How do I avoid slug brows?

This is probably one of the biggest fears my clients have, and I completely understand why! Nobody wants to walk out with big, dark, blocky brows that don't suit their face.

It all starts with the shaping and symmetry. Before we begin, I carefully map your brows and use a pencil to show you exactly how the finished shape will look. This is very much a two-way conversation! Yes, I measure symmetry, but your personal preferences matter just as much. We work together until you're completely happy with the shape.

Next comes technique. I work with extremely light pressure in the skin, always prioritising your skin's health and how your brows will heal long term.

Colour choice is just as important. I carefully select a target colour based on your skin tone and natural hair colour. I'll never deliberately go too dark expecting the pigment to fade, because everyone's skin retains pigment differently. I'd always rather build colour gradually than start too dark.

That's also why microblading is a two-step process. At your top-up, I can assess your healed results and boost the colour or make small refinements if needed.

My approach is always cautious, bespoke and focused on keeping your brows beautifully natural. No slug brows will ever leave my studio!

What if I don't like the shape of my brows?

Please don't worry! This is exactly why I spend so much time on the mapping process before we even think about starting your microblading treatment.

I'll carefully measure your facial symmetry and draw your proposed brow shape using a pencil, so you can see exactly what we're aiming to achieve before any pigment touches your skin.

This is very much a two-way conversation. I might recommend a particular shape based on your facial features, but ultimately, they're your brows and I want you to absolutely love them!

If there's anything you're unsure about, we'll adjust the shape together until you're completely happy. There's never any pressure to agree, and I won't begin the treatment until you've seen and approved your brow shape.

My aim is always to enhance your natural beauty, not change the way you look. And remember, eyebrows are sisters, not twins! Perfect mathematical symmetry isn't always what looks most natural on a face.

Choosing the perfect colour is so much more than simply matching a shade of brown to your eyebrows!

I always start by assessing your skin tone, the amount of melanin in your skin and your undertones, including whether your skin has more red or yellow tones. I then look closely at your natural eyebrow hair colour to select the most suitable pigment.

I work from five main shades of brown, carefully choosing the right colour for each individual client.

One thing I often explain is that choosing a microblading pigment is very different from choosing an eyebrow pencil. A pencil sits directly on top of your skin, whereas microblading pigment is implanted beneath the surface. Your skin's undertones influence how that pigment appears once healed, which is why colour selection requires a completely different approach.

I always aim to match your natural eyebrow hair as closely as possible, rather than going unnecessarily dark and expecting it to fade.

My philosophy is simple: we can always build more depth at your top-up, but it's much harder to take colour away. I'd much rather work cautiously and create beautifully soft, natural-looking brows that complement you.

A patch test is optional, but I always want you to feel completely comfortable and confident before your treatment.

If you'd prefer, you can book a 30-minute in-person consultation for £15, where we can discuss the treatment in detail, answer any questions and carry out a patch test to check for potential allergic reactions. This must be done at least 48 hours before your microblading appointment.

Some clients simply love having the opportunity to meet me, see my studio and talk everything through before committing to their new brows!

Alternatively, you can book your microblading appointment directly without a separate patch test, You'll be asked to sign a consent form acknowledging that you've chosen not to have a patch test and understand the potential risks.

Please remember that even a negative patch test cannot guarantee you won't experience an allergic reaction.

Your safety and peace of mind will always come first.

How many microblading top-ups will I need?

Everyone's skin heals and retains pigment differently, which is why I always explain that microblading is a two-step process, although some clients may need a third appointment.

After your first microblading treatment, you'll return to see me 6–12 weeks later. During the healing process, your skin naturally sheds its surface layers, taking away any pigment sitting within those layers. This is when I can assess how well your skin has retained the hair strokes.

I like to think of healed results as a scale:

1. Excellent retention: Some clients return with beautifully healed brows, where almost every hair stroke has retained its colour. We may only need to refine one or two strokes! These clients may not need another colour boost for up to two years.

2. Good retention, but lighter colour: Other clients return with all their hair strokes visible, but the colour has healed a little lighter than we'd like. This is where I can adjust the pigment choice and carefully go back over the strokes to build more depth. Again, these clients may not need another top-up for up to two years.

3. Very little retention: Occasionally, clients return with very few visible hair strokes. This tells me their skin may be more challenging to work with. I'll carefully review my notes from your first appointment, assess how your skin has healed and decide what needs adjusting. Sometimes it's the colour choice, sometimes it's the technique, and occasionally a different brow treatment may be more suitable.

These clients are more likely to need a third appointment, another 6–12 weeks later, to build the results gradually.

My approach is never to keep adding pigment unnecessarily. I'll always assess your healed results, look after your skin and guide you towards the best long-term outcome.

The aim is beautifully natural brows with as little unnecessary trauma to your skin as possible.

This is one of the most common questions I get asked, and the answer is it really does depend on your skin!

Permanent makeup, including microblading, is designed to be long-lasting, but how your skin retains pigment varies from person to person. Some clients enjoy beautifully defined brows for up to two years before needing a colour boost, while others may notice their brows fading sooner.

There are several factors that influence how long your permanent makeup lasts, including your skin type, age, lifestyle, skincare routine, sun exposure and how your body responds to the pigment. Oily skin, for example, can sometimes struggle to retain those delicate hair strokes as clearly as drier skin.

This is why I always assess your skin before deciding which treatment and technique will give you the best long-term results.

One thing I'm particularly passionate about is how your brows will look years down the line, not just when they're freshly done. I work with a gentle technique, carefully selected pigments and a cautious approach to building colour. I never want to overload your skin with unnecessary pigment simply to make your brows last longer.

My advice? Don't rush into yearly top-ups just because another year has passed. If your brows still look beautiful, leave them alone! I'll always assess whether a colour boost is genuinely needed.

My goal is to create natural, beautiful brows that age gracefully, while always protecting the health of your skin.

Does microblading hurt?

This is probably one of the biggest worries my clients have, and I completely understand! But you'll be pleased to know that most of my clients are pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the treatment actually is.

I describe the sensation as a light scratching feeling across the skin, rather than pain. Everyone's pain threshold is different, but many clients tell me afterwards that they were expecting it to be far worse!

I don't use any anaesthetic or numbing creams during my microblading treatments. Instead, I focus on working with extremely light, controlled pressure, creating delicate, natural hair strokes while always looking after the health of your skin.

I'm a firm believer that beautiful microblading doesn't require unnecessary trauma to the skin. My technique is gentle and precise, with your comfort and long-term healed results always in mind.

And please don't worry if you're feeling nervous! I'll talk you through everything, regularly check how you're feeling and make sure you're comfortable throughout.

Most clients leave saying, "Was that it? I worried for nothing!"