If you’ve started looking into permanent eyebrows, you’ve probably already come across lots of
different names – microblading, nano brows, nanoblading, hairstroke brows, combination brows,
powder brows and ombré brows.
It can get confusing very quickly!
One of the things I always tell my clients is that you don’t need to know which technique you need
before you book. That’s my job.
I’ve been working in permanent makeup for over 12 years and have trained in lots of different brow
techniques over that time. Rather than offering one particular style to everyone, I look at your natural
brows, your skin, the result you’d like and what I think is going to heal best for you.
So, what’s actually the difference between all these permanent brow treatments?
What is Microblading?
Microblading is probably one of the best-known permanent brow treatments.
It involves creating very fine individual hairstrokes through the brow to imitate your natural eyebrow
hairs. When it’s suitable for your skin and done well, the finished result can be incredibly natural.
Microblading can be a great option if you have gaps through your brows, sparse natural hair or simply
want to improve your brow shape while keeping a soft, natural appearance.
However, microblading isn’t automatically the best option for everyone.
Your skin type, existing brow hair and how your skin is likely to retain the hairstrokes all need to be
considered.
What Are Nano Brows?
Nano brows are another way of creating realistic hairstrokes, but instead of using a traditional
microblading hand tool, the strokes are created using a permanent makeup machine and a very fine
needle.
You’ll sometimes see treatments advertised as nano brows, nanoblading or machine hairstrokes.
The aim is similar – to create the appearance of natural eyebrow hairs – but the technique used to put
the pigment into the skin is different.
Nano brows can be a beautiful option when we want a soft, realistic brow, and in some cases I may
recommend this technique instead of traditional microblading.
What Are Combination Brows?
Sometimes hairstrokes alone aren’t quite enough.
Combination brows combine realistic hairstrokes with soft shading. This allows us to keep that
natural, fluffy appearance at the front of the brow while adding a little more definition and fullness
through the rest of the brow.
They’re a lovely option for someone who likes a natural brow but still wants a bit more definition.
Again, the amount of shading can be completely tailored to you. Permanent makeup doesn’t have to
mean dark or heavily made-up brows.
What Are Powder or Ombré Brows?
Powder brows use shading rather than individual hairstrokes to create the brow.
Don’t let the word powder make you think this automatically means a very heavy or blocky eyebrow.
Powder brows can be created incredibly softly.
An ombré brow is usually softer towards the front and gradually becomes more defined through the
body and tail of the brow.
For some clients, a powder or ombré technique can actually give a better healed result than
hairstrokes, particularly depending on their skin type.
They can also be a great choice if you normally like your brows to look a little more polished or
defined.
So, Which Permanent Brow Treatment Should I Book?
This is the easy part – you don’t have to decide.
One of the reasons I don’t separate every technique into lots of different permanent brow booking
options is because I don’t want you choosing a treatment based on what’s currently popular on
Instagram or TikTok.
The newest technique isn’t necessarily the best technique for your skin or your brows.
I’ve trained in microblading, nano and machine techniques, combination brows, powder brows and
different styles of permanent makeup over the years. I continue to train because the permanent
makeup industry is always changing.
If there’s new training that I think will improve the results I can offer my clients, you can pretty much
guarantee I’ll want to do it!
But having different techniques available means I can choose the technique to suit the person rather
than trying to make the person suit the technique.
What If I Have Hardly Any Natural Brow Hair?
You absolutely don’t need to have a full natural brow to have a natural-looking result.
Permanent makeup can be particularly helpful for people who have naturally very sparse brows or
who have lost some or all of their eyebrow hair.
In fact, helping clients who had lost their natural brow hair through illness and medical treatment was
one of the reasons I originally trained in permanent makeup.
With careful placement, colour choice and the right technique, we can create a brow that works with
your face even when there isn’t much natural hair to follow.
Will My Permanent Brows Look Natural?
They certainly can.
My aim isn’t to give every client the same eyebrow. Your brows should suit your face, colouring,
natural hair and personal style.
Some clients come to me wanting brows so natural that people wouldn’t immediately know they’d had
permanent makeup.
Others want more definition because they’re used to pencilling their brows in every day.
Neither is right or wrong.
Before we start, we’ll talk about what you like and create a shape and style specifically for you.
Permanent Brows & Microblading in Perth, Scotland
If you’re looking for microblading, nano brows, combination brows, powder brows or permanent
eyebrows in Perth, you’re very welcome to come and have a chat with me.
You don’t need to arrive knowing the terminology or exactly what treatment you need.
Tell me what you want your brows to look like, and I’ll help you work out the best way of getting there.
Book a permanent makeup consultation with Abby at Abby’s Beauty Secrets in Perth, Scotland, and
we can find the right brow treatment for you.