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Can I Work Out After Microblading?

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Can I work out after my microblading procedure?

Working out after your microblading procedure isn’t recommended. We are going to go over why you shouldn’t exert yourself too much and some aftercare instructions.

If you rather read, the transcript is below. (Edited for easier reading!)

Aloha,

My name is Hannah Maruyama. I am the owner and master artist, here, at YAMA Studios. A semi permanent makeup studio based, here, in Honolulu, HI.

I am here today to answer some questions that are commonly asked about microblading and semi permanent makeup.

Can I work out after my procedure?

The answer is no.

You cannot work out after your procedure for, it really depends on what you’re doing, but the goal is to not sweat profusely. If you sweat profusely, it’s  more likely that you’ll accidentally remove scabs. I would advise you to wait 7 days before actively working out again, at least. But, I tell most of my clients to wait 10 days, if at all possible.

If you’d like to learn more about semi permanent makeup or you’re interested in learning about microblading, as well, click on any of my other videos. If you really want to dive deeper into this world and learn more about it, my book is also linked below. It’s called Before the Blade: What You Need to Know Before Getting Microblading or Semi Permanent Makeup.

Important stuff. It’s a good overview of what to expect, how your appointment’s going to go, how to choose your artist, how to care for your semi permanent makeup, who is a good candidate for it, and just general warnings and cautions, and things you need to know, things that might eliminate you. All kinds of good stuff in there. So please subscribe. Like and subscribe. And I will be with all of you again next week.

Can I Swim After Microblading? A Hawaii Microblader Explains

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Can I Swim After Having Microblading Done?

Swimming can ruin your microblading. How you take care of your eyebrows after your microblading is essential for your end results. 

If you rather read, the transcript is below. (Edited for easier reading!)

Aloha,

My name is Hannah Maruyama. I am the owner and master artist, here, at YAMA Studios. A semi permanent makeup studios based, here, in Honolulu, HI.

I am here today to answer some questions that are commonly asked about microblading and semi permanent makeup.

Can I swim if I’ve had microblading done?

No. You shouldn’t swim if you’ve had microblading done. You should avoid all water-based activities: pools, oceans, lakes, hot tubs, even saunas really aren’t wise because you’re not supposed to sweat profusely while you’re going through your healing process.

I promise you that the way that you follow your after care instructions is essential. If you follow your after care instructions, you are much more likely to have a good outcome and a longer lasting outcome. Which you want because you want to get your money’s worth and you want to make sure that you allow your eyebrows to heal properly.

If you’d like to learn more about semi permanent makeup or you’re interested in learning about microblading, as well, click on any of my other videos. If you really want to dive deeper into this world and learn more about it, my book is also linked below. It’s called Before the Blade: What You Need to Know Before Getting Microblading or Semi Permanent Makeup.

Important stuff. It’s a good overview of what to expect, how your appointment’s going to go, how to choose your artist, how to care for your semi permanent makeup, who is a good candidate for it, and just general warnings and cautions, and things you need to know, things that might eliminate you. All kinds of good stuff in there.

So, please subscribe. Like and subscribe. And I will be with all of you again next week.

Can I Shower After Microblading? A Hawaii Microblader Explains

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Is it ok to shower after my microblading appointment?

A lot of people are concerned about their aftercare and this is a question we get all the time. Some artists say it’s OK. Some artists say NO. Let’s clarify and dispel any myths surrounding the subject.

Below is the transcript (edited to make me sound smarter) if you rather read. 

Aloha,

My name is Hannah Maruyama. I am the owner and master artist, here, at YAMA Studios. A semi permanent makeup studios based, here, in Honolulu, HI.

I am here today to answer some questions that are commonly asked about microblading and semi permanent makeup.

Can I shower after I’ve had microblading done?

The answer is yes.

Among the semi permanent makeup community there are two different types of healing that people subscribe to or tell their clients after having a procedure done.

Dry Healing

One of them is dry healing. Which means the artist will advise you not to get any sort of moisture on your eyebrows at all. They will advise you not to get anything on your eyebrows, except for possibly an antibiotic ointment that they will give you.

Wet Healing

The other method is the wet healing method. Which it usually involves you washing your eyebrows gently with antibacterial soap and water once to twice a day. And then reapplying ointment depending on who your artist is.

What I Advise My Clients

I tell my clients to wash twice a day in order to keep the area clean because you do have cuts and they are, technically, an open wound. So, I tell them to wash them twice a day. Keep their head out of the direct shower stream, just to make sure that none of your scabs are disturbed. And then to gently apply antibiotic ointment with clean fingers if they start to get itchy and that’s it!


If you’d like to learn more about semi permanent makeup or you’re interested in learning about microblading, as well, click on any of my other videos. If you really want to dive deeper into this world and learn more about it, my book is also linked below. It’s called Before the Blade: What You Need to Know Before Getting Microblading or Semi Permanent Makeup.

Important stuff. It’s a good overview of what to expect, how your appointment’s going to go, how to choose your artist, how to care for your semi permanent makeup, who is a good candidate for it, and just general warnings and cautions, and things you need to know, things that might eliminate you. All kinds of good stuff in there. So please subscribe. Like and subscribe. And I will be with all of you again next week.

Where is a Safe Place To Have Microblading Done?

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Where is it safe to get microblading?

We see a lot of places offer microblading nowadays. Some places offer it when they shouldn’t be. Let’s discuss where you should and shouldn’t get your eyebrow microblading done.

If you rather read, below is the transcript. (Edited for easier reading!)

Aloha,

My name is Hannah Maruyama. I am the owner and master artist, here, at YAMA Studios. A semi permanent makeup studio based, here, in Honolulu, HI.

I am here today to answer some questions that are commonly asked about microblading and semi permanent makeup.

What’s a safe place to get semi permanent makeup or microblading done?

So, I know that there has been a rise in nail salons. I know that was true in Georgia, where I’m from. That there were a lot of nail salons offering microblading. And while every state has different regulations, and I would advise you to look up your state’s regulations, I think it’s pretty universal that states do not issue tattoo licenses to nail salons.

I believe the reason for that is something of a health code, I think it’s a health code issue because there can be bleeding and blood with microblading in nail salons and because you can expose yourself to different sorts of infections on people’s feet. There’s sometimes staph and MRSA on the ground and if people walk around they can sometimes get it on their feet. It’s just a lot, there’s a lot of room for cross-contamination and I don’t believe that there are any states that issue tattoo licenses to nail salons.

Microblading Sanitation Requirements

Unless, it’s a really upscale salon or spa that you go in and it’s very clean and they have separate area for their hair styling, and they have an area for their nail care, and they have an area for their esthetician, and an area for their waxer, make sure there is a designated area with running water, that’s actually a prerequisite. I think that every state requires that. There’s a prerequisite that tattoo artist has to have a sink in their work station. They have to have a sink. If they don’t have a sink around, you should be suspicious.

Even though microblading can be done with all disposable tools I would warn you against a place that has pushed a workspace up against a wall in a crowded nail salon. If you for a second feel doubt, it’s the wrong choice and you should not do it for your own safety and truly for the safety of the people around you as well because blood borne pathogens are a real risk and while typically microblading and other semi permanent professions have a lot lower risk. I strongly feel that it should not be done in nail salons or anywhere that’s not equipped to properly handle the sanitation requirements.

Licenses and Self Taught Microbladers

You should be able to see a valid license. You should be able to see a valid blood certification. Given nowadays the certifications, more people have certifications than they did but microblading and semi permanent makeup is still a new field and so sometimes people are self taught. And if that’s the case, I would make sure you find out through thorough questioning: how long they’ve been doing it, things like that, but no artist should be offended that you asked to see their qualifications. Never. Period. That’s it.

You should always be able to ask that and they should always be willing and happy to provide it. They should be glad that you’re so concerned and that you’re so informed. So, make sure that you don’t let anyone in a nail salon tattoo your eyebrows. Just don’t do it. That’s just not wise.

If you’d like to learn more about semi permanent makeup or you’re interested in learning about microblading, as well, click on any of my other videos. If you really want to dive deeper into this world and learn more about it, my book is also linked below. It’s called Before the Blade: What You Need to Know Before Getting Microblading or Semi Permanent Makeup.

Important stuff. It’s a good overview of what to expect, how your appointment’s going to go, how to choose your artist, how to care for your semi permanent makeup, who is a good candidate for it, and just general warnings and cautions, and things you need to know, things that might eliminate you. All kinds of good stuff in there.

So, please subscribe. Like and subscribe. And I will be with all of you again next week.

Does Microblading Hurt? A Hawaii Microblader Explains

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Will my microblading procedure hurt?

For people that have never gotten semi permanent makeup or tattoos, this is an extremely common question. We are going to unpack this and try to put your mind to rest.

Below is the transcript (edited to make me sound smarter) if you rather read. 

Aloha,

My name is Hannah Maruyama. I am the owner and master artist, here, at YAMA Studios. A semi permanent makeup studio based, here, in Honolulu, HI.

I am here today to answer some questions that are commonly asked about microblading and semi permanent makeup.

Does microblading hurt?

Oh, wow! This one’s a doozy, huh?

I would say: yes and no.

There is definitely an amount of discomfort associated with someone putting a needle in you even if there is numbing. So, what I’ve heard clients say, is that if they’re very sensitive, they do experience a slight scratching sensation that they describe as feeling like somebody is scratching a sunburn.

I would say it’s more irritating than painful.

I did do microblading on myself and I have a fairly low pain tolerance and I didn’t find it unbearable. And I had to take much longer on myself than I would on a client because it’s hard to work in a mirror. So, I would say that if I can do it, I believe that you can do it, as well.

Procedure Length

Also, something that should be noted, and an answer to this question, is that the procedure itself doesn’t take two and half to three hours. The procedure itself takes about, I’d say on the liberal end, 40 minutes, and on the conservative end, I’d say about 25 to 30. Not rushing. Just as artists gain more experience they just get more adept and so they get a little bit faster.

So, if you’re going to somebody who has experience, then it’s very likely that your microblading procedure won’t take extremely long. The actual strokes. They spend more time putting pigment over your strokes just to make sure that you’ve got good color in there, but the actual microblading strokes are not going to take extremely long. So, that should be noted, as well.

And I don’t know about you, but I can deal with 30 minutes of scratching for possibly several years of having my eyebrows look really good when I wake up in the morning.


If you’d like to learn more about semi permanent makeup or you’re interested in learning about microblading, as well, click on any of my other videos. If you really want to dive deeper into this world and learn more about it, my book is also linked below. It’s called Before the Blade: What You Need to Know Before Getting Microblading or Semi Permanent Makeup.

Important stuff. It’s a good overview of what to expect, how your appointment’s going to go, how to choose your artist, how to care for your semi permanent makeup, who is a good candidate for it, and just general warnings and cautions, and things you need to know, things that might eliminate you. All kinds of good stuff in there.

So, please subscribe. Like and subscribe. And I will be with all of you again next week!

Is Microblading Safe? A Hawaii Microblader Explains

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Is it safe to get microblading?

Is microblading a safe procedure? Short answer: Yes! Microblading is usually safe for most people. Let’s elaborate on the entire process.

If you rather read, below is the transcript. (Edited for easier reading!)

Aloha,

My name is Hannah Maruyama. I am the owner and master artist, here, at YAMA Studios. A semi permanent makeup studio based, here, in Honolulu, HI.

I am here today to answer some questions that are commonly asked about microblading and semi permanent makeup.

Is microblading safe?

Yes. Microblading is a fairly safe procedure for those who qualify. I’ve linked below a blog post about people who have health issues that eliminate them. But, if you don’t have any underlying health issues, you have a fairly decent diet, and healthy skin, then yeah. Microblading is really safe for you. It’s mostly done, these days, with disposable tools, as well. So, the risks for any kind of I    nfection or blood borne pathogen is very low. If you properly followed after care, it minimizes the risk of infection, even lower. So, yeah, microblading is pretty safe.

I will say that the FDA has never approved any tattoo ink of any kind. So, they’ve never approved tattoo ink and they’ve never approved semi permanent makeup pigment. That’s just because the FDA isn’t a big fan of tattoos. It’s safe to assume that the FDA is never going to approve some sort of tattoo pigment or ink, cosmetic or otherwise. But, overall the procedure itself is safe, yes.


If you’d like to learn more about semi permanent makeup or you’re interested in learning about microblading, as well, click on any of my other videos. If you really want to dive deeper into this world and learn more about it, my book is also linked below. It’s called Before the Blade: What You Need to Know Before Getting Microblading or Semi Permanent Makeup. Important stuff. It’s a good overview of what to expect, how your appointment’s going to go, how to choose your artist, how to care for your semi permanent makeup, who is a good candidate for it, and just general warnings and cautions, and things you need to know, things that might eliminate you. All kinds of good stuff in there. So please subscribe. Like and subscribe. And I will be with all of you again next week.

Do You Shave Off My Eyebrows for Microblading?

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Are my eyebrows going to be shaved for microblading?

This is a question that we get a lot!! We created this video to put people’s minds at ease. We do not shave your eyebrows off before microblading. Please don’t let your artist do that. Watch to learn more!

If you rather read, below is the transcript. (Edited to make me sound smarter!)

Aloha,

My name is Hannah Maruyama. I am the owner and master artist, here, at YAMA Studios. A semi permanent makeup studio based, here, in Honolulu, HI.

I am here today to answer some questions that are commonly asked about microblading and semi permanent makeup.

Are you going to shave off my eyebrows?

This is my favorite question! This is my favorite question, you guys! You would not believe the amount of women that come into my studio and ask me if I’m going to shave off their entire eyebrow!

I could not figure out where this came from in the beginning. But, turns out that a lot of my clients got their eyebrows microbladed in the Philippines, about 20 years ago, I would say. 20 to 30 years ago actual makeup tattoo was really popular here because people are very active and outdoorsy. And it’s hot here.

It makes sense to just wake up and be able to get out of your house. Traffic here is really bad. There’s a lot of driving. A lot of people work multiple jobs. It just made sense to have your makeup tattooed on.

Cosmetic Tattoo in the Philippines

So, a lot of women, when they were traveling abroad, they had their eyebrows or their eyeliner tattooed in the Philippines. When they do that in the Philippines, apparently, this is what I’m told, they do microblading in the Philippines now. Phi Brows, I believe has a pretty large following there, but what I’m talking about is a legitimate black ink tattoo.

They’re very obvious. I see them all the time. So, obviously I do a lot of handing out of my cards to those people. But, point being, in the Philippines, when you go, they said, what they do first is they shave off your entire eyebrow with a razor. And I was horrified! I could not believe that they let them do that because that’s not in the spirit of microblading, at all.

Don’t ever, ever unless they are a doctor and they are operating on your face, on your eyebrows, let anyone for any reason shave your eyebrows off.

Just don’t let them do that to you. That’s not a good look. It’s difficult for your eyebrow hair to recover from that and, as a whole, what I usually tell my clients is that we need to treat our eyebrow hair like they’re flowers. Not like they’re weeds. So, don’t pluck them out and shave them all off.

Let me just tactfully say that the work that was done quite a while ago, several decades ago with tattoo ink, is not, it does not look natural. It does not look like it belongs. And, in fact, sometimes it can be, it’s difficult to remove and it’s also difficult to cover up. So, I would advise you to be very careful. I use a razor to do my pre-grooming. If you have any doubts, just make sure that they’re not going to take off your whole eyebrow. I don’t know what the rationale would be for that. I guess someone might tell you it’s so they can make the shape, but they should be designing the brow specifically for you, factoring in your hair growth, factoring in your facial symmetry, factoring in any irregularities that you may have in your skin. So, don’t let anyone shave your eyebrows off. I thought that should go without saying, but apparently it’s pretty wide spread. So, I just want to address that. But the spirit of microblading and the spirit of semi permanent makeup, I believe, and this is my YAMA Studios philosophy is that: it should look as natural as possible. It should look as much like you as possible. It should be a really natural enhancement. It should go with your face. It should look like it belongs to you. And I think that that’s a very important part of the art form and the science, as a whole.

If you’d like to learn more about semi permanent makeup or you’re interested in learning about microblading, as well, click on any of my other videos. If you really want to dive deeper into this world and learn more about it, my book is also linked below. It’s called Before the Blade: What You Need to Know Before Getting Microblading or Semi Permanent Makeup.

Important stuff. It’s a good overview of what to expect, how your appointment’s going to go, how to choose your artist, how to care for your semi permanent makeup, who is a good candidate for it, and just general warnings and cautions, and things you need to know, things that might eliminate you. All kinds of good stuff in there.

Like and subscribe. And I will be with all of you again next week!

What Does a Microblading Appointment Look Like?

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What to expect at your microblading appointment…

People are always asking us what can they expect at their microblading appointment. We created this video to outline the process so you know what to expect when you go in to get yours done!

Below is the transcript (edited to make me sound smarter) if you rather read. 

Aloha,

My name is Hannah Maruyama. I am the owner and master artist, here, at YAMA Studios. A semi permanent makeup studio based, here, in Honolulu, HI.

I am here today to answer some questions that are commonly asked about microblading and semi permanent makeup.

How can I book an appointment?

So, at YAMA Studios, I offer online booking. The online booking is fantastic. If you go on there, it will show you a calendar and it will tell you when I’m available and you just decide what works best for you. Then you can pick the procedure you want, it will tell me how long you need for the appointment to be completed, and I will block out that time just for you.

In order to confirm an appointment, you just pay a $100 deposit which goes towards your appointment. So, when you come in you only pay the remainder of your payment.

What is an appointment like?

A typical appointment at YAMA Studios is: you’ll come in, I’ll have some nice music playing, we sit down and chat for a little bit, and get to know each other if we haven’t already spoken on the phone. Then, I’ll ask you what some of your goals are, what your aspirations are for what you’d like your eyebrows to look like, and then we talk about what’s achievable with your skin type. Then, we’ll talk about what the first course of action is going to be.

So, what I do like to say to all my clients is that, your first appointment is really more of me getting to know your skin. I’m always going to be more conservative on your first appointment. And then as I get to know your skin, like on your touch up, I’m going to be a little more aggressive. So, if you want a darker brow when you come back in, I’ll be more comfortable doing that, but I don’t want to do brows that are too dark or too dramatic when people first come in.

The same thing goes for eyeliner and lip blush tattoo as well. I don’t like to do winged eyeliner very much because I feel like it’s difficult to control the way that it ages. And so, I usually advise against that, at first. Then, as time goes on and I get to know you, I might be more comfortable doing something like that.

Appointment Overview

Microblading Goals and Introduction

So, basically, you’re going to come in, we’re going to chat a little bit, and there’ll be some music playing. My studio is very bright during the day, it’s so nice. We’ll talk a little bit about your brow goals, and if you have any pictures, you’re going to show them to me and we’ll talk about what’s achievable based on your skin type.

Medical History and Release Forms

Then, we’ll talk a little bit about your medical history, and you’ll sign a couple of release forms, and we’ll take you back to the procedure area.  You’re going to lay down on a comfy table, and I’ll put a pillow under your legs because you’re going to be lying still for a little bit, and I have a blanket in case you get cold. And then, you and I will just keep talking.

Eyebrow Measuring

I’m going to do some drawing and some measuring to decide what brow shape is best for your facial symmetry. Then, we are going to draw them on and then you are going to ok every step of the way because I don’t want anyone to be uncomfortable or unhappy. I want to make sure that my clients are in control of the process.

Eyebrow Mapping

A lot of people end up just deferring to my judgment because I do look at a lot more eyebrows than most people. But, ultimately, it’s your face and you decide what goes on it. So, I will spend hours and hours and hours brow mapping, too. Ask any of my other clients, they’ll tell you. I stand there just drawing. Too long! Too long I probably spend doing that, but that’s the most fun part for me, I think. So, I really enjoy the drawing.

Eyebrow Numbing

After you ok your design, I apply a topical numbing anesthetic to help with the discomfort. I’m going to cover your eyebrows with an eyebrow wrap and we are going to let that sit for 25-30 minutes. After that, I’m going to come over and I’m going to remove the anesthetic cream. I’m going to mix your pigment and then we’ll start microblading!

Microblading

The microblading process doesn’t take a very long time. It’s fairly quick and once I finish I’m going to cover your eyebrows with the remaining pigment, we are going to put the brow wrap over it and then let that sit to make sure that it sinks into your brows, and then I’m going to wipe it off. I’m going to take a bunch of pictures of you. And then, you’re free to go.

Touch Up

Most clients need a touch up in 4 – 6 weeks. That’s pretty normal and that is partially due to how conservative I am on the first appointment. That’s just a personal preference.

A lot of artists do it a different way. But, that is how I do it at YAMA Studios.

So, now you know what a microblading appointment looks like!

If you’d like to learn more about semi permanent makeup or you’re interested in learning about microblading, as well, click on any of my other videos.

If you really want to dive deeper into this world and learn more about it, my book is also linked below. It’s called Before the Blade: What You Need to Know Before Getting Microblading or Semi Permanent Makeup.

Important stuff. It’s a good overview of what to expect, how your appointment’s going to go, how to choose your artist, how to care for your semi permanent makeup, who is a good candidate for it, and just general warnings and cautions, and things you need to know, things that might eliminate you. All kinds of good stuff in there.

So please subscribe. Like and subscribe. And I will be with all of you again next week.

What is Microblading? A Semi Permanent Makeup Artist Explains

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What is Microblading?

What is this thing? Let’s talk about what microblading is and touch on some other things in the semi permanent makeup world!

I’m here today to talk to you about microblading.

Microblading is a semi permanent cosmetic tattoo. Semi permanent because over time the pigment will fade. Modern semi permanent makeup pigments fade, unlike tattoo ink. Tattoo ink stays put forever. Microblading and semi permanent makeup will leave small particles under your skin that will fade naturally. Which is why you have to go back to touch up semi permanent makeup.

Microblading is the most popular semi permanent application that you can have today.

The Microblading Process

Microblading involves the use of a small manual hand tool. The manual hand tool is a bunch of small, tiny, sterile needles arranged in a row. The manual tool makes hair-like incisions into the skin to deposit pigment. Now, the incisions, if the artist is doing their job, go to the basal layer of your epidermis.
 
So, if you’re looking at your skin, your top layer is your epidermis. The deepest layer of your epidermis is the basal layer. The basal layer is the sweet spot. This is where microblading pigment lives. Below that is the dermis and the dermis is where tattoos go. This is just a little information about how they’re different.
 

So, quick recap:

  • microblading is applied in a different layer of the skin than tattoos.

  • Microblading uses pigment not tattoo ink.

  • Microblading uses a hand tool not a digital tattoo gun.

 
And now you kind of now what microblading is. It’s a fantastic procedure. Microblading is life-changing for people that have gaps in their brow or want a more full look. It is especially useful for people that have old eyebrow tattoos. These people often need eyebrow tattoo cover-up to disguise the old work and look more natural. But microblading is a fantastic, fantastic service and I enjoy offering it.
 
If you want to dive deeper into this world and learn more about it, my book is also linked below. Before the Blade: What You Need to Know Before Getting Microblading or Semi Permanent Makeup.
Important stuff!
 
It’s a good overview of:
  • what to expect,
  • how your appointment is going to go,
  • how to choose your artist,
  • how to care for your semi permanent makeup,
  • who is a good candidate for it,
  • general warnings and cautions,
  • things you need to know,
  • things that might exclude you,
  • And much, much more!

5 Things You Absolutely Can’t Do After Having Microblading

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FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO AFTER HAVING MICROBLADING

 

Microblading is extremely delicate while it is healing. You need to treat your brows with kid gloves for 10-14 days after having your microblading procedure. Here are the five biggest things you don’t do after your first microblading appointment.

Don’t swim in pools, hot tubs, lakes, or oceans during the healing process. There is bacteria in them and it’s not great for your unhealed brows. Even the salt in ocean.

Don’t get sunburned or go tanning. Avoid the sun at all costs. It will impede healing and fade the color.

Don’t sweat excessively if you can help it for the duration of the healing process. You have an excuse not to work out. Take this time to stretch, do low intensity yoga, breathing exercises.

Don’t pick at your scabs. Don’t. Do not. Stop it. Wear a rubber band around your wrist and snap it when you start picking. I’m not kidding. I know it’s hard not to, but it’s so worth it.

Don’t wear makeup on the brow area. Yes, I mean foundation. Yes, I mean concealer. It’s just for a few days and you’ll be fine.

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