Immediately following the procedure: Some tenderness, puffiness/swelling, and redness is expected. Your brows will be about 30% darker than what they will be once fully healed. They also appear thicker due to swelling. Some will look more red than others, depending on skin type and pigment color. Don’t be concerned with the darer, thicker appearance, as this is part of the healing process.
Day 1 (Day of procedure): Due to oxidation, your brows will begin to darken. Any redness will start to subside. Your brows will weep. Be sure to blot excess fluids off.
Day 2-3: Your brows will appear dark. Your brows may weep. Be sure to continue blotting* Be sure to wash at bedtime at the end of 48 hours and begin applying a rice grain-size amount of ointment.
Day 4-5: Your brows will begin flaking. The darker outer color will start to flake off, revealing the lighter color. Do not scratch, itch, and/or rub your brows as this could result in the color healing unevenly, as well as risk scarring and/or infection. Be sure to keep your brows moist, but don’t overdo the ointment.
Day 5-10: Your brows will finish flaking. Once finished, the color will be lighter and the brows themselves will be a little thinner. Do not pick or peel the flakes off prematurely as this could result in the color healing unevenly, as well as risk scarring and/or infection. Be sure to stop ointment once flaking stops.
Day 10-15: The color may be very light or have an ashy tone for a few days until the color clarifies. It could appear that you are missing color and have very light areas during this time due to layers of dry skin over the new pigment.
Day 15-30: Color will fully bloom during this time, but brows may still appear a little patchy until touch-up. You may begin using brow makeup if desired* You are encouraged to begin using sunscreen to protect your new brows.
Next, read my article about Brow Aftercare.