When it comes to naming different brow styles, creativity knows no bounds. Differentiating these styles is often necessary, even if the actual differences may be subtle and mostly cosmetic compared to other styles. Often, unique names are chosen primarily to stand out in a crowded field of options.
In the realm of brow style names, you'll encounter terms like "mix," "hybrid," "soft," "magic," "bold," "light," and more. Some artists even add "D" s to these terms, like "5D," "7D," "10D," or "100D," though this is largely a stylistic choice. It's important to note that "3D" brows often describe shaded non-permanent brows. There's no strict terminology policy enforcing consistency between a style's name and its actual characteristics.
Copyright and Trademarks
Securing copyright protection for a brow style can be challenging. Trademark registration is possible if you create a highly unique name never before used in the beauty industry. Larger brands often trademark visuals or combine well-known terms with existing brand names.
However, trademarking universal terms like "microblading" or "powder brows" is practically impossible. Authorities such as the EU IPO only allow these terms to be trademarked in niche categories where they haven't become widely recognized. For example, one might trademark "microblading" for "tattooing of pets for identification purposes," but it won't protect their brow business.
Furthermore, registering a well-known term at the local level doesn't grant global exclusivity. Others can easily modify common terms, making them distinctive enough for separate trademark registration. The core principle of trademark protection is preventing customer deception. Since no one can claim to have coined widely used terms like "microblading" before they became globally recognized, protecting them remains a complex process.
Does the World Need Another Brow Style?
The question arises: Is there a genuine need for yet another brow style? The answer is likely a resounding "no." The world functions perfectly well without an influx of new brow styles. Creating a style that gains widespread adoption among artists globally is a rare occurrence, akin to winning the lottery.
Understanding the "Why" behind the styles
While the world may not be clamoring for more brow styles, exploring this avenue can still be worthwhile. The primary reason artists and companies create new styles isn't about demand or groundbreaking innovation; it's about differentiation.
When offering services like Combo Brows, Powder Brows, or Microblading, setting yourself apart from the competition is crucial. Having a unique term often aids in marketing your brow services effectively.
Finding your unique angle
Having a distinctive angle, even a minor one, can be advantageous. It allows you to offer conventional services like "microblading" or "powder brows" while highlighting your special style. To craft your "signature style," identify at least three authentic reasons why your approach differs from standard practices in powder brows or microblading.
Your unique angle can encompass various aspects, such as following a more natural pattern, using different cartridges, achieving bolder or more refined results, or offering lighter patterns. Your style might be more pronounced or subtle, depending on your clientele's preferences and expectations.
Ensuring customers appreciate your unique approach
The crucial factor is that your unique angle should resonate with your customers, offering something they understand and value. Factors like better retention, a natural look, minimal skin damage, sharper lines, consistent appearance during healing, reduced retouching needs, and overall attractiveness are aspects that many customers appreciate. These qualities can set your work apart from others and resonate with your target audience. Most "unique" styles artists have created tend to cater to the desires of the same customer base.
Finding the Right Name
The real challenge often lies not in discovering unique elements for your brow style but in finding the perfect name for it. Many artists have attested that naming their new brow style can be a headache. Why is it so tricky? If your style lacks a distinct name or if someone else has already registered a domain with that name, you risk ending up with something far from the original. In the worst-case scenario, the owner of the domain could exploit your promotion efforts without acknowledging you.
The First Step: Domain Search
The initial crucial step is to find an available domain name at a reasonable price, preferably the standard rate of around USD 10 per year. A useful tool for checking domain name availability is Instant Domain Search. This tool displays available names with each keystroke. However, as you'll quickly notice, most name-brow domains have already been claimed! Even more unique options like dogbrows.com, boombrows.com, dragonbrows.com, or queenbeebrows.com have been taken.
High Price Doesn't Always Equal Value
If you come across a domain marked for sale, resist the urge to immediately make a purchase. Sometimes, a domain might seem valuable due to its high price tag. However, if the name doesn't align well with a brow style, it could be an attempt to profit by selling it at an inflated price. The owner might have acquired it for a mere ten dollars and listed it on major domain marketplaces, hoping for a buyer.
"Almost Great" Isn't Good Enough
You might encounter domains that are "almost" perfect, like fluffbrows.com (priced at USD 3000), powerbrows.com (priced at USD 4888), or microbladings.com (priced at USD 1000). Despite minor differences, the true value of such names falls far short of those they're trying to mimic. Avoid falling into this trap; you could end up as just another affiliate of the better-known term.
Even subtle distinctions between singular and plural matter. Don't convince yourself that "sometimes people say ombrebrow, not ombrebrows." That's not accurate. People say "ombrebrows," which is why "ombrebrows.com" is listed for USD 25,000, while "ombrebrow.com" is priced at USD 2500. If you have a limited budget, be prepared to invest more time in crafting an original and available name. Persistence in experimenting with combinations will often yield results. Also, no matter how strongly some platforms advocate for alternative extensions, opting for .com is generally safer and better, as it provides full control over the name since most local extensions of trendy "cool and hype" options are secondary to .com.
