients may affect pigment
• Consult artist first if considering

When to Schedule Touch-Ups

The Essential First Perfecting Session (6-8 Weeks)

Why It's Critical:

• Perfects initial results
• Fills areas that didn't retain well
• Adds intensity where needed
• Ensures longevity

Perfecting Session Pricing: A perfecting session is recommended 6-8 weeks after the initial appointment ($250). This essential session ensures your brows heal perfectly.

Annual Maintenance Touch-Ups

Recommended Timing: Every 12-18 Months

Why Wait 12-18 Months?

• Allows previous pigment to fade substantially
• Fresh canvas for new pigment
• Prevents pigment buildup
• Better, more natural results

Don't Wait Too Long:

• Beyond 24 months, may be considered "new" session
• Harder to refresh completely faded brows
• Best to maintain before fully faded

Signs You Need a Touch-Up

Schedule Touch-Up When:

• Brows appear noticeably lighter than desired
• Some areas have faded more than others
• Hair strokes are less defined
• You want to refresh color intensity
• Around 12-18 month mark

Don't Wait For:

• Complete disappearance
• Very uneven, patchy appearance
• 2+ years without maintenance

Extending Time Between Touch-Ups

Maximum Longevity Tips

Sun Protection (Most Important!):

• Daily SPF application
• Hats in direct sun
• Seeking shade

Skincare Vigilance:

• Avoid acids/retinol on brows
• Gentle cleansing
• No harsh scrubbing

Lifestyle Adjustments:

• Minimize chlorine exposure
• Limit excessive sweating on brows
• Protect during facials

Quality Initial Work:

• Choose experienced artist
• Follow aftercare instructions perfectly
• Get proper touch-up timing

Result: Can extend from 12 months to 18-24 months between touch-ups!

Products That Help Maintain Microblading

Recommended Products

Daily Sunscreen:

• A mineral-based, broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen
• Look for fragrance-free, face-specific formulas
• Non-comedogenic options are best

Gentle Cleansers:

• A gentle, fragrance-free hydrating cleanser
• Micellar cleansing water for easy makeup removal
• Avoid anything with exfoliating ingredients

Brow Grooming:

• Clean spoolie brush
• Small brow scissors
• Precision tweezers
• Clear or tinted brow gel (optional)

Products to Skip

• Oil-based makeup removers (on brows)
• Waterproof makeup on brows
• Brow growth serums (without consulting artist)
• Any product with acids/retinol (on brows)

Common Maintenance Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Forgetting Sunscreen

The Issue:

• Most common cause of premature fading
• UV damage is cumulative
• Even overcast days have UV rays

The Fix: Make SPF on brows non-negotiable, like brushing teeth!

Mistake #2: Using Anti-Aging Products on Brows

The Issue:

• Retinol and acids fade microblading rapidly
• Many don't realize until significant fading

The Fix: Use these products but carefully avoid brow area.

Mistake #3: Waiting Too Long Between Touch-Ups

The Issue:

• Brows completely fade
• More difficult and expensive to restore
• Miss out on years of perfect brows

The Fix: Schedule your maintenance touch-up around the 12-18 month mark. Contact us to book.

Mistake #4: Harsh Cleansing and Scrubbing

The Issue:

• Mechanical exfoliation fades pigment
• Harsh rubbing damages results

The Fix: Be gentle! Pat, don't rub. Avoid scrubbing brows.

Mistake #5: Over-Tweezing

The Issue:

• Removing hairs within microbladed area
• Can disrupt pattern and look

The Fix: Only tweeze obvious strays outside the design. For professional shaping, visit us for a brow shaping appointment.

Annual Touch-Up: What to Expect

The Process

Consultation (10-15 minutes):

• Assess fading and current condition
• Discuss any shape or color changes desired
• Agree on plan

Touch-Up Session (60-90 minutes):

• Similar to initial appointment but shorter
• Artist adds pigment where needed
• May go over entire brow or just faded areas
• Less uncomfortable than initial (skin not virgin)

Healing (Faster):

• 7-10 days initial healing
• 4 weeks complete healing
• Usually easier than first time

Cost: Contact us for current maintenance pricing.

Knowing When Microblading Isn't Working

Signs You May Need Different Technique

Consider Switching If:

• Brows fade very quickly (under 8 months)
• Very uneven fading pattern
• Hair strokes blur significantly
• You have very oily skin

Alternative Options:

• Ombre powder brows (better for oily skin)
• Combination brows (hair strokes + shading)
• Nano brows (longer lasting on some skin types)

Learn more about how these techniques compare in our nano brows vs microblading guide and ombre powder brows guide.

Long-Term Maintenance Cost

3-Year Investment Example

Year 1:

• Initial microblading: From $600
• 6-8 week perfecting session: $250
• Year 1 total: From $850

Year 2-3:

• Contact us for current maintenance pricing

Compare To:

• Daily brow makeup routine: $2-5/day
• Monthly brow maintenance: $50-100/month

Microblading is cost-effective long-term! See our pricing page for current rates.

Get Expert Maintenance Support

At Melbourne Designer Brows, we don't just give you beautiful brows—we support you through years of maintenance for lasting results.

Our Maintenance Support

Education:

• Detailed maintenance instructions
• Product recommendations
• Answer questions during business hours

Quality Touch-Ups:

• Experienced artist ensures consistency
• Fair pricing for annual refreshes
• Same attention to detail as initial

Reminder System:

• We'll remind you when it's time
• Don't have to remember yourself
• Maintain great results effortlessly

Contact us for current maintenance pricing. Visit our Richmond location at Level 1, 382A Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121 or our Springvale location at Shop 4, 218 Springvale Rd, Springvale VIC 3171.

Contact Melbourne Designer Brows:

• Call Anne: 0418 188 277
• Email: info@mdbrows.com.au
• Website: mdbrows.com.au
• Richmond: Level 1, 382A Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121
• Springvale: Shop 4, 218 Springvale Rd, Springvale VIC 3171

Maintain Beautiful Brows for Years:

1. Initial microblading with detailed care instructions
2. Perfect your results with 6-8 week perfecting session ($250)
3. Follow maintenance tips from this guide
4. Return for touch-ups to refresh your colour
5. Enjoy beautiful brows year after year!

Book Your Free Consultation

Protect your microblading investment with proper maintenance. Book your initial appointment or annual touch-up today! Results may vary. Consult with your practitioner for personalised advice.