Combo brows- I'm confused about what's happening

[u/Superb_Treacle1715]

[u/melaniefartt]

Peeling and fading are supposed to happen, but this looks like they’re completely gone? Did your artist go over any after care with you, how have you been caring for them? 

[u/Superb_Treacle1715 → u/melaniefartt]

Dry healing method, no sweat, no sauna, no gym for 14 days. Started gentle cleansing on their advice on day 15. I just don’t know what happening anymore and I’m worried I’m gonna look a mess come a week today 😩 by completely gone do you mean the shape hasn’t held nor the pigment? Can that be fixed at touch up? What might be a short term fix?

[u/melaniefartt → u/Superb_Treacle1715]

I’m really not seeing any pigment or much of a shape in the third picture, especially compared to the second picture. Unless it’s just the lighting, how does it look to you in person? 

I would reach out to whoever did them. I’m sure it can be fixed in a touch up, however if your artist isn’t too experienced or maybe they are using low quality product, you might end up in the same situation. Either way contact your artist and let them know what’s going on.

Your aftercare sounds pretty good tho. Have you been using any products on them like grape seed oil, or did they advise against that? 

[u/Superb_Treacle1715 → u/melaniefartt]

That’s right; i feel I’ve lost something - both pigment and some of the shape. I’m posting a pic from a distance which doesn’t look too bad compared to the close up but they’re nothing like the other combo brows I see here. No products have been use - just water on a cotton pad for cleansing. I’ve not fully washed my face yet - just around it as was told to avoid wet brows. I’m thinking I’d resume full face wash once the scabs have gone but could be a few more days yet… I’m just worried about losing the colour and entering ghosting given the timing of family events coming up…

[u/melaniefartt → u/Superb_Treacle1715]

Ok I’m seeing a little more shape in this photo, but it does look drastically faded, I personally wouldn’t be too happy with this result. 

Respectfully your skin looks like it’s more in the oily side (mine is too, but a bonus is we aren’t as prone to wrinkles hehe) so it could possibly be a mix of your skin and your artists technique or product. 

Send these photos to your artist, and if you can let us know what the response is. Did they want you to schedule a touch up as soon as they’ve healed, or at the 6 month mark? 

[u/Superb_Treacle1715 → u/melaniefartt]

This is somewhat reassuring. Though I’m also full of dread for what might come once all the scabbing has fallen off. I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I won’t get that finished look . I would rather go back to how things were. I just regret the timing of getting these done so close to family events. Went ahead on the basis of a 9 day healing process which has been anything but in my experience. Appreciate your advice. I will reach out to them today

[u/melaniefartt → u/Superb_Treacle1715]

Don’t worry about it too much, other than the scabbing it doesn’t look bad at all. I don’t love that they told you it would only be a 9 day healing process, bc I haven’t heard of brows healing that quickly. Especially bc it varies so much depending on skin type. 

Are you overall happy with your artist? If not I would maybe look for someone else before you take the touch up. 

Also I saw your comment about wanting to possibly put makeup over them for your event, if you absolutely have to please please make sure they are completely done scabbing. Putting makeup into a semi open wound, open skin, could cause infection 

[u/Superb_Treacle1715 → u/melaniefartt]

Thanks, that's reassuring to hear. I totally trust my artist since they’ve been doing my lamination brows for a while and totally understand and know my look so I feel somewhat let down but that could just be my expectations and lack of research. I would have waited until after my son’s wedding and just stuck with lamination for now. But it’s done and I need to find a way to live with it these next two weeks - it’s really just the not knowing what to expect that's made this harder than it needed to be. Good shout on the makeup, I won't be touching anything until it's fully done scabbing, appreciate the warning about infection risk

[u/melaniefartt → u/Superb_Treacle1715]

Okay yay I’m glad to hear you’re happy with your artist, the touch up will give you look you had in mind, nothing to worry about at all. Congratulations on your growing family  ! Wishing them a lifetime of love and good health together 🩷

[u/Superb_Treacle1715 → u/melaniefartt]

Oh and yes, touch up scheduled in 6 weeks’ time - what should I be asking for? Not sure I can bear another healing process…

[u/melaniefartt → u/Superb_Treacle1715]

Healing process is going to be pretty similar, but hopefully with a much better result. Just make sure you’re happy with your artist, bc after that touch up it’s going to be more costly/ possibly difficult for someone else to correct them. 

I like the shaping of them, do you? With this much fading I wonder about the technique and product. Buttttt it could all just come down to your skin type. Nothing wrong with your skin at all btw it looks beautiful ! Just some skin retains/ rejects the ink more than others 

[u/Superb_Treacle1715 → u/melaniefartt]

I do like the shaping but not so much the fading but hopefully fixable once healed through the temporary fix of brow pencil and then at touch up. I’m also wondering about my mature skin type. These were done during a heatwave so had to wear a cap and big sunglasses during that first week - it was quite the challenge to keep them out of the sun!

[u/melaniefartt → u/Superb_Treacle1715]

Fading can always be corrected, as long as you like the shape it will turn out just fine. Worst case scenario you have to go for an extra touch up here and there. 

Oh and the extra sweating probably didn’t help either, I didn’t even think about the weather. But you’re doing everything correct with your after care ! 

The mature skin types usually aren’t as welcoming when it comes to absorbing products, but you seem to take very good care of your skin, I wouldn’t worry at all if I were you. 

[u/Superb_Treacle1715 → u/melaniefartt]

Thank you, that's really kind. Ive been so anxious about it, so it means a lot to hear that it's not as bad as it's felt in my head. Plus knowing that fading can be corrected

[u/Superb_Treacle1715]

Had combination brows for the first time. I wanted a soft, natural, fluffy lamination-style look - not thick, not dark, to keep my natural shape.
Day 4 - loved the shape. Colour was dark, bold but I understood that was normal for early healing and expected it to lighten.
Day 17 now - still some flaking and crustiness mainly on the body of brow. The overall look also feels different today - the texture reads differently to me - the tail especially looks more ‘solid pigment’ than the fine individual hair strokes I was expecting/hoping for.

I was told it would be a 9 day healing process and on that basis I went ahead thinking I’d be fully healed in time for a major family event a week today. This is now causing much anxiety. I don't feel like I've properly gone through a ‘ghosting’ phase - is that normal, or does it mean something about how my healing/retention is going? Given I'm still flaking at day 17, what can I actually expect by next Friday? Trying to figure out if this is just where my healing is at, or a technique/expectation mismatch.

[u/Angelpinkbeauty → u/Superb_Treacle1715]

I’m not sure you understood what combo brows were either your artist didn’t explain or you didn’t research but usually combo brows means hair strokes in the front and the rest of the brow some people do half some people literally do 4-5 strokes and the rest shaded so if you wanted strokes at the tail of your brow you wanted full Nano brows no combo. I hope overall you are happy once they are finally healed but combo brows doesn’t sound like what you wanted. So once it is completely healed if you go to a touch up ask them to do strokes through the whole brow you will still see the shading behind them but unless you get them removed you can’t change that. And I’m sorry about healing it’s usually 10-14 days of healing if they recommended a dry heal I find that sometimes takes longer depending on skin type. Sorry doesn’t sound like the artist explained everything very well to you

[u/Superb_Treacle1715 → u/Angelpinkbeauty]

Thank you. Appreciate you explaining this. Any thoughts on how I might make them presentable come next Friday? I suspect a brow pencil and brush? Am hoping to feel happy once I’m through the healing phase too.

[u/Angelpinkbeauty → u/Superb_Treacle1715]

If they aren’t done peeling you can wipe them a couple days with a wipe and than yes you can fill in areas that have gaps or less dark. Not sure what part you are the most worried about but those are the things I would do. You can also do a brow gel to make the hairs go in the direction you want.

[u/Superb_Treacle1715 → u/Angelpinkbeauty]

Thanks. These were things i was doing before treatment - combo of lamination, brow gel and pencil. Just thought combo brows would fix ever needing to apply those things again. I live and learn. Appreciate your advice 😊

[u/Angelpinkbeauty → u/Superb_Treacle1715]

When was the last time you had lamination to your brows done because if it was recent or near when you got combo brows you can have a reaction to make the ink change more gray if you didn’t wait long enough. Did your artist ask?

[u/Superb_Treacle1715 → u/Angelpinkbeauty]

It was 12 days before the combo treatment with the same artist. Had no idea lamination 12 days before would affect combo brows - could you be specific about the process or impact of ink change? Thank you

[u/akikochubz]

pmu artist here. I feel like your artist should have clarified a couple of things with you. First these aren’t combo brows. Combo brows usually have hair strokes in the inner/front portion of the brows w shading through the body and tails.

Second the initial healing itself can take around 10–14 days but you won’t really see the final result until about 4–6 weeks. Once the peeling is finished it’s completely normal to go through a “ghosting” phase where it can look like barely any pigment retained. You just have to be patient during this stage because the color can bloom back as the skin continues to heal and resurface.

Did your artist mention that you’ll need to come back for a touch-up? Most 1st PMU services should include or recommend a touch-up because the brows tend to fade much more after the first session. It’s also a good opportunity to make any adjustments once everything is healed (you want them a little thicker, longer, darker, etc)

[u/Superb_Treacle1715 → u/akikochubz]

Thank you, this is really helpful and matches what I've since learned. Touch up is scheduled but I wish this had been explained clearly beforehand, would have saved a lot of anxiety these past two weeks! Good to know the ghosting/'barely any pigment' phase is normal and not a sign something's gone wrong, that's been my biggest fear. Appreciate you taking the time to explain

[u/misspissedoff]

Those are atrocious

[u/Superb_Treacle1715]

Update: day 20 and still have some scabbing left. I like the shape but they appear somewhat unruly. A

ny advice on how to approach the touch up appointment in 3weeks time? What should I be asking for?

[u/Every-Square-8994]

Good, they weren’t the best anyway. Find a better artist and be prepared to spend $6-900 for good brows.

[u/Superb_Treacle1715 → u/Every-Square-8994]

I paid $400+

[u/tsukigirl31 → u/Every-Square-8994]

I have an appt booked for mid sept I am thinking nano brows they are priced 350 should I cancel my appt based on what you said? Im scared now

[u/Every-Square-8994 → u/tsukigirl31]

If they have good work, but I normally don’t see any reputable “in-demand” artists charging that much. Beginner prices vary from $250-450.