How to Prepare for Microblading
Pre-Appointment Guide — Melbourne Designer Brows
Proper preparation ensures optimal pigment retention, minimal bleeding, and beautiful results from your microblading procedure. Follow this comprehensive guide to prepare for your appointment.
Start preparing 2 weeks before your appointment. The better prepared you are, the better your results will be. Proper pre-care can improve pigment retention by up to 30%.
Quick Pre-Care Checklist
2 Weeks Before
- Stop retinol and all vitamin A derivatives on and around the brow area
- Avoid sun exposure and tanning beds
- Consider Botox timing — schedule 2+ weeks before OR wait 4 weeks after your touch-up
1 Week Before
- No waxing or threading your brows
- No brow tinting or lamination
- Stop blood-thinning supplements (fish oil, vitamin E, ginkgo biloba)
24–48 Hours Before
- No alcohol — beer, wine, spirits
- No caffeine — coffee, tea, energy drinks
- No blood-thinning medications (aspirin, ibuprofen/NSAIDs)
Day Of
- Arrive with clean, makeup-free brows
- Eat a good meal 1–2 hours before
- Bring inspiration photos of brow shapes you love
Complete Preparation Timeline
2–4 Weeks Before Your Appointment
Stop using these products:
- Retinol / Tretinoin: All vitamin A derivatives on or near the brow area
- AHA / BHA Acids: Glycolic, salicylic, lactic acids near brows
- Vitamin C Serums: Ascorbic acid products near brows
- Chemical Peels: Any facial peels or resurfacing treatments
Other important preparations:
- Sun Exposure: Avoid excessive sun and tanning beds
- Botox Timing: Schedule 2+ weeks before OR wait 4 weeks after your touch-up
- Research: Save inspiration photos of brow shapes you love
- Planning: Schedule time off if possible — 1–2 days is ideal
Why 2–4 weeks? These products thin your skin and increase sensitivity, which can affect pigment retention and cause more bleeding during the procedure.
1 Week Before Your Appointment
Brow services to avoid:
- No Waxing: Don't wax your brows or surrounding area
- No Threading: Avoid threading or tweezing brows
- No Tinting: Don't tint or dye your eyebrows
- No Brow Lamination: Avoid any brow treatments
Important: We need to see your natural brow hair to design the perfect shape!
Supplements to stop:
- Fish Oil: Omega-3 supplements thin blood
- Vitamin E: Can increase bleeding
- Ginkgo Biloba: Blood-thinning effects
- St. John's Wort: Can affect bleeding
- Turmeric / Garlic: High doses thin blood
24–48 Hours Before Your Appointment
Absolutely NO:
- Alcohol: Beer, wine, spirits — no alcohol at all
- Caffeine: Coffee, tea, energy drinks, soda
- Aspirin: Blood-thinning medication
- Ibuprofen: Advil, Nurofen, NSAIDs
- Exercise: Intense workouts that increase blood flow
What you CAN do:
- Paracetamol: Safe if you need pain relief (Panadol)
- Decaf Drinks: Decaf coffee or tea is fine
- Light Activities: Gentle walks, normal daily activities
- Hydration: Drink plenty of water
Why avoid these? Blood thinners increase bleeding during microblading, which dilutes the pigment and reduces retention. Even one glass of wine or cup of coffee can thin your blood enough to affect your results.
Day of Your Appointment
Before you leave home:
- Clean Brows: Remove ALL brow makeup — no pencil or powder
- Eat a Meal: Good breakfast or lunch 1–2 hours before
- Stay Hydrated: Drink water (not coffee!)
- Comfortable Clothes: Something cosy for a 2–3 hour appointment
What to bring:
- ID: For verification and records
- Payment: Card or cash for your appointment
- Inspiration Photos: Pictures of brow shapes you love
- Glasses (if worn): For seeing final results
- Headphones (optional): Music or podcast for relaxation
Special Considerations
Medical Conditions & Medications
Consult your doctor if you:
- Take blood thinners (Warfarin, Plavix, etc.)
- Have diabetes or blood clotting disorders
- Are on isotretinoin (Accutane / Roaccutane)
- Have autoimmune conditions
- Are immunocompromised or on immunosuppressants
- Have a keloid scarring tendency
Do NOT proceed with microblading if you are currently on Accutane (wait 1 year after finishing), pregnant or breastfeeding, have an active skin infection or cold sores near brows, or have uncontrolled diabetes.
Recent Skin & Beauty Treatments — Timing Guidelines
- Botox / Dysport: 2+ weeks before microblading OR 4+ weeks after touch-up
- Chemical Peels: Wait 4 weeks before microblading
- Laser Treatments: Wait 4–6 weeks before microblading
- Facial Waxing: Avoid face / forehead waxing 2 weeks before
- Brow Tinting / Lamination: Wait 1 week before microblading
Menstrual Cycle Considerations
You can get microblading during your period, but pain sensitivity varies throughout your cycle.
- Best time (week 1–2 after period): Highest pain tolerance, less sensitivity
- More sensitive (during period & PMS): Lower pain tolerance, may experience more discomfort
- Note: Some period pain medications (ibuprofen) thin blood — avoid these
Existing Brow Tattoos or PMU
If you have existing permanent makeup or old brow tattoos, special considerations apply:
- Faded Old Work: Light, faded tattoos may be suitable for microblading over
- Dark / Saturated Work: May require removal or lightening first
- Consultation Required: Book a consultation so we can assess your existing work
- Bring Photos: Take clear photos of your existing brows to the consultation
What to Expect on Appointment Day
Understanding the microblading process helps you feel confident and prepared.
Step 1 — Consultation & Design (45–60 minutes)
- Discuss your brow goals and preferences
- Analyse your face shape and features
- Design and map your perfect brow shape
- Choose your custom colour blend
- Get your approval before proceeding
Step 2 — Numbing & Preparation (20–30 minutes)
- Apply topical numbing cream
- Wait for cream to take effect
- Prepare tools and pigments
- Set up for the sterile procedure
- Final check of brow design
Step 3 — Microblading Procedure (60–90 minutes)
- Create individual hair strokes
- Work methodically to build your brows
- Apply additional numbing as needed
- Make final adjustments
- Review results together
Step 4 — Aftercare Instructions (15–20 minutes)
- Detailed aftercare explanation
- Provide aftercare kit and instructions
- Schedule 6–8 week touch-up
- Take before & after photos
- Answer any questions you have
Total time: 2–3 hours.Plan for at least 2.5–3 hours for your appointment. We don't rush — perfection takes time! Bring water, snacks if needed, and get comfortable.
Most clients rate discomfort as 2–3 out of 10 with numbing cream. Feels like light scratching or threading. We reapply numbing throughout to keep you comfortable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about preparing for your microblading appointment.
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and blood-thinning medications 24-48 hours before. Don't wax, thread, or tint your brows for 1 week prior. Avoid sun exposure, tanning, and retinol products for 2 weeks before. No aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, or vitamin E supplements for at least 48 hours before your appointment as these thin the blood and increase bleeding.
Yes, you can get microblading on your period, but you may be more sensitive to pain and discomfort during this time. Some clients prefer to schedule their appointment for a different time in their cycle when pain tolerance is higher. If concerned about sensitivity, consider rescheduling for a week after your period ends.
No, do NOT wax or thread your brows for at least 1 week before microblading. Your artist needs to see your natural brow hair growth pattern to design the perfect shape. Arrive with your natural, untouched brows - we'll clean up any stray hairs after mapping your new brow shape if needed.
Avoid caffeine 24-48 hours before your microblading appointment. Caffeine increases heart rate and can thin the blood, leading to increased bleeding during the procedure. Excess bleeding can dilute the pigment and affect retention. Stick to water or decaf options the day before and morning of your appointment.
You can wear makeup on the rest of your face, but arrive with completely clean, makeup-free brows. Remove all brow makeup, pencils, powders, and gels before your appointment. Your artist needs a clean canvas to work on. You can wear eye makeup, foundation elsewhere, and lip products - just keep the brow area completely clean.
Stop using retinol, tretinoin, and all retinoid products on and around your brow area at least 2 weeks (ideally 4 weeks) before microblading. Retinol thins the skin, increases sensitivity, and can affect how well the pigment takes. Avoid all vitamin A derivatives including prescription retinoids during this period.
If you get regular Botox, schedule it either 2+ weeks before microblading OR wait until 4 weeks after your microblading touch-up appointment. Botox can affect brow shape and position, so it's best to have stable brow positioning before microblading. Discuss timing with both your injector and microblading artist.
Eat a good meal 1-2 hours before your microblading appointment. Having food in your system helps prevent lightheadedness and ensures stable blood sugar during the 2-3 hour procedure. Choose something protein-rich and avoid anything too heavy or greasy. Stay well-hydrated with water, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Do NOT take aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Nurofen), or other NSAIDs before microblading as these thin the blood. If you need pain relief, paracetamol (Panadol) is safe to take. However, most clients don't need any pain relief beforehand - we apply topical numbing cream during the procedure which minimizes discomfort.
Bring your ID, payment method, and inspiration photos of brow shapes you like. Wear comfortable clothing and consider bringing headphones for music if desired. If you wear glasses, bring them (remove for the procedure but helpful for seeing results). Don't bring young children as the appointment takes 2-3 hours and requires your focus.
Final Pre-Appointment Checklist
I Have Stopped:
- Retinol (2–4 weeks)
- Brow waxing / threading (1 week)
- Supplements (1 week)
- Alcohol (48 hours)
- Caffeine (48 hours)
- Blood thinners (48 hours)
I Will Bring:
- ID
- Payment method
- Inspiration photos
- Glasses (if needed)
- Clean, makeup-free brows
- A full stomach!
More Preparation Guides
Eyebrow Tattoo Preparation
How to prepare for your eyebrow tattoo — retinol timing, Botox, brow waxing and more.
Read guide →Lip Blush Preparation
How to prepare for lip blush or a lip tattoo, including cold sore advice.
Read guide →Eyeliner Tattoo Preparation
How to prepare for your eyeliner tattoo — lash extensions, contact lenses, skincare.
Read guide →Helpful Resources
Microblading Melbourne
Full guide to microblading in Melbourne — technique, healing, pricing, and our Richmond & Springvale studios.
Microblading Melbourne Guide →Aftercare Guide
Complete day-by-day healing instructions to ensure optimal results after your procedure.
Read Guide →Book Appointment
Ready to get started? Book your microblading appointment at our Richmond or Springvale location.
Book Now →Ready for Beautiful Brows?
Now that you know how to prepare, book your microblading appointment and get ready for gorgeous, natural-looking brows!