Eye-raising beauty: Eyelash, microblading brow treatments catching on in Pittsburgh
There's a new kind of beauty studio popping up across
Pittsburgh, and it has nothing to do with hair.
These businesses are tapping into the rising demand for
eye-related cosmetic services, including eyebrow microblading (semi-permanent
tattooing) and extensions, tints and lifts for eyelashes. The goal: full,
symmetrical brows and luscious lashes that require little day-to-day
maintenance. Think of it as a way to channel your inner Beyonce and truly be
able to say, “I woke up like this.”
What to know about microblading, eyelash services
In Pennsylvania, microblading and lash services are not
regulated, so it’s important to do your research when choosing a place to have
them done. Here are some tips:
• Training is key. Opt to have the service done by a
licensed esthetician or cosmetologist. Also see what specific training program
they’ve completed for microblading and lash procedures. (It should be more than
just a one-time online class.)
• Study a practitioner’s body of work. A lot of salons and
stylists post photos of their work on social media or their websites. Check out
a variety of them to find one that matches the look you’re going for.
• Lash extentions aren’t one size fits all. They come in a
variety of widths and lengths. If you have thin hair or sparse lashes, don’t go
with the biggest, boldest option. It might cause your natural lashes to break off.
Also, if you have allergies, stay away from extensions made from real mink hair
and ask for a synthetic option.
• Give yourself time to heal. Microblading has little to no
downtime after it’s first done, but some flaking as the brows heal is common. So
don’t do the procedure right before a big event such as a wedding or a beach
vacation.
• A bargain isn’t always a good thing. While some salons run
limited-time discounts, be wary of practitioners who offer their services well
below the average price of their competitors. They could be cutting corners on
products and safety measures.
The results can look as natural or dramatic as desired, and
down time and upkeep are minimal. Microblading on eyebrows can last from nine
months to a year, depending upon skin type and lifestyle. (For those who sweat
more or have oily skin, the pigment tends to break down more quickly.) After
the procedure, a touch-up is required a month later. During that time, some
flaking may occur as the skin heals.
Lash lifts involve placing a rod on top of the eyelid that
curls back the top lashes. Tints can be applied to improve lash color. Both
last up to two months and fade as new lashes grow in and old ones are shed. For
eyelash extensions, a single false lash is glued to natural lashes for added
fullness. These need to be filled in every two to four weeks.
Costs vary depending upon who provides the service, what's
requested and tools used. In Pittsburgh, microblading typically runs $400-$600
(plus touch-up costs). A full set of eyelash extensions can go for $120-$200,
while lift and tint combos average $80-$130. (Fill-ins usually cost a fraction
of the initial price if kept up regularly.)
“It used to be just older women who would go and get it
done,” says Hillary Evans, who opened Scratch Studio in Dormont in September to
cater to the growing demand.
She said permanent makeup procedures of the past involved
more traditional tattoo techniques. “Now we're seeing girls who are like 19 and
20 years old.”
In addition to microblading and lash lifts, tints and
extensions, Scratch Studio offers semi-permanent mascara, a special smudge- and
waterproof coating that gives lashes the appearance of more volume. Later this
year, Ms. Evans plans to add eye liner tattooing. She may also offer lip liner
tattooing, freckle microblading and areola tattooing for women who have had
mastectomies.
The former hair and makeup stylist says she was looking for
a way to combine her interest in tattooing with her beauty background. She
tested the concept by renting a small artist's space in Point Breeze. Through
social media and word of mouth, she grew a clientele and opened Scratch Studio. The name is a nod to the individual hair-like
strokes used in microblading.
“A lot of people want to cut down on time and have the
option to not wear as much makeup,” Ms. Evans says.
Kate Zarvis has heard similar sentiments at Manikure, a
studio for nails, lash lifts, tints and extensions, and waxing services that
she opened in January in Lawrenceville.
“It's high maintenance yet low maintenance at the same time.
These services cut down on your morning routine. Whenever your lashes look more
tinted or lifted, you can almost say goodbye [to makeup] for the morning and
afternoon.”
At Beneath the Surface Skin Studio on the South Side, owner
Amanda Razzano-Latham brings a holistic approach to eyebrow microblading, body
wraps, spray tanning and other treatments.
“I wanted to be able to connect with women in an intimate
setting,” she says, noting that she has rooms for networking, meditation and
prayer.
She says she sees lots of clients who turn to microblading
after their eyebrows have thinned during pregnancy.
“Eyebrows are something that's an immediate change. I call
them the chandelier of the face. When you have your brows done, you feel more
you. You feel more naturally beautiful.”
Traditional hair salons have noticed the buzz surrounding
lash and brow services and have started providing them, too. A quick Google
search turned up at least a dozen offering these treatments across the city and
suburbs.
Dallas Beauty Lounge in Bridgeville was among the first
local full-service salons to branch out into microblading and lash lifts, tints
and extensions in the last two to three years. To emphasize these procedures,
the salon can apply a small amount of Botox to help lift sagging eyelids and
reduce crow’s-feet.
Owner Dallas Sauers says social media has helped build
demand for the procedures. “Photos now are for everyone to see. It's not like
you're taking them on a disposable camera and putting them in a scrapbook.”
Salon owners say the brow and lash boom is more than the
latest beauty fad.
“Now it's even starting with men,” Ms. Evans says, pointing
out that microblading can be used to disguise bald spots and thinning hair
lines. “I think the possibilities for it are really endless.”Visit https://www.lashurious314.com/
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