What causes Powder Brows to fade off too soon
Powder Brows leaving too soon?
A category of questions Powderbrows.com gets asked a lot is related to all sorts of factors that influence the retention of Powder Brows. Obviously, this list is not exhaustive, however, you may find some interesting information regarding keeping the pigment molecules in the skin for a longer time. or at least understanding why they decided to leave.
“It’s a common misconception that once Powder Brows have fully healed, or after the follow-up touch-up session 6-8 weeks post-initial procedure, they become invincible to external factors. This is not the case; the longevity of Powder Brows is influenced by a myriad of elements, as outlined in this article, even post-healing.”
Incorrect Technique
If the pigment is not implanted at the correct depth in the skin, it may not stay as desired. Too superficially placed, the pigment will fade quickly; too deep, it may blur or change color. In other words, this reason concerns artists, who have the skills to perform the procedure, but have made incorrect evaluations regarding the client's skin type, and background and have not chosen the best tactical approach.
The Expertise of the Professional
A skilled professional will understand how to work with different skin types, use the right pigments, and employ the correct technique to ensure that the pigmentation lasts as long as possible. Their experience and knowledge are integral to the outcome and longevity of the procedure. Probably the worst that can happen to a pair of brows and thought that to a client's life, in general, is getting Powder Brows from an inexperienced artist. One may believe that somehow she (he) is the magical exception who will develop manyfold faster than others, however, the reality is rather sobering. There is a difference whether the artist has 10y+, 5y+, or just a year of experience. As time is something we can not turn back or step out of many artists strive hard to fake their history and therefore one should know concretely what is the actual background and working history of the artist she allows her brows to be turned into powder brows.
Powder Brows aftercare
Proper aftercare is crucial to the longevity of Powder Brows. The days following the procedure are when the pigmentation is most vulnerable. Activities such as touching the area, and exposing it to water, sunlight, and harsh cosmetics can interfere with the healing process, causing premature fading of the pigment. The fact is that the less time has passed from the procedure, the easier it is to ruin the new powder brows completely, or at least affect their quality and future retention a great deal. The same activities (i.e. rubbing, sun, solarium, sweating, makeup, substance use, intensive washing, etc) have absolutely different effects on brows during the first two weeks than let us say months later. However, that should not make one think that after healing (or healing of the touchup 6-8 weeks after the initial procedure) one's powder brows would be "ready," "complete," and "bulletproof," so that all can be done. Practically all of the factors listed in this post still affect longevity.
Pigment quality
The quality and composition of the pigments used can greatly impact how long the results last. Low-quality pigments may not be as resistant to UV rays and may not be as finely milled, leading to quicker fading or color changes. However, no matter how quickly the pigment disappears, it is still a luxury problem compared to artists, who, for example, use pigments the content of which they have no good idea about, or which is even worse and has some hints of sociopathy - are using tattooing pigments on purpose to "solve" the problem of retention.
Excessive sweating or swimming
Both activities can increase skin exfoliation, which may hasten the fading of the pigment. Additionally, chlorine in swimming pools can have a bleaching effect on the pigment. As many of you know, it does not really matter to the pigment molecule inside the papillary dermis from which source the chemicals came that break it apart or initiate its removal to the bloodstream. Thus, one should not concentrate so much on concrete activities as on overall common sense regarding exposing Powder Brows to the effects of chemicals whatever their source is.
Skin type and texture
People with oilier skin may experience faster fading as excessive oil production can dilute the pigment and cause it to spread or fade more quickly. On the contrary, dry, thin, or mature skin may not retain pigment as well, leading to patchy or faded results. Skin cell turnover also affects the longevity of Powder Brows. The faster your skin regenerates and sheds dead cells, the quicker the pigment will fade. Another aspect that should also be mentioned is related to the difference in retention between Microblading and Powder Brows. The difference is not linear, in this sense that the retention of microblading was always shorter for a certain percentage of the time. When for a rather dry skin receptive for both procedures the retention difference could be 30-50% when it comes to months the brows actually look decent, then with oily skin the difference could be 90%+, meaning that microblading would not just last at all.
Extensive sunlight exposure
Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can cause the pigment to break down and fade faster. Using a good quality, high SPF sunscreen can protect the area and prolong the life of the treatment. Also, it should be repeated once again, that even if the initial healing phase is over, one could still hinder her powder brows considerably exposing those to extensive UV influence. It is just a psychological (and somewhat) misleading state that one may get when the brows are healed - although they may look "impossible to fade off," they are still affected by UV rays - it is a fact of physics that one should not put on test.
Solarium and all sorts of artificial tanning solutions
The use of tanning beds or excessive tanning can lead to faster fading due to the impact of UV light on the pigment. Solarium, all sorts of alternative sunbeds, etc all affect the retention of Powder Brows. It is vital to protect the brows, especially with very effective, brief procedure tanning solutions. One may find some solace in calming her down psychologically that the tanning only takes less than ten minutes, however, the effect (even once) with such extra effective tanning solutions to Powder Brows may be remarkable (compared to, for example, being outside on the beach with no protection on the brows for a day in the summer). When it doubt one should always opt for being rather more careful (regardless of the calming marketing pitch tanning service providers may echo regarding the "mildness" or "non-existence" of the effect of their solutions on Powder Brows pigmentation retention).
Certain skincare products and facials
Products containing retinol, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), or any other form of skin exfoliants can accelerate skin cell turnover, leading to quicker fading. Facials and other skin treatments like chemical peels and microdermabrasion can also affect pigment retention. As we have already discussed, the powder brow pigment molecules do not know, nor care what the actual source of chemicals that cause them to scoot away from your dermis.
Skin Care Treatments
Treatments like microdermabrasion, laser treatments, or chemical peels can expedite the process of skin renewal and lead to faster fading. Once again, it should be kept in mind, that some of the service providers may be motivated to provide their procedure so much that they genuinely do not care about the actual retention of your powder brows and some may be just ignorant, believing that there is no effect. It is far better to be safe than sorry. Obviously, one procedure would not magically remove the whole brow, however, what typically may happen is that brows do not have the same level of definition (lower arch), or do not look the same regarding the strength of the pigmentation. Natural healing is affected and you just need additional retouching.
Sauna and frequent facial steam exposure
Regular visits to saunas, steam rooms, or hot yoga classes can open pores and may lead to pigment fading. We have thousands of clients in Scandinavia where (believe it or not - well you can believe it because we fact-check everything extensively) in many regions the average time people take a sauna is 2-7 times a week. You can only imagine, what sort of extensive sweating goes through all skin layers and what effect it may have on brows.
Chemotherapy
Treatments such as chemotherapy can alter skin cells and may cause pigments to fade quicker. Basically, if you get a diagnosis that requires chemo-therapy you should accept the fact that you will lose your Powder Brows, or at least the look you had will change drastically. Also, you should wait until the end of the whole process before getting the retouch (or rather getting the brows redone from scratch). As an artist, one should not opt for constant retouching (even for free) during the period of chemo treatments - the rollercoaster of having and losing brows is a sub-optimal solution and just another form of making the client feel bad. Chemo causes enough suffering.
Nutrition and Hydration
A well-balanced diet and adequate hydration support skin health, which in turn may prolong the life of Powder Brows. Conversely, poor nutrition and dehydration can speed up the fading process. Some diets actually have affected brows, although it is hard to produce an exact scientific causality. When the body does not get certain substances, the overall balance changes and that also affects the skin in the brow area.
High Altitude and Dry Climate or harsh wet weather conditions
These conditions can dry out the skin, possibly leading to faster pigment fading. That should also be kept in mind when your powder brows are healed and you go on a long enough trip to such places. When you visit unusual conditions and posit a significant contrast to your everyday life the effect on your Powder Brows procedure result may be greater than that of the same conditions over a longer period to a person whose skin has got used to that. The same applies to exposing the brows to wind, cold, and moist weather. This can affect skin health and lead to quicker pigment fading (especially when the habitual conditions for the skin have been drastically different).
Hormonal Changes and metabolic rate
Changes in hormones, especially during pregnancy, menopause, or due to certain medications, can affect the body's chemistry and potentially alter the color and longevity of the pigment. That is also one of the reasons why many artists strictly refuse the procedure for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Although, when it comes to breastfeeding there is no actual scientifically proven danger to the baby when it comes to Powder Brows pigmentation, strictly speaking, the fact that hormonal imbalance will cause sub-optimal retention is already a big enough obstacle for those artists who strive for perfection. Whenever the Powder Brows procedure is performed in times of hormonal imbalance, it should be done having a mutual consensus and awareness reached regarding the fact that most probably Powder Brows will have worse retention than normal. Similarly, a higher metabolic rate can lead to faster pigment fading as skin cells renew at a faster pace.
High Blood Pressure
Increased blood circulation can push the pigment out of the skin faster, leading to quicker fading. That is another fact, however, compared to all other factors, the effect of high blood pressure is smaller. Once again, what may have a greater effect on blood pressure is experiencing significant change in it, and that is already related to bodily changes in general.
Alcohol and substance Consumption
Excessive alcohol and caffeine can increase skin cell turnover, potentially leading to faster pigment fading. They can also dehydrate the skin, affecting its overall health and ability to retain pigment. Also, what we have noted (although it is an observation that most certainly does concern only a small segment of clients), hefty alcohol and substance consumption leads people to all sorts of situations where also brow skin may get damaged (heavy makeup, inner bodily reactions, rubbing during the healing phase, etc). Although it is hard to put the finger on the exact activities that the person may undertake under the influence of substances (excuse us for a bad pun), many artists have just confessed that clients whose lifestyle in this sense leans a bit towards the wild side tend to lose their powder brows quicker.
Medication
Some drugs, especially those that influence hormonal balance or increase skin sensitivity, can lead to faster pigment fading. Whenever there are no alternatives to those drugs and the treatment is temporary, one should go through the whole treatment before getting the Powder Brows.
Sleeping Habits
Sleep patterns can significantly influence the longevity of Powder Brows. When you consistently sleep on one side of your face, there's increased friction and pressure on that particular area. This continued contact may cause premature exfoliation of the skin layers that hold the pigment. The pigments that have been deposited into the epidermal layers, especially, are affected because they are subjected to a higher rate of cell turnover. This eventually causes the pigmentation to fade at a faster pace on the side of the face you frequently sleep on. To mitigate this, it's advised to try and sleep on your back, especially in the initial healing period post-procedure, to avoid unequal fading.
Allergic Reactions
An allergic reaction to the pigments or the procedure itself can potentially lead to accelerated fading of the Powder Brows. If the body identifies the pigment as a foreign substance, it may initiate an immune response to eliminate it. This could involve the activation of immune cells to expel the pigment from the skin cells, leading to a premature fading of the applied color. Moreover, an allergic reaction can cause inflammation, which increases the blood flow and metabolic rate in the area, leading to quicker pigment breakdown and removal. Additionally, allergy-related skin conditions, such as eczema or dermatitis, can cause heightened skin cell turnover or create an environment where the pigment cannot be properly retained. If a client has a known history of allergies, it is important to conduct a patch test before the procedure to ensure there is no reaction to the pigments or any other products used during the process.
Disease Conditions and allergic reaction
Certain medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases can affect pigment retention and the healing process. Often, those are also related to medication which can not be eliminated from the equation (thus from the scientific perspective it is often hard to pinpoint exactly whether an autoimmune disease worsened the retention of Powder Brows as an internal bodily function caused by the illness, or was the removal of pigment molecules related to the bodily reactions caused by the treatment of the condition).
Age
As people age, the skin loses its ability to retain pigments due to increased skin cell turnover and a decrease in elasticity and collagen. That is also a fact, that there seems to be a certain tendency of microblading to lose its retention faster when it comes to clients in their late fifties and older. There is, of course, no scientific proof that would connect this to aging in particular, however, it is a clear practical observation shared by many artists, that for older people quite often there is no point in trying to create brows with the classic microblading only and even with Powder Brows considerably more retouching may be needed.