All I see here are pics of people’s journeys with red or yellow brows. Does it ever go away completely? Or does everyone just have yellow brows for the rest of their lives? I need hope!
Hello there Reddit family! My name is Nicole Blankenship, and I’m cosmetic tattoo artist and licensed laser technician and laser safety officer specializing in cosmetic and body tattoo removal. Not only do I specialize in this, I’ve been through pmu and tattoo removal myself with my own device and other devices for market research and comparison. :)
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I think it’s time to share some of my case studies on this platform. I fear that that’s LOTS of misinformation and quite frankly *bullshit* being spewed out to the masses. Before anyone one comes at me let me tell you a little about myself. I’ve been in the beauty and medical aesthetics field for 18 years, tattooing for 10, and offering laser on and off throughout that time. I have a studio located in Dallas, Texas called The Brow Project.
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I’ve had a cynosure Lutronic pico sure pro device for almost 2 years, and I have a strong understanding of pigmentology, and the colorants in most of these pmu inks/pigments and how each colorant behaves under laser.
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See above, my client had some aged old microblading that she had for over 8+ years. Yes it’s grey- but this is what is the result when any pigment with ORGANIC CARBON BLACK is present. BLACK = GREY/Blue as the pigment ages, the particles migrate deeper and the “Tyndall” effect is present.
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First session, I used the 755 to target the black in the pigment, spot size 6.
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12 weeks later, you’ll see that the healed result has a subtle warm tone. Not offensively orange/red/pink which says to me that these brows were originally done with an organic pigment line, but didn’t have the NEW HYBRID colorants that are the CULPRIT and to blame for the HOT red brows, pink brows, orange brows and yellow brows post laser.
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Second session, I used a 532 to target the residual warm and golden tones left in the skin. It’s important to remember that not everyone you see online chiming in on these topics have any actual real knowledge and experience with permanent makeup, pigments and permanent makeup removals SPECIFICALLY. I am an open book, and happy to provide as much insight as I can.
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Microblading IS NOT THE CULPRIT, PERMANENT MAKEUP ARTISTS the enemies or are they apples to apples. If you haven’t walked a mile in our shoes, why be so quick to judge?
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ALL TATTOOING CAUSES SCARIFICATION! Yes, some techniques are more traumatizing to the skin, but this is why technique,skill and advanced technique education matter. Doesn’t matter whether it’s microblading, nano, shading, and body tattooing. In under trained and unskilled hands- anything can turn into a nightmare, especially when needles are involved.
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Be curious, ask questions, be respectful. I’m not as active on here as I should be, but all the hate and negativity on here about the pmu community is so disheartening and upsetting to the professionals like me who are so passionate about what they do. I feel there is a misunderstanding between the Reddit community and us a pmu artists.
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(Please disregard any grammar or misspelling). Love and light <3 nicole
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instagram portfolio for more case studies
No one warned me that this could happen, and now I don't know how I can bring myself to show up at work tomorrow :(
I got my brows nanobladed with organic ink last December because I've been having trouble with constant overplucking over the years (it's grown to be an anxious habit of mine), but over the past 7 months since getting my brows done, I just never felt like myself when I looked in the mirror and my brows looked too dark and too long on my face to me. Even if other people told me it looked ok, I felt like it wasn't me, and I far preferred my lighter, shorter, straighter brows.
Decided to get them removed at a medspa and thought it wouldn't be a big deal because the girl who initially did my brows said the ink she uses fades completely within two years, so I thought it'd be fine. But now my brows are a bleeding mess and I don't want to go outside but have to be at the office every day, so this is an absolute nightmare. How do I cover these up and get them to heal ASAP? I have concealer and brow mascara ready, and LRP Cicaplast balm too. Anything else I can do or take to help?
I live in the UK and we seem really behind with pmu removal. I cant find anywhere that does picoway on eyebrows, all seem to be picosecond and picosure Is picosure okay? I am worried about yellow as have the dreaded phi ink. I have found an experienced technician who has the 3 different wave lengths, just not the machine that seems most recommended
I still see some dark patches like along the outline of my eyebrows and the tails. Idk if in the next session they’ll spot test the dark spots and use the 532 for the redness.
Anyone here had results like mine and had the redness significantly fade by the 12 week mark? I’m hoping they’ll still fade more but something also tells me that they’ll stay this intense red until the second session.
1st session : 6/17/26
2nd session : will be 9/09/26
as you can see i’ve had two spot tests on my tail on the bottom pic, it’s yellow because first it turned red, stayed faded red for a year , did spot test 2 on same spot and it turned yellow. Idk if the tech missed some spots and that’s why I see some remaining pigment or if they just reappeared post laser… someone let me know please who’s already been through all the red/black stages!
First three pictures are when I realised HOW BAD my brows were (probably because I was on maternity leave and had plenty of time ahaha). I’ve now had three sessions of laser (last three pictures are from today). There is still a slight shadow especially on my right side but they are so much better. I can’t believe I waited so long to get laser. I’ll probably do one final session in 2 months and then I’ll be done! Thank you for everyone in this sub who gave me the courage to bite the bullet!
Please see my initial post
As per my first post, I started the removal process for my powder ombre brows in February and did 4 sessions between then and April. At that point I was frustrated that it was taking so long since I hadn't started out with much ink left to start with and was also concerned because this one area (in the pictures of that post) was being stubborn and some days was lighter/darker. At my fourth session, the technician (a different tech than first 3 sessions, same place) mentioned it might be a scar at that point and that it wasn't reacting like ink would react. This is when I got worried, made my post, and went to the dermatologist.
The dermatologist mentioned the laser might have burned me and now I have hyperpigmentation in that area. She prescribed me hydroquinone (literally skin bleaching cream) to try and get rid of it and instructed me to use it for 6-8 weeks and wear sunscreen. Ever since the start I have been diligent with sunscreen and wearing a hat, even sometimes using medical tape/bandaids to cover the area to ensure no sun exposure.
At this point, I didn't want to say anything to the laser people. I wanted to see this cream through, it was $20, and had it fixed the issue I wouldve just moved on with my life.
NOW: Its 8 weeks later, the mark has gone away but not fully, and i consulted with 2 other specialists who also believe that this was a burn from the laser. To actually remove this mark I have now been quoted $1000 for a bbl + Moxy laser session which are procedures that one of the things they do is help with spots on the face. One provider did a Visia scan on my face which showed her how deep the pigmentation goes.
Since this is now escalating to a whole issue where I need to dish out an insane amount of money to fix THEIR mistake, I reached out today asking for a refund from my laser procedures now that I need to spend more money to fix it. I spent $400 ($100 per session) on this laser removal.
They have deemed that this isn't a burn and don't seem to want to do anything about it. I am going to go to my doctor for a note but i'm anxious that once I tell her she will get worried and not want to write it out or not specifically use the word "burn" in order to avoid being part of this issue. Is this a valid concern? idk. I understand the laser place wants to thoroughly review the situation so that they know what truly went on and to save their reputation, but I don't see how they don't see anything wrong when I'm literally using prescription cream to bleach my skin from their mistake.
I'm not sure what anyone CAN really tell me about this situation but I felt compelled to share it here. Please be nice, I already have immense anxiety about this. I don't like confrontation like this, and don't have issues with businesses often, but the situation is very matter of fact to me; I went to them for a service, they created another problem for me, and now I have to pay more to fix it. I think refunding me is the LEAST that they could do, I would still have to pay the REST which is also a pretty penny...
This is the result after first session. It was quick, the pain was manageable. My goal is to get rid of old permanent and do new brows. Please, share your experience with that.
Hi. Had my brows microbladed 6 years ago and a friend who is a microbladinf artist topped them up about 18 months ago.
I decided that due to the pigment of the original microblading becoming quite gray, to remove them and so started laser removal several months ago.ive now had 3 sessions but this red just has not seemed to budge. I think it the bit that my friend touched up.
The laser technician assured me that she has been using the correct wave length for red. But I'm unsure whether this is actually scarring.
I read online that if you press on a scar it should go clear/white. But that if it remains red it's pigment. This does stay red when I press on it.
What advice would anyone give me? An experience?
It's been 3.5 weeks a week once last (3rd) session.
I originally got my eyebrows and hairline microbladed back in 2011. I loved the initial results, but after time they leeched and faded out to gray. Two years back I decided to get laser tattoo removal on my hairline (I believe with pico laser). After ~3-4 sessions it left me with the yellow you can see in the pictures. Not great, but not *terrible* and definitely better than what my hairline looked like before. I’m also a freckly gal and think it lasered away some of my freckles which makes me paranoid the area looks more out of place and noticeable.
Now, I’m engaged! With wedding date set for next July. So I have exactly 1 year to commit down the eyebrow road if I’m going to. I want to feel happy and pretty in my pictures, and not have any regret that the photos don’t look like “me”. With how my brows look now and my hairline results, do you think I should start lasering off the brows asap or hold off till post wedding? Thanks everyone in advance :*)
I had a eyebrow transplant after microblading and I wanted it to be natural so I started the removal process. Not sure if I made the right decision, suddenly there are gaps in the eyebrows (in the right eyebrow the second photo), what do you think?
I can’t stop crying and freaking out and feeling like i’ve made a horrible decision. I’ve had my eyes micro-bladed since i was 15/16 and haven’t touched them since i was 17. Currently 22, got quite great at shaping my brows with makeup but wanted the microblading removed as it didn’t follow my natural brow line. I’ve been living in korea for the last four months and booked with a skincare clinic for pico laser today, the last day i was here (just one session). What have they done to the tail of the microbladed brow? I know brows usually turn red after the first session but the tails are a dark red and blotchy almost like it’s bleeding????
I have no idea how i’ll be able to cover this up! I have a date in four days, i can’t stop crying because it looks so bad. Will those bits heal? have i completely ruined myself? Im trying to find other people who have this similar colour but im struggling. Someone please just give me some advice - last photo is the before.
This is maybe 6 hours after i got the laser but the blotchy red of the tails was immediate.
Hi! I got my Hanafy nanobladed brows started on journey of removal yesterday. Today is day 1 post procedure and I’m glad they are not insanely orange but the fact they are orange and looking at some posts here I’m very very worried about them turning neon yellow down the line with subsequent treatment.
My treatment was with 1062 candela picoway yesterday one pass. Tech told me she would use 532 for the next session.
Here is the ingredient list for the pigment used on me Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, CI#21108, CI#12315, CI#77266, CI#77891, Isopropyl Alcohol, Rosin, Hamamelis Virginiana Extract
Would love to hear some input from people who do removal and know about this ink? I’ve heard it can be a nightmare to remove so im worried but hoping maybe with nanoblading the pigments weren’t as deep? I had mine first done may 2024 and a touch up march 2026 but noticed the lines all blurred together already… so I wanted to remove
First two pics were before, 3rd pic was immediately after, and the last is today
First picture is before - had my brows done 8 years ago and aside from an initial touch up a few weeks after I hadn’t had them redone.
I went to Removery in Knoxville, TN and the technician was very positive we’d have a good outcome and he was right. They did an initial pass on both sides then did some touch up zaps.
2nd picture is my right side which they think I may need to come back for in a while because it was a little more stubborn at the top. But overall I’m really happy with what I’m seeing. 2nd and 3rd pic are today, 5 days out from my appointment.
I had some slight swelling and redness the first 24 hours and It felt bruised when touched for a few days.
definitely recommend checking out Removery if you have one near you. I was a little nervous after seeing some older stories but they seem to have it really dialed in.