Nano Tattoo LV

Microblading and Machine Nano Brows are both forms of brow tattooing, the difference is in their application. To simplify things as much as possible, microblading is done by creating hairstrokes using a small blade to essentially create papercuts in the skin. Pigment is then rubbed into these cuts & left to heal to in theory create tattooed hairstrokes. Google a video demonstration if you want the visual. Main issue with this technique is the high risk of forming scar tissue, even after just one appointment. Scar tissue formation is permanently altering how the skin looks and behaves, including how easily that skin will be able to be re-tattooed in the future. The other issue with traditional microblading is how the artist has no control over saturation. There’s no building up the color slowly.. just cut, rub pigment in, and done. That’s full saturation right away that can lead to a healed color that’s too bold/dark and ages poorly. If you’re looking for a subtle, long-lasting result, you’re setting yourself to need removal sooner rather than later. This, in combination with it being done on the wrong skin type, is what leads to stroke blurring & migration where you lose crucial spacing between each individual stroke. It can end up looking like a filled-in powder brow tattoo after 6 months to a year. Machine Nano Brows are not done with a manual blade, they’re done with a tattoo machine using a single, thin needle. Think of how a sewing machine needle pokes in and out. I start off super light, barely depositing any color, and building it slowly in each pass. I’m in full control of how much I want to saturate individual strokes, I can create more realistic dimension by using different sized needles, and most importantly, no cutting open the skin which means a gentler healing process and protecting your skin in the long run.

Yes, this is a tattoo. Only difference between tattoos on the body and tattoos on the face is that your facial skin regenerates at faster rate than other areas of the body so things can lighten/soften over time (why things get refreshed or “touched-up” ever so often) but at the end of the day you should go into this with the mindset of it being permanent. If the idea of permanence scares you, a tattoo may not be for you. This is used as a more permanent solution for hairloss or aesthetic change than constant makeup application, brow dyeing, or tinting. Most importantly thing to remember is that a tattoo lives INSIDE the skin while real hair grows out of it. Meaning that no matter how talented the artist is, no matter how realistic it may look while it’s fresh, it is still a tattoo and has to be seen through the lens of the skin. It will never look exactly like real natural hair that grows out of your body. That being said, these services are meant to enhance your natural features and pull everything together, not be a distraction. I stay as close to your natural shape as possible while still making tweaks to symmetry and density. It heals like a soft borderless shadow and that darker background is what makes your brows seem fuller. Perfect for anyone looking to save time on daily makeup, fill-in problem areas, or restore definition/shape lost due to aging, medical conditions, or over-plucking.

Every initial appointment begins with a thorough consultation where we talk about your desired outcome and explain what technique(s) will get you there. It's always helpful to bring pictures of what you do and don't like to better lead me in the right direction. After taking some photos, I’ll begin the mapping process where I'll draw your new shape/hairstrokes in pencil. This will give you a general idea of what the end result will look like. Once we’ve collaborated and you've approved of the drawing, I'll mix your custom colors and we'll begin the tattoo which normally takes around 1.5-2 hours. Once your new brows are complete, I'll take some more photos, review your aftercare instructions with you in detail, schedule your touchup appointment, and provide you with supplies you'll need for proper healing.

The brows will go through various stages throughout the healing process that you cannot interupt and it’s why I advise against going on vacation or a special event right after getting them done, for at least two weeks. Immediately after the appointment, you may experience a mild sunburn sensation over the brow area. This is normal but only temporary. The color will appear bold on the first day since the ink is fresh, but keep in mind that it will lighten significantly (20-40%) once healed. On the second day, the color may look a shade darker due minor swelling and redness, this is normal after a tattoo and will not stay that way. Over the following days, starting around Day 5 you may experience some light flaking as the skin heals, still normal. The flaking can last 10-14 days. It's crucial you follow aftercare instructions carefully to ensure optimal results. Final healed color will be visible at around 4-5 weeks so patience is key. Refer to my ‘Care’ page for full aftercare instructions but I will always go over those details in depth at the end of your actual appointment.

Pain is obviously subjective and varies person to person but clients describe moments of slight discomfort rather than actual pain. On a scale of 1–10, the common rating is a 2 or 3 but I’ll put it to you this way: 95% of my clients end up falling asleep while I'm working on them so pain should truly be the least of your worries. I also apply a numbing agent a couple times during the procedure to keep you super comfortable, just be sure to make me aware of any allergies or lidocaine sensitivity.

Two appointments are typically needed to reach your desired result. The initial appointment is followed by a touchup session 8-12 weeks later. This allows the skin time to fully heal, internally & externally, and gives the pigment a chance to settle before we make adjustments to your shape and color. Depending on certain medical factors and/or prexisiting conditions, additional touchup appointments may be needed to achieve the desired result. Uncommon but it does happen.

After your touchup appointment, you can expect the tattoo to last a couple years before considering a refresh. Suncreen over the brows (once fully healed) is the #1 thing I recommend to ensure the work lasts as long as possible. The sun is a tatto’s worst enemy. Refresh timeline of course depends on various factors such as skin type, lifestyle, sun exposure, aftercare, etc. but I need my clients to wait as long as possible between refresh appointments and TRUST ME when I say to wait longer so we aren't oversaturating the skin with too much ink. Body tattoos don’t get touched up every year so what makes the face any different? I may even need you to get some of the exisiting ink lasered out to make room for new ink and that’s a totally normal part of the process. All of my advice is to ensure a soft, natural result that lasts as long as possible. Layering new pigment over old ink over and over again, year after year will not do what you want it to and will accelerate the need for removal. If you're ever unsure, you can always reach out with pictures for guidance.

I do my best and most natural work on non-tattooed skin and will always recommend you remove unwanted work first before placing more ink into the skin. I can’t change what’s already there. That being said, I do take clients with previous work on a case-by-case basis. This mainly depends on how much pigment is leftover and what your desired service/outcome is. Just note that in order to cover up old ink, I need to go thicker and darker than what you already have in order for it to show. If you aren’t okay with that or were hoping for a lighter result, your only option is removal. Laser tattoo removal is the quickest, safest option for removing old ink and I have relationships to the best laser techs in the city, specializing in removing old brow pigment that I can refer you to upon request. If you aren’t sure of what you’re working with or want a referral for laser, use the ‘Contact’ section on my site to reach out and attach a CLEAR, WELL-LIT photo of the current tattoo if you’re wanting a coverup.