What Is Microshading?

At Lacey Michael PMU

Microshading is actually the original method of tattooing eyebrows.  It was the way permanent makeup eyebrows were created before the development of permanent makeup machines and before microblading.   However, several decades ago, before techniques, tools, pigments and methodologies evolved, not to mention a solid understanding of the skin, the look tended to be harsh and often too dark (think Marlene Dietrich!).  Thankfully microshading has advanced significantly since the early days of permanent makeup  offering a gentle manual alternative to microblading.

Creating the perfect eyebrows requires an artist to be trained and skilled in a variety of permanent makeup eyebrow techniques.  Cosmetic tattoo of the brows is not a one-size-fits-all business though many clients have come to believe that microblading is the only eyebrow cosmetic tattoo technique.

In fact, for many clients a different look is preferable, not just because of the skin dictating the client’s candidacy but because many other factors must be considered in choosing the correct technique.  For example,  some clients may require a correction or update of previous work.  Other clients have pencilled their brows for years and prefer the appearance of a soft pencilled eyebrow.  Yet others want more longevity out of their eyebrow permanent makeup than is possible with microblading.

Microshading is actually the original method of tattooing eyebrows.  It was the way permanent makeup eyebrows were created before the development of permanent makeup machines and before microblading.   However, several decades ago, before techniques, tools, pigments and methodologies evolved, not to mention a solid understanding of the skin, the look tended to be harsh and often too dark (think Marlene Dietrich!).  Thankfully microshading has advanced significantly since the early days of permanent makeup  offering a gentle manual alternative to microblading.

Creating the perfect eyebrows requires an artist to be trained and skilled in a variety of permanent makeup eyebrow techniques.  Cosmetic tattoo of the brows is not a one-size-fits-all business though many clients have come to believe that microblading is the only eyebrow cosmetic tattoo technique.

In fact, for many clients a different look is preferable, not just because of the skin dictating the client’s candidacy but because many other factors must be considered in choosing the correct technique.  For example,  some clients may require a correction or update of previous work.  Other clients have pencilled their brows for years and prefer the appearance of a soft pencilled eyebrow.  Yet others want more longevity out of their eyebrow permanent makeup than is possible with microblading.