Eyebrow Tattoos

Please note if any of the following apply to you, you unfortunately may NOT be a candidate for cosmetic brow tattooing.

PREGNANCY: For your safety, and the safety of your baby, we cannot perform permanent makeup on you while you’re pregnant. Not to worry though…after you give birth it is totally fine for you to receive our services! You can pre-book your appointment while you’re pregnant, or continue to follow us on social media to see more great content.

NICKEL ALLERGY: If you have a nickel allergy, you are not a candidate for microblading or permanent makeup in general. Even though our needle cartridges and microblades contain medical grade/ surgical grade (Grade 304 / 316) stainless steel, it can contain up to 10% nickel.

KELOIDS: Unfortunately, we cannot perform microblading on people who have any history of keloids. This is because both services introduce tiny cuts, so if you have a history of keloid scarring it’s very possible you could have that after microblading. We would not want that for your face! However, you may qualify for other types of permanent makeup (applied with a tattoo machine, not a microblade) if you have a history of keloids. Please call us or schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss options.

CHEMOTHERAPY: While we love to help patients who have successfully completed chemotherapy or who want permanent makeup before they start their first round of chemo, we unfortunately cannot perform permanent makeup on anyone who is actively receiving chemotherapy. Not to worry though…in most cases you can receive permanent makeup BEFORE or AFTER your chemotherapy treatment if you are in good health and your doc says it’s ok. Give us a call to talk further!
BLOOD THINNERS OR BLEEDING DISORDERS: We cannot perform permanent makeup on anyone who is actively taking blood thinners, or who suffers from a bleeding disorder. This is because the permanent makeup services we provide penetrate and open the skin. In both cases, you may bleed, which can compromise your results and our ability to perform the service. The bleeding makes it difficult for our artists to see their work, which makes it almost impossible to ensure crisp clean lines and shapes.
Bleeding also dilutes the pigment we use, which means any work we can get done through the bleeding will be very light, or in some cases it may not stay at all. It’s more important that we provide an outstanding result for you than to take your money.
Please know that we are NOT doctors! So prior to stopping any medication you need to consult your doctor and seek their medical opinion. It is recommended that blood thinners be stopped (only with a doctor’s consent!) at least 2 weeks prior to cosmetic tattooing.

ACCUTANE USE: Unfortunately, if you have used Accutane or any similar medications, we are unable to perform any permanent makeup service until you have been off the medication for one year. This is because these medications will change the qualities of your skin, leading to increased swelling, bleeding and pain. In addition, your skin is unlikely to heal well after the procedure. Don’t worry though! We will be here until you’re ready…feel free to follow us on social media to stay up to date on what we’re doing and new services until it’s time for you to book!

RECENT BOTOX: Because Botox can affect the position of your eyebrows, we cannot perform any permanent brow or permanent eyeliner makeup on you unless it’s been at least 3 weeks since your Botox injections. The best option is to schedule your session before Botox of Dysport or at least 3 weeks after your last injection.

SUNBURN: We cannot perform permanent makeup on you while you have an active sunburn on your face. This is because it would cause extreme sensitivity, bleeding and pain. You can go ahead and book for at least 2 weeks later to secure your spot on the calendar when it’s safe for your skin!

SEVERE ACNE: Trying to apply permanent makeup over a severe active breakout could cause infection and would not produce satisfactory results. We’d advise waiting until your acne breakout has subsided in the area you wish to have permanent makeup applied.

RETANOID/VITAMIN A/RETIN-A USE: Prior to all permanent makeup appointments we need you to stop using these types of products on your forehead, temple, and eye area at least 2 weeks prior to all appointments. This is because these products will change the qualities of your skin, leading to increased swelling, bleeding and pain. In addition, your skin is unlikely to heal well after the procedure. Don’t worry though! It’s totally fine to return to using them after your brows are healed.

AUTO-IMMUNE DISORDERS: We want the best for your brows and we only want you to make this investment for yourself if we believe you will have outstanding results! Sometimes, when your health is not at its best it can affect how you heal and negatively impact your final results. For this reason we want to make sure you are in good health overall at the time of your appointment. Give us a call you have an auto-immune disorder (ie: Celiac, Crohn’s, Diabetes, hypo/hyper-throidism, RA, etc.) please schedule a complimentary consultation or call us so that we can chat further about how to best proceed with booking your appointment.

This is probably the most frequent question we’re asked! Pain and pain tolerance varies by client. Most clients in Cincinnati describe their discomfort level as minimal and find tweezing or waxing and more uncomfortable.

We use the best topical lidocaine gel available in Ohio to minimize discomfort. However, this is a still a tattoo. You could feel slight discomfort, but you are close to completely numb when the brow tattoo begins. Based on experience, we would describe the feeling a slight burning, “astringent like” sensation. Very tolerable and totally worth it!

This will vary by due to certain factors such as sun exposure, getting chemical peels, oily skin type, etc. However, if you follow the aftercare instructions diligently, your new brow tattoo will last approximately 18 months before they’re mostly faded.

For some people, eyebrow tattoos will last even longer. Most commonly, microblading or microshading will last on the higher or lower end of the expected 12-18 months for microblading and 18-24 months for powder brows/bladeless brows before needing a Colorboost. Most clients prefer a fresh, bright look and opt to come in for Colorboosts every 12 months instead of waiting for their brows to fade completely.

Absolutely! The technique used at Housley Institute creates realistic, simulated hair strokes that looks just like a real eyebrow! Your brows can be as big and bold or as soft and subtle as you like!

If you want to bring pictures to show your artist the kind of brows you love, that’s a great! It’s also necessary to give your honest feedback during the design process. This is where you’ll achieve the shape, length, width, and arch that you want. So it’s important you voice your opinion and be active during this process.

The process takes approximately two hours from the moment you walk in the door to completion of your beautiful new brows.

The first hour or so is spent designing your new brows and numbing the area. There is no downtime afterwards!

Occasionally, some eyebrow tattoo clients will have some slight redness and swelling around the area which is very normal and will subside typically in 30 minutes to an hour. Most clients go on about their normal day when they leave their appointment.

Yes! Housley Institute is a licensed tattoo studio dealing exclusively with permanent makeup and paramedical tattooing. All working artists are certified. The studio and staff are all insured.

All artists completed a hands-on apprenticeship and received certification from recognized training academies. All artists have received extensive training and certification in Bloodborne Pathogens and First Aid as deemed necessary for tattoo artists by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

It’s crucial that you choose not only a certified Permanent Makeup artist, but also a licensed one to ensure your health is protected.

Some tenderness after an eyebrow tattoo is normal and may last a day or so, depending on your skin. (Think a feeling like a mild sunburn).

Your new brows will appear DARKER, WIDER, AND SHARPER than the way they will heal. This is especially true for the first two to five days after your eyebrow tattoo session.

This is part is harder for some clients than others. Clients who rarely wear makeup may find that they don’t like how their brows look on these days because they are too intense. That’s normal! The pigment is sitting on top of the skin and has not yet settled into your face. As your skin heals over the tattoo, your brows with lighten and soften. This process takes about 7 days or so on average.

With ombre brows, powder brows, microblading and bladeless brows, the aftercare instructions are the same–and relatively simple! We give you a printed brow tattoo aftercare sheet at the time of your appointment. However, you can also download the PDF file for pre/post care instructions here as well.