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Microblading & Nanoshading | My Beauty Protocol

Microblading & Nanoshading

Manual Micropigmentation

The simple version: Manual Brow Micropigmentation

Also known asPhiBrowsAmieaMicrobeau

Educational info only, not medical advice. Ask a qualified provider. Disclaimer · Terms

Fine, hair-like strokes are meticulously etched into the skin's superficial layer using a specialized hand tool, depositing pigment to make brows look fuller and shaped.

Downtime: 12 days
Sessions: 2
Pain: Low to medium
Cost per visit: Price level 3 of 5
Full course: 2 sessionsAsk the total price for all of them.
Results start: In 2–4 weeks
Results last: 1–3 years

Hair-like strokes tattooed into the brows, which fade over time.

Check first: Pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Will it work for me?

What people use it for

Tap one to see how it helps.

Skin types

Tap a profile to see what may change.

Skin types to ask about first

Oily or CongestedAsk first

On oily skin, hair strokes can blur and fade faster. Ask whether powder brows suit you better.

Sensitive or Redness-proneAsk first

Needs a gentle, barrier-safe plan and careful screening.

Breakout-proneAsk first

Active breakouts in the area may need to calm down first. Ask your provider.

Some people try this firstCheaper, same-day options. They cover or style. They don't treat.

Before a brow shape you can't wash off
- Brow pencil or powder in the shape you want
- Wear that shape for a few weeks first
What it won't do: It washes off. That is the point: you can change your mind.
Styling tip

How do the devices differ?

In no special order. Ask which one they use, and why.

3 devices

Ask your provider

Which device and settings will you use for my skin, and why?
Can we do a test spot first?
What result is realistic for me, and after how many sessions?

Before and after your visit

Plan it around your lifeMakeup, sun, workouts — see what fits around your treatment.

The visit

Duration: 2–3 hours
Total course: 2 months
Session interval: 4–8 weeks

What to expect, and what to avoid

Recovery

Bold for 2–4 days, then flaking for a week

May look swollen

12 days

Don't sleep on your face

7 days

Avoid sun

4 weeks

No makeup

2 weeks

No sweat or heat

2 weeks

Other aftercare

Don't pick, peel or scratch

Your provider may give you different timing.

Day by day

2 weeks before
No tanning or strong sun for 2 weeks before
2 weeks before
Stop retinoids, acids and scrubs for 2 weeks before
1 week before
No waxing or plucking for 1 week before
48 hours before
Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil and vitamin E for 48 hours before, if your doctor agrees
48 hours before
No alcohol for 48 hours before
48 hours before
No caffeine for 48 hours before
Right after your visit
- No alcohol for 48 hours
- No aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil or vitamin E for 48 hours, if your doctor agrees
After your visit
- Don't wash or wet the area for 7–10 days (even shower steam)
- No makeup, cleanser or creams on the brows for 10–14 days
- No direct sun for 4 weeks
- Avoid hard exercise, heat and heavy sweating for 10–14 days
- No swimming or baths for 10–14 days
- Gently blot the area with a clean tissue for the first day to absorb excess lymph fluid.
- Put on the ointment your provider gives you
- Initially, brows appear dark and bold for 2-4 days. Scabbing and flaking typically begin around day 5, lasting about a week. Avoid picking at scabs. After flaking, brows may look very light. Results start to show in 2–4 weeks, once the brows heal.

Side effects, and who should wait

Who may want to think twice

Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Active skin infection or dermatitis in brow area
Keloid tendency
Isotretinoin use within the last 6-12 months
Uncontrolled diabetes or immunosuppression
History of pigment allergy

Possible side effects

Common

Redness
Mild swelling
Tenderness
Itching
Scabbing and flaking during the healing process

Less common

Infection from unsterile equipment
Allergic reaction to pigment (can cause long-term itching, bumps, and inflammation).
Granulomas (inflammatory bumps around the pigment).
Keloid scarring (raised scars).
Unsatisfactory aesthetic results (asymmetry, unnatural color).
Pigment migration or blurring over time.
Damage to natural hair follicles from improper technique.

Your own risks may differ. Ask a qualified provider.

How it works, and common myths

Pigment is superficially deposited, allowing natural cellular turnover to gradually fade the color over time, unlike traditional tattoos.

A little more technical

A handheld tool with ultra-fine needles is used to manually deposit pigment into the superficial layer of the skin, creating crisp, hair-like strokes that mimic natural eyebrow hair.

Manual implantation of exogenous pigments into the papillary layer of the dermis using a sterile, single-use multi-needle blade. The superficial placement of the pigment allows it to be metabolized by the body over time, resulting in a semi-permanent effect.

Delivery method: Manual Hand-Tool Implantation; A specialized technician manually slices microscopic, hair-like channels into the upper dermis and fills them with customized pigment.
Mechanism category: Semi-Permanent Pigment Retention; Specifically targets the dermal-epidermal junction so the hair strokes fade naturally over 1-2 years rather than blurring into a permanent grey shadow.
Common device / product names: PhiBrows · Amiea · Microbeau · PhiBrows Hand Tool & Pigments · Amiea Hand Tools & Pigments · Microbeau/FK Irons PMU Machines
Clinical descriptor: Manual Micropigmentation