Permanent makeup brows, also referred to as Permanent Makeup (PMU) Brows or Cosmetic Brow Tattoos, is a micropigmentation procedure that helps to correct or fully reconstruct brows for individuals who have light eyebrow hairs, little to no eyebrows, thinning brows from aging, or over-tweezed brows. It’s also great for those looking for help from a professional on their eyebrow shape and/or symmetry.

Beauty by Leanne currently offers all 5 eyebrow techniques in the industry:

1)     Nano Hairstroke Brows
2)     Microblading Hairstroke Brows
3)     Powder Brows
4)     Nano Combination Brows
5)     Microbalding Combination Brows

How long do they last?

PhiBrows is a microblading technique taught and coined by world renown Phi Academy. Therefore, a PhiBrows Artist is a graduate of this technique and uses phi tools and pigments which are top of the line in performance and safety – think of the Ferrari of Microblading tools. The Phi Academy is always researching and investing in their products and education, including multiple reformulation and improvement of their microblading pigments so that the pigment is stable and fades nicely over time on human skin.

Leanne is a PhiBrows certified microblading artist. Phi Academy is the world-renowned leader in beauty education. Certified PhiBrows Artists are able to consistently produces high quality results with an emphasis on very precise thin microblading strokes, proper microblading depth, perfect symmetry, and a beautiful shape that compliments your features. All PhiBrows Artist have been through a very specific 12-level training program using the highest standards, which are taught by master-level microblading artists. 

Microblading is a PMU brow technique that involves using a tool composed of very fine needles to manually deposit microblading pigment into the upper dermis layer of the skin where results will last 1-2 years on average. The goal is to create natural looking hair strokes to mimic human eyebrow hair. Pigment selection is chosen to match the natural brow color; desired colour and skin tone will also be taken into consideration.

Microblading is a great option for those seeking the most natural look however it is only ideal on dry or normal skin with no or small visible pores.

For clients with oily or combination skin, opting for the powder brow technique is a better option for longer lasting results. Oily skin constantly produces oil which will cause the hair strokes to slowly diffuse and blend into each other, resulting in soft powdered strokes instead of crisp hair-thin strokes. Additionally, microblading on oily skin will fade faster and require more frequent touch ups. As experts, we always try to recommend a technique based on your skin and lifestyle that will heal well and last at least 1 year before requiring a touch up, to maintain overall skin integrity.

Powder Brows is a shading technique that uses a needle from a tattoo machine to deposit pigment into the skin, minimizing trauma to the skin. It is suitable for all skin types, especially for clients who have combination, oily, and/or mature skin. The overall look is a powdery shaded finish without any hairstrokes and a more defined shape than the hairstroke techniques.

Powder Brows is customizable; it can be varied from soft and airy to a more defined compact makeup look. The type of look achieved will depend on the client’s skin type, brow hair colour, natural hair flow, preferences, and whether they have any patchy/sparse areas based on the artists’ recommendation and expertise.

Ombre brows is a style of powder brow where the front is light and then gradually becomes darker towards the tail. This allows the front to stay soft and natural which gives that perfect ombre makeup effect. This is optional however always recommended to keep the brows looking natural.

There is a common misperception that the powder technique creates unnatural and dark results due to a majority of social media pages and porfolios showcasing freshly tattooed brows. When it’s immediately done, the brows do appear dark however the healed results are usually 25-40% lighter than the initial application. Therefore, if they are tattooed too light, it will not heal with enough colour and definition.

Combination brows, sometimes referred to as Hybrid Brows, is a look that combines two techniques, either nano with powder or microblading with powder, achieving the best of both worlds. This is recommended for clients who like some hairstrokes but also like the defined shape and colour depth achieved with shading using the powder brow technique.

 Clients can choose to do only hair strokes at the front and the rest with powder or they request for hairstrokes throughout the entire eyebrow and then add light shading in certain sections or parts of the brows for increased definition. The key is to keep the shading light so that the hairstrokes will still be visible once it is healed and as it ages over time.

There are 3 safety factors to consider:

1) Choose a trained and experienced professional. We advise clients to check artist qualifications and do not choose solely on price. Often times, the higher price you see is a reflection of their skill level, experience, various trainings the artist has under their belt, and the health & safety practices they have in place, which ultimately means you will receive a safe treatment.

2) Seek a business that values client and artist safety. We place great importance and priority on this regard. Beauty by Leanne seeks beauty courses that teach and value client safety and currently holds two Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) certifications. In light of the COVID-19 situation, Leanne recently obtained three additional infection control certificates from Milady Pro and Barbicide to ensure the most up-to-date knowledge and practices are implemented in our studio.

Our safe practices includes using mainly disposable single-use tools, cosmetic grade pigments, Health Canada approved disinfectants for cleaning and infection control, avoiding cross-contamination with proper wrapping and use of barriers, and implementing new COVID-19 Safety Protocols for all clients who enter the studio.

3) Client expectations and aftercare. Safety of any procedure also lies in the client’s hands. This means having realistic expectations with your semi-permanent brows and recognizing that it is normal to resort to some makeup in order to darken them. Touch ups are recommended only every 12-18 months to avoid scarring of the skin and ensure skin integrity is kept. If only a minor touch up is needed, it is best to use some brow makeup for the time being (until you feel you absolutely need a touch up). This is also why aftercare is so important; the longer you can prolong the life of your semi-permanent brows, the longer you can go without a touch up!

No matter how long ago it was done, we need to see it as not all previously done brows can be corrected. If you arrive for your appointment without having your previous eyebrow work pre-approved, this will result in forfeiture of your deposit and our less than 24 hours notice policy charges will apply.

Please submit a few clear photos of your current brows to info@beautybyleanne.ca for assessment. For efficient communication, please mention the following key information in your email:
- month and year you had it done
- type of procedure
- how many times you’ve had it done.

It’s important to note that corrective work is more difficult and may take a couple of sessions to achieve desired results.

All previous work will be charged at full prices and are subject to a $50-$100 correction fee depending on the severity of the case. Please have realistic expectations as we can only work with what we are given; the shape and darkness of your previous tattoo, the amount of hair you have, your brow muscles, your brow bone, and your skin condition.

Do I need a consultation prior to booking?

What are the Pre-Care Instructions for permanent brows?

What is the Aftercare for permanent brows like?

What is the permanent eyebrow tattoo process like?

How long do the brows take to heal?

Is there pain involved?

Clients who feel scared, consume caffeine prior to the appointment, and have premenstrual symptoms (PMS) or menstruate at the time of their appointment will feel more sensitivity during the treatment.

Since it is a tattoo, some discomfort is to be expected at the beginning of the process An topical anesthetic will be applied after one round of tattooing to keep the client comfortable for the rest of the procedure. If you are a frequent smoker, it may affect the effectiveness of the numbing agent. Topical anesthetics used may contain lidocaine, prilocaine, benzocaine, tetracaine and epinephrine.

Expect slight redness, slight swelling, and discomfort in the area after the procedure. You may take Tylenol prior to the appointment but NOT Aspirin or Ibuprofen (Advil) as they are blood thinners

Are there any booking considerations I should be aware of?

1.*Review Pre-Care Instructions for PMU brows and make sure you do not have conditions on the Contraindications List.

2. Avoid intense sun exposure/sunburns for 30 days before and after the treatment. Your skin needs to be in healthy condition to heal properly. If you show up to your appointment with a new tan or sunburn, you will be refused service and your deposit will be forfeited.

3. Do not book an appointment before a vacation or anytime you will be getting wet. You cannot get your brows wet for 1 week after and cannot swim for 2 weeks after. 

4. Allow yourself enough time for the appointment so that the artist is not rushing and potentially compromising service quality.

5. Do not come in while sick with a cold, flu, strep, etc. Your immune system is now comprised and you will not get the best results and there is a risk of infection. You will be refused service and your deposit will be forfeited.

6. Book your eyelash appointments before your brow appointment. If after, ensure you ask the technician to place a clean tissue paper on your brows to avoid hand-to-brow contact while they are healing the first 2 weeks.

What will cause my Semi-permanent Brows to fade faster?

- Skin type. Oily skin types will fade faster, especially for Microblading, due to the constant oil production which causes the oil to ‘push out’ the pigment from the skin faster. The Powder Brow technique would be the best option since pigment is implanted a little deeper into the skin.
- Sun exposure. The sun can damage the skin and cause the pigment to fade faster. Apply SPF 30+ daily on the brows to slow fading!
- Skincare ingredients. Vitamin c, retinols, Retin-A, AHA, and BHA based products exfoliate the skin and will cause faster fading if applied on the eyebrow area.
- Exfoliants. It’s best to avoid chemical peels, microdermabrasion, intense scrubs, etc on the eyebrow area.
- Lifestyle habits. Smoking will cause the pigment to fade faster.
- Skin cell turnover. The longer the regeneration of skin cells, the longer the pigment holds. Hence mature skin will hold pigment longer than youthful skin with faster metabolisms.
- Pigment colour. Selection of lighter pigments will fade quicker than darker pigments.
- Bleeding during the procedure. Bleeding will cause the pigment to be pushed out, leading to unideal healed results.