New PhiBrows at The Dublin Make-Up Academy

The Brows are back in town.  Got my new PhiBrows at The Dublin Makeup Academy. And I am HAPPY OUT.

My eyebrows were (until I had my Phibrows done) a total disaster. Years of overplucking (why, oh why, did I do it?), menopause, ageing, stress, you name it all played havoc with my brows. I was left with patchy brows with bald patches everywhere. Also, the eyebrows did not even look like they belonged together on the same face. I used eyebrow pencils to fill in, but I was no expert. I had been thinking about getting PhiBrows for a few years, but Covid got in the way.

Then my lovely hubby bought me new brows for my birthday and got me an appointment with the lovely Kim O’Sullivan of The Dublin Makeup Academy.

‘Grand Master’ Kim was the first to bring this ‘cutting edge’ treatment to Ireland and also runs Ireland’s leading Microblading Training Academy.

PHIBROWS

PhiBrows is a manual skill of semi-permanent eyebrow drawing. The  form/shape of the eyebrows is calculated according to the  morphology of your face.

In other words, it is quite scientific and the brow shape you are given suits your face.

The pigment is applied into the surface layer of the dermis using sterilised tools and chosen to match the natural hair or eyebrows’ colour.

Strokes are always drawn in the direction of natural hairs’ growth to achieve a hyper-realistic look with the world’s slimmest blade. All blades are disposable.

MY EXPERIENCE

What a welcome I got from the lovely Kim  and she put me completely at ease, as she explained the process.

The shape is (as I explained above) determined by the symmetry of the face.  Kim also decided on the colour to match my skin and hair.

The measuring tools came out and the shape of my brows was carefully mapped out. Kim was meticulous and finally she gave me a mirror to show me. Yes, I loved them.

Then the shape is drawn with the microblading tool. Kim warned me that this would be a little uncomfortable, but I only found it slightly scratchy. Then the pigment (vegan) was rubbed in (just slightly stingy) and the numbing cream was applied. The process was repeated several times. I never felt the time pass (about one and a half hours) and then Kim revealed my PhiBrows. As my grandson Cole would say ‘Ta Da’!

I was DELIGHTED. Totally in LOVE.

AFTERCARE

The first seven days are important and I went home with detailed aftercare instructions and special ointment to be applied morning and night. It was a simple regime. The eyebrows go through different stages of healing.  I was warned that they would flake and that the colour would change. They might even scab. But I was not to touch them. I experienced no scabbing at all.

I returned to see Kim a month later. And she corrected any pigment loss. It is normal to see a 15% to 20% pigment loss, but I saw much less and the follow-up appointment was probably only twenty minutes. Kim gave me a gold star for being a good pupil and doing what I was told.

TIPS

You get several emails from The Dublin Make-Up Academy in the weeks leading up to your treatment and it is important that you read them carefully. For example, I had to stop using retinol and taking my omega3 fish oils. These can interfere with the pigment taking properly.

I was also advised to take no caffeine or alcohol up to 48 hours before. Other restrictions may apply to you.

It is a good idea to wash your hair before your appointment as you need to keep water off your new PhiBrows for a week after. Of course, you can go to the salon; I got Graham to wash mine! Yes, he is possibly THE BEST HUSBAND EVER! Do you know we are 40 years married this year? Click HERE to find out why we are still together.

VERDICT

I am absolutely delighted with my PhiBrows. They are so natural looking and I love the shape. When I look in the mirror first thing in the morning now, I sing ‘The brows are back in town’.

No, I don’t; I can’t sing.

But I think that if you have good brows your face looks instantly lifted. Best birthday present I ever got. Next year’s present Graham? Face lift with Jane Fonda’s surgeon?

Only kidding.

I intend to keep going into Kim for a top up when I need it.  The price is reasonable considering the time spent, the tools used and the skill and concentration required of the brow artist. Ranging between €485 and €585 at The Dublin Make-Up Academy, I would give up lots of ‘stuff’ to ensure I could keep these brows.

So for all things brow related check them out.

Thanks for reading. We need an escape from the horrors in the world at the moment.

Hilda xx