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eyebrows

(87 Posts)
SalsaQueen Wed 25-Sept-19 20:31:25

After plucking them in the 70s, my eyebrows haven't grown, and now that I'm 60, they are even thinner than ever. I'm sick of having to draw them on every day, trying to get them to look even and a decent shape.

I'm thinking of having them tattooed on - has anyone had it done? Would you recommend it?

Bazza Thu 26-Sept-19 11:03:27

I had my eyebrows tattooed some years ago, not because they were particularly sparse, just very very pale. It was a friend of my daughter’s, she did it for free as a demonstratoin in her salon. I have to say not painless but I was delighted with the result. I was a little naive in thinking as a tattoo it would last for ever. It didn’t. I had them touched up a few years later, obviously had to pay for that which was quite expensive. I haven’t had it done since. If you do go for it find someone really good, do research.

Americanpie Thu 26-Sept-19 10:46:19

I have twice and its a bit painful despite the numbing cream but once settled the "eyebrows" look great. Its also takes a while and two sessions. Anyone who does a rush job is not doing it properly. However these are not like a permanent tatoo and I was warned that, they, "the tiny strokes" would fade and they have. I am now left with a light brown stain which is ok if you don't look closely. Not sure I'd bother again at £200. Might just get makeup.

nannypiano Thu 26-Sept-19 10:43:36

I lost my eyebrows at age 50 after a thyroidectomy. I have been pencilling them in ever since. After a stroke two years ago I could no longer drawer them in because of loss of hand use. So I used to get other people to do it for me when available. Some of the results were hilarious. My son thought it very amusing to have a go and laughed at the result. He only got one chance to make me a laughing stock though.
A friend in her late 70's had hers tattooed and it looked very unnatural . I obviously couldn't tell her. I was so glad I eventually managed to drawer mine in again myself with practice.

TrendyNannie6 Thu 26-Sept-19 10:43:20

I have underactive thyroid and my brows have thinned so much I’ve been on levothyroxine for 14 years n they haven’t got any thicker, I’m not a lover of tattooed brows I’ve seen some horrendous ones ppl that have had it done and not checked the therapist before going, microblading looks beautiful very natural, I go and have hd brows three times year as trying to get the shape it’s very difficult with sparse brows though have to be patient

chattykathy Thu 26-Sept-19 10:42:03

I had mine done over 3 years ago and love them. Mine were very sparse and pale through a combination of over plucking when young and an underactive thyroid. Make sure you go to a reputable beauty therapist and ask to see photos of their work. I had a natural 'hair stroke' done in a colour that complemented my skin tone. Most people don't realise they're not real. I'd say go for it but do your homework.

catd Thu 26-Sept-19 10:40:24

I had mine tattooed three years ago and am still delighted with them. Fortunately the therapist that did them was a friend of my daughter. She has won awards for her permanent make up work. She follows the natural shape of your eyebrow bone. Just make sure you do good research. That you see photos of her work and have a patch test. The therapist should pencil in the shape until you are happy with the choice. She should also discuss colour with you. I didn't find it painful, just a bit tingly. They do put on anaesthetic gell
before starting. The only thing that may shock you is that for a about a week the finished brows
are very prominent but with the correct after care this flakes of and voila eyebrows. I never have to bother with them at all.

mazgoli Thu 26-Sept-19 10:34:46

I've had mine microbladed and I can honestly say it's one of the best decisions I've ever made. I used to try to draw mine on but when I took my specs off in order to do it, I couldn't see what I was doing! My daughter recommended the lady I went to, and she's brilliant. We're in Nottingham, don't have any idea where you are SalsaQueen.

Nannyannie51 Thu 26-Sept-19 10:32:30

I had my eyebrows microbladed last year and was very pleased with result. Its not for the faint hearted but worth it. I'm going back for a retouch next week where the color has faded slightly. I will take pain killers before I go and they do apply numbing cream

Rosina Thu 26-Sept-19 10:12:48

Looking at old photos I had really good, nicely shaped eyebrows. In a fit of insanity I reduced them to a thin line - in the seventies, like everyone else on here - and have pencilled them in for years. I now have them dyed monthly, but am considering microblading. My local lady told me that you have the treatment, they then fade slightly over a couple of weeks, you have a further treatment which should last for up to eighteen months. Might well be more economical than having them dyed so reguarly.
And WHY do hairs on your chin keep reappearing in spite of the most vicious plucking for decades??

RosesAreRed21 Thu 26-Sept-19 10:03:06

Did the same as yours and eventually had nothing much there at all, and hate the pencilled in look. I had mine microbladed a couple of years ago, and had it touched up this year, and must say I absolutely love it, such a difference and looks so natural.

TerriBull Thu 26-Sept-19 09:54:09

Eyebrow products are the new mascara! I bet women spend more on these now than eyelash enhancers, I know I do, sadly eyelashes seem to get sparser as we get older.

I agree shysal, about the symmetry of eyebrows, one of mine arches more than the other, but oh to have perfect arched eyebrows, I do suffer from eyebrow envy these dayssad and whilst the brow would have been much ignored in my makeup routine once upon a time, it's now the most important part. Never go out without having done my eyebrows these days.

GracesGranMK3 Thu 26-Sept-19 09:52:15

Salsa Queen, before you do anything get your thyroid checked. My eyebrows had thinned greatly and almost disappeared at the outer edges. I thought this was because I had plucked them.

Two years (I think) after being put on thyroxine my absolute confidence that I had caused the thinning has been overthrown and I have very normal eyebrows. It is a symptom of hypothyroid but I didn't now that until I was diagnosed.

shysal Thu 26-Sept-19 09:37:47

I never plucked my eyebrows when younger, but they are still sparse now, so think it is just an age thing. I pencil them in, not very evenly, but I heard a beautician say that brows can be siblings rather than twins, so it doesn't matter if they don't exactly match each other.
I bought one of the JML pens which are being advertised on TV at the moment, but the colour is far too dark even though I chose dark blonde, the palest. I can rarely find a pencil to match my hair colour which is greying dark brown. The best I have found is a Top Shop grey/brown one which has been discontinued, so have bought all available ones on Ebay!
I wouldn't be brave enough to have microblading in case it was too false-looking. I don't wear much make-up apart from mascara.
There have been previous threads on this subject so a search might reveal more helpful comments.

lovebeigecardigans1955 Thu 26-Sept-19 09:28:56

A 'halfway house' solution could be Tattoo Brow by Maybelline which you paint on maybe twice a week. In the ad the girl uses it very thickly but you can turn the brush sideways to make narrower brows.
It still requires a fair bit of precision but you can wipe it off and start again if necessary. I've found this quite useful.
I over-plucked my brows in the 70's and then chemo almost finished them off completely.

Persistentdonor Thu 26-Sept-19 09:28:25

Charleygirl I'm with you, in fact, if what I have on my legs plus eyebrows was on my head I would be a very happy bunny! hmm

Gonegirl Thu 26-Sept-19 09:23:19

My aunt accidentally singed all of hers off when bending over the ancient gas stove, back in the forties. She lived all her life with drawn in eyebrows.

Gonegirl Thu 26-Sept-19 09:21:19

I have never been an eyebrow plucker - too painful. But I can now feel a rogue long coarse curly one that has got to come out!

Charleygirl5 Thu 26-Sept-19 09:16:42

What has happened to mine? I have plucked mine all of my life and I have two hedges unless looked after.

DanniRae Thu 26-Sept-19 09:09:39

My eyebrows are sparse too because of too much plucking. (Why do the hairs on my chin regrow although they are plucked frequently? Just a thought!) Anyway, I have a fringe that covers my eyebrows so that's one solution smile

Sara65 Thu 26-Sept-19 08:03:23

I’m not sure what micro blading is, can anyone enlighten me?

BlueBelle Thu 26-Sept-19 06:36:15

I have never done anything to my eyebrows never plucked coloured or a thing and although I say it myself they are pretty decent brows but my elderly cousin has plucked hers all her life and for years has had nothing so drawn them on Now at the age of 93 she has had them tattooed she said it was painful and she wouldn’t do it again That’s my only experience

Deedaa Wed 25-Sept-19 23:33:20

Luckylegs I would be worried about infection as well. You have to be so careful .

Luckylegs Wed 25-Sept-19 23:15:10

I’ve investigated this before as I’m in the same boat but I didn’t realise it only lasts ten years or so, it’s quite expensive but mainly because the one girl I asked wouldn’t do mine because I have a blood cancer and would bruise easily so her insurance wouldn’t allow her to do mine. What a shame.

Urmstongran Wed 25-Sept-19 22:35:00

Gosh weren’t we silly plucking out (just about all) of our eyebrows in 1969? What on Earth were we thinking of? We must have walked around looking permanently surprised! Did we think we looked good?
?

CanadianGran Wed 25-Sept-19 22:27:28

Some girls in my office have had microblading and it looks very natural.

My MIL who is late 80's had hers tattooed several years ago, and the colour is not very natural now; they have faded to a bluish colour. I would look into micro-blading, but as others have said, try to get someone with a good reputation.