5. Transformations
The Revolution of Knowledge
As we look forward, it's essential to acknowledge significant shifts in expertise and understanding within the semi-permanent makeup field, akin to a revolution in the power of true knowledge. In recent years, both clients and artists have deepened their understanding. They've realized that even the most acclaimed teachers have limited expertise.
This increased awareness has highlighted considerable flaws in existing techniques. For example, with microblading, maintaining the sharpness of brows in a continuous retouching cycle is challenging. Typically, after one and a half to two years, keeping microbladed brows sharp becomes increasingly difficult. If organic-based pigments are used, the skin might become saturated with carbon, leading to a grayish appearance. In contrast, medium-quality inorganic pigments can cause a constant reddish hue due to the transformation of iron oxides' oxidation levels, interacting with skin ferritins.
These insights have sparked a demand for deeper, more comprehensive knowledge and innovative solutions in the industry. Clients and artists seek techniques that effectively address these issues, indicating a shift towards more sophisticated and advanced approaches in semi-permanent makeup. This evolving landscape emphasizes the need for ongoing research, development, and education to meet these emerging challenges and expectations.
Coming to Terms with Reality
In the world of powder brows, both clients and artists are becoming more aware of certain realities associated with this technique. The pixelated look, characteristic of soft and classic powder brows, is effective on specific skin types. Over time, many powder brow treatments blend into a uniform shaded area, much like the effect observed in microblading. This similarity in results has reached a point where, after years of retouches, even experienced artists might find it challenging to identify the original technique used on a client’s brows.
Another challenge with powder brows is managing client expectations regarding the pattern. Not every client seeks a patterned look, but various tests involving hundreds of clients have shown a notable trend. When presented with options, most clients instinctively prefer a technique that includes defined lines over plain shading. This trend highlights a discrepancy between client expectations and achievable outcomes with techniques like powder brows.
The Future
The key to succeeding in the semi-permanent makeup industry is adopting a holistic approach focused on customer needs and understanding. Promoting a single solution an artist is proficient in is no longer sufficient; it's about recognizing the strengths and limitations of various techniques.
As of 2023, the Hairstrokes technique - a style where the brow pattern is created entirely with a machine- is rising in popularity. This trend responds to the demand for a semi-permanent brow solution that combines the natural appearance of microblading, the longevity of powder brows, and the distinctive look of combo brows. However, achieving this synthesis involves significant challenges across chemistry, physics, biology, and psychology.
The future will likely favor those who can create Hairstrokes that look natural, don’t blur, and don’t change color undesirably while supporting a Perpetual Retouching Cycle (PRC).
Discussions with numerous artists at powderbrows.com (owner of hairstrokes.com) indicate that such a solution may be feasible with innovative modifications. The key seems to be enhancing the microblading pattern to allow for a perpetual retouching cycle. This requires modifying the technique to implant lines in a Hairstrokes style using a machine, accommodating line intersections, varied gradients, and effective pigment implantation with minimal skin damage across different skin types.
Staying informed and innovative will be vital for artists as the industry evolves. Adapting and innovating while considering customer preferences and skin health will define the leaders in semi-permanent makeup. Advancements in the field of Hairstrokes are anticipated to soon emerge.
