Hello!
Although the microblading craze seems to have passed, I still get asked whether I offer this service…
Many people are unsure what microblading actually is, and how it differs from traditional tattooing/permanent makeup.
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That’s exactly what I’ll be discussing today…
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Julia Sundulova

So, permanent makeup—also known as cosmetic tattooing (don’t assume tattooing is always deeper than PMU)—can be done in two ways:
– Machine method
– Manual method (microblading)
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The machine method uses a device to perform the procedure. With a machine, you can create hair strokes or different types of shading. The device works by moving a needle or a bundle of needles with a special motor, gently perforating the skin. The speed can be adjusted depending on the specialist’s goal—drawing hair strokes, shading, or creating a more saturated color. There are countless machines on the market, from inexpensive Chinese pens to premium brands like Long-time-liner, which I use ✌.
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The manual method, or microblading, is performed using a handheld tool. This is a pen-like instrument with a row of fused needles at the tip. The artist dips the needles into pigment and makes either slicing motions (for hair strokes) or tapping motions (for shading).
Since there are still many questions about microblading, I’ll go into more detail.
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Microblading originated in China. It’s an ancient tattooing technique—almost primitive. In recent years, it became extremely popular in Russia and Europe because the cost of materials is so low. Just imagine: a motorized device versus a simple wooden stick…
It might seem like a good way to save on supplies, but unfortunately, this has led to a huge number of poorly done brows.

So, microblading—the manual method of permanent makeup…
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As I mentioned, it came to us from China and exploded in popularity due to its low cost.
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Let me explain the technique and why so many brows end up looking unnatural.
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To achieve hair strokes (lines) that are all the same thickness and color, every cut must be made at exactly the same depth, with the same amount of pigment. This is extremely difficult and takes a lot of practice to master. Until that skill is perfected, many brows will be ruined in the process.
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I’ve trained in microblading myself, so I understand the technique firsthand. For a specialist who is skilled with a machine, switching to this primitive method just doesn’t make sense—at least in my opinion.
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Usually, healed microblading hair strokes look patchy and uneven, because the cuts are made at varying depths. While the results may look fine when fresh, most photos online show only the immediate outcome.
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Additionally, microblading always leaves scars! Sometimes they’re tiny micro-scars, but sometimes they can be real, noticeable scars. This is a direct result of the technique itself.
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It’s worth noting that manual methods can also be used for shading (also called powder brows). In my opinion, the results here are not as problematic as with hair strokes. It’s much easier to gently tap pigment into the skin than to make uniform cuts. Still, when comparing manual shading to machine shading, I don’t see the point in making things more complicated.
It’s simply much easier to achieve beautiful results with a machine.