Laser Brow Removal: What Most Artists Don’t Tell You
If you’ve ever had PMU brows that turned too dark, too red, too grey, or just don’t feel like you anymore—you’re not alone.
I see it every week. Brows that were supposed to be “low maintenance” become a daily stress.
And for many, the idea of laser removal feels scary.
But here’s what most people (and unfortunately, some artists) don’t tell you: removal doesn’t have to be risky or damaging—if it’s done properly.
If you’ve ever been told that red or orange brows can’t be removed with laser—you’ve been misinformed.
I hear it far too often:
“I went to another technician and they said laser doesn’t work on red pigment.”
That’s simply not true.
With the right method, red and orange PMU brows can be safely removed—without risky colour corrections or adding more trauma to the skin.
The Truth About Red Pigment & “Colour Flipping”
Here’s what’s really happening when you have old, red-toned brows:
Your skin is holding onto warm residual pigment, often left over from poor previous treatments or low-quality inks.
Most laser techs don’t know how to deal with it, so they either:
Tell you it’s impossible to remove, or
Offer a colour correction (i.e., tattooing orange or grey over it—which just masks the problem).
But red isn’t permanent—it’s just misunderstood.
My Method: Science-Led Removal
I use a dual-wavelength laser strategy designed specifically for PMU:
532 nm – This targets red/orange pigments and “flips” them to black
(Yes—on purpose! This is not damage, it’s chemistry.)1064 nm – In the next session, we safely break down the now-black pigment
This staged approach allows the pigment to be cleared layer by layer, rather than pushed deeper or covered up. The result?
A cleaner fade, safer skin integrity, and no ghosty grey or muddy leftovers.
Why I Avoid Colour Corrections
Some artists still offer to tattoo orange pigment over blue or grey brows to “neutralise” them.
Here’s my unpopular opinion:
That’s just painting over the problem.
Over time, those corrections often blend, fade patchily, or resurface with even weirder undertones—and they make proper removal much harder later on.
Laser is a slower fix—but it’s the right fix.
What My Clients Experience
Many of my clients come to me after being told there was no hope. But when we take the right steps, they’re shocked at how much improvement we can achieve—even in just one or two sessions.
“I had red brows for years and thought I’d be stuck with them forever. Gabriella explained the process so clearly and after just a couple of treatments, I already feel like myself again.”
— Client in Redhill
Red Can’t Be Removed”—The Myth That Needs to Go
If you’ve ever been told that red or orange brows can’t be removed with laser—you’ve been misinformed.
Many clients come to me after seeing other technicians who either:
Say laser doesn’t work on red pigment
Offer colour corrections as the “only” option
Warn that laser will damage your brows or skin
None of that is true when you understand the science.
I’ve removed bright red and stubborn orange pigment safely and successfully—by using a two-step approach that flips the pigment to black first using 532 nm, then clears it with 1064 nm.
Laser Isn’t Just for “Botched Brows”
Here’s where our industry has failed people:
Laser removal is still treated like a last resort—a big scary step only taken when everything’s gone wrong.
But I believe we should be talking about laser more, not less.
Because the truth is:
Not all pigment choices age well (cool ash tones, anyone?)
Shapes that suited someone in 2019 might not fit their face now
Clients’ skin, preferences, and brow goals change
And sometimes? Even good artists just miss the mark
The “Full Cup” Theory
I often explain it like this to my clients:
Your skin is like a cup. PMU adds ink to that cup. But your skin can only hold so much before it overflows.
If you keep layering pigment on pigment, you’re not getting better brows—you’re getting oversaturation, blurring, colour shifting, and a muddy mess.
That’s when we need to empty the cup—even just partially—before we can refill it with something beautiful, natural, and fresh.
Laser doesn’t always mean starting from scratch.
Sometimes it’s just the space your skin needs to breathe before we begin again, the right way.
Removal as Part of a Healthy PMU Journey
This is why I want to shift the conversation in our industry.
Laser isn’t a punishment—it’s a tool.
Used ethically and intentionally, it’s the difference between forcing another layer on top of trauma… and giving the client a clean canvas they can trust.
Real Stories, Real Results
“I was so afraid to go down the laser route, but Gabriella made me feel safe from the first consultation. My brows were dark, red, and heavy… now they’re faded, soft, and I actually feel excited about starting fresh.”
— Client in Redhill
What to Expect in a Removal Consultation
When you book with me, you’re not just booking a treatment—you’re booking honesty, education, and options.
We’ll look at:
Your pigment type and saturation
Skin integrity
Whether full or partial removal is needed
A realistic plan to either fade, lift, or reset entirely
I’ll never recommend laser unless it’s truly needed. But when it is?
We’ll do it safely, in stages, and with long-term skin health in mind.
