There's nothing like freshly done, microbladed brows.

You're feelin' them, you're feelin' you, now... to keep it that way for a while.

This isn't to say you shouldn't wear makeup on them. However, you're going to want to lighten up a bit on how hard you push with the pencils you use. Gentle is the key! Otherwise, it's kinda like getting a tan and then shaving your legs. The top layers of skin are delicate, so it's important to treat them that way.

​Face washes, makeup, lotions, sunscreens, you name it-- someone's stuck an acid in it. Be especially aware of retinols and salicylic acid.

​If the health of your skin relies on these acids, that's okay. Just be aware they can cause fading and try to minimize exposure by checking all of your facial product's active ingredients.

Recommendation:

Living Libations | Best Skin Ever

You don't need to be shy of the sunshine, just remember to protect your brows while your out there playing.

​The less natural brow hair you have, the more conscientious you will want to be about your exposure.

​To prevent premature fading, it is essential to either wear a brimmed hat or use a quality SPF directly on your brows when you are out in the sun.

And, there you have it!

Easy breezy, right?

Although it is natural for microblading to fade over time, with the right care you can really get the most out of your applications.

Cheers to to those long-lasting brows!

Society is finally coming around to accept tattoos as a cultural norm. The shift from  "that guy looks scary" to "that guy looks interesting" -- it's happening.

​Ah. It's the time we've all been waiting for.

Then insert: Heavy Metals.

Heard of 'em? They're totally ruining the fun.

I am a cosmetic tattoo artist by trade and I taught myself to be a tattooer over the years in between microblading eyebrows and eyeliner. I have an affinity for all things ink + needle, for its ability to create a transformation for someone on a physical and even emotional/spiritual level.

However, it has been my own run with autoimmune symptoms I have learned a few things about the presence of heavy metals in tattoo ink that have made me question if I will ever get tattooed again.

​Unfortunately guys, we're not talking about Black Sabbath.

​I have uncovered throughout my personal journey that there are major links between autoimmune conditions and tattoos, as many tattoo inks contain copious amounts of heavy metals which are unregulated by the FDA here in the US.

In fact, the heavy metal contents of many traditional inks in the US would be illegal in most regulated European countries.

When it comes to the actual tattooing process, these substances are implanted into the tissues of the skin where they can easily enter the bloodstream and settle into organs inside the body.

​Awareness that not all tattoo pigments & inks are created equal, is your best defense. This isn't an article to persuade anyone from getting tattoos or permanent makeup, but rather to show you that you have options-- especially if you are already dealing with a health issue.

​More than anything, it's not that a consumer should fear getting tattoos, but it is important they know what's in the ink/pigment thier artist is using and the potential effects.

When it comes to microblading and permanent makeup, the best in the industry is PhiBrows, as they have developed a synthetic alternative to heavy metals to achieve their colors.

As far as tattoo inks, it is hard pressed to come across a brand that is heavy metal free just yet. What you will find are companies going above and beyond to ensure lower levels of heavy metals and elimination of the most harmful ones. Trusted brands include:

Alla Prima Ink
Arcane Tattoo Inks
Bloodline & Skin Candy Tattoo Inks
Dynamic Tattoo Inks
Eternal Ink
Fantasia Tattoo Inks
Formula 51 Tattoo Ink
Intenze Tattoo Ink
Kuro Sumi Tattoo Ink
Mom’s Ink by Millennium Colors, Inc.
Panthera Black Tattoo Ink
Radiant Colors Tattoo Ink
Sacred Color Tattoo Inks
Starbrite Colors

The best news here is that you can help your body remove these toxic substances. The best course of action, if you already have tattoos or don't plan on stopping, is to incorporate this detox smoothie into your daily routine:

According to Anthony William, author of the New-York Times Best Seller "Medical Medium: Secrets To Mystery Illness & How To Finally Heal", this heavy metal smoothie is one of the best things we can all do, tattooed or not, for our health.

My hope is that you found the information presented here helpful. I don't believe in living in fear, but instead to be aware and empowered by our choices.

​Thank you for stopping by and reading!

I started questioning ingredients in the pigments I used in 2013 when a friend of mine had a reaction to a tattoo I gave her. At the time I was using iron-oxide based permanent makeup pigments. It shocked me this had happened and I dove into as much research as I could on the topic.

What I discovered was quite alarming. Not only did most American companies not disclose thier ingredients, but none of these companies were regulated by the FDA either.

Because of this, it was impossible for me to try and break down what exactly had caused the issue for her. As of recent many tattoo companies are finally being forced to disclose exactly what's in thier products, as required by California law.

So, when your country shows minimal concern for the safety of the industry you work in, what do you do?

You either take advantage of it and do what you want or -- you start looking to progressive movements in other parts of the world, like Germany, Denmark, Austria and New Zealand, who are raising flags on the issue at hand.

What I have found in my reasearch is that the cleanest, most regulated pigments in the world are not coming from American companies, but from European companies.

It is the primary reason I choose to use PhiBrows pigments for permanent makeup. When the owner, Branko Babic, is formulating, he is taking into consideration all the European laws which are currently the strictest in the world.

Microblading, as well as all cosmetic tattoo applications, can be done in a safe way. Remember that it is always your right to have full disclosure on all materials being used in your permanent makeup or tattooing application. Don't hesitate to ask questions and be sure to feel comfortable with the answers you receive.

​As always, thank you for reading!

As much as we all wish there was a magic pill that helped everyone re-grow their brows & lashes, there's not.

Hair, Skin, & Nail supplements and topical serums can be helpful in an instance you have simply overplucked or the area needs a circulation boost. But, if you are one of the hundreds of thousands of women across the world experiencing true hairloss of your brows, lash, and even head hair, there are action oriented solutions that go beyond what science and research currently understands.

The information provided here comes from my hours upon hours of researching information shared by Anthony William, a gifted medical intuitive, who I normally would be skeptical of if it wasn't for my own first hand experience working with him.

When I was 19, I began experiencing chronic acne that I desperately sought every possible avenue to heal. One day I called Anthony up (it's nearly impossible now to consult with him, so I feel very blessed to have stumbled upon him when I did) and within a minute of being on the phone he said to me, "your skin condition is stemming from a bacterial infection in your lymphatic system and we need to get focus on getting your lymphatic system moving."

I didn't understand how this man knew what he did, but I knew that I was going to take a leap of faith and try the advice he gave me to heal. My life was changed for the better. To this day I implement his advice and protocols for well-being, with life changing results.

I couldn't be more excited to put together an article that I know will help so many of my clients who struggle with brow, lash, and general hair loss. We all deserve to feel beautiful in our bodies.

So, here it goes!

​To put this simply and to the point, hair loss related conditions are related to stress in the body. This doesn't mean mental-stress, where it's all in your mind and you need to take a yoga class.

The adrenals in the body support hundreds upon hundreds of different chemical processes, pumping out perfect concoctions of hormones to brush our teeth, take a shower, take that yoga class, and yup-- to grow hair.

When the adrenals become stressed, the hormone levels can go bonkers. You will often notice hairloss not during times of stress, but around 8-12 months later. When stress is chronic due to even further underlying conditions (which I am getting to...) there can be steady, chronic loss.

The information I am presenting here today is the most empowering & important information I have to share. With that being said, it is not a quick fix and depending on the damage, takes time to heal. An average time frame for restoring adrenal health is 3-24 months.

Get your graze on, girl!

Eating something every 60-90 minutes is the key to restoring this precious organ system. It is important a couple times a day to implement "Adrenal Healing Snacks" which are a specific balance of:

+ GLUCOSE ( ex. Bananas)

+ POTTASIUM (ex. Dates)

+ SODIUM (ex. Celery)

This specific combination of foods allow the adrenals to not over or under function. When our reserves of any of these 3 elements get low, our adrenals start surging adrenaline through the body to keep us functioning. The idea is: let them rest, do some ground work for them, and they will heal.

My personal favorite is celery and dates together, or I simply drink some celery or cucumber juice before I have a fruit smoothie.

The thyroid world can be a confusing and messy one, which honestly requires an entire blog post of its own. So many clients that come to me for microblading have thyroid conditions which proliferated hair loss, and I can't wait to share more on this topic. In the mean time I recommend checking out the book "Medical Medium: Secrets Behind Mystery Illness & How To Finally Heal", to discover how thyroid conditions can be successfully reversed by implementing the correct nutritional and supplemental protocols.

​You can also check out the Thyroid Healing podcast for free here:

ASWAGANDHA (for stimulating specific hormones)
​NETTLE (provides loads of silica)
THYME OIL (use topically, for boosting circulation)
ZINC SULFATE (protects the immune system)
B-12 (with methyl + adenosylcobalamine, to strengthen the nervous system)
HAWIIAN SPIRULINA (loaded with iron, plant-based proteins & minerals)
BARLEY GRASS JUICE POWDER (loaded with alkalizing minerals)

On top of supplement suggestions, adopting a low fat, plant-based diet will give the liver a rest and promote optimal functioning of the other organ systems. Let's be honest, if you are eating lots of junk, supplementing on top of that will likely not do you much good!

Eating a variety of fruits and veggies is optimal, although every little change does matter. Don't hold yourself back in pursuit of perfection! The little things do add up. The foods listed below are specific to help restore hair loss:
​
KALE
SPINACH
LENTIL
BLACK BEAN
​HEMP SEED
WALNUT
FIGS
WILD BLUEBERRY
BANANAS
PAPAYAS
​MANGOS

An interesting observation I have made time and again with clients is that they will re-grow a little bit of thier brow hair after a microblading session. Microblading stimulates the area because of increased blood flow.

Many clients heve concern that the process will destroy what hairs they do have. This is never the case. When done properly your natural brow is perfectly preserved.

Most clients that come to me are experiencing hairloss to some degree. It is my job to help boost thier confidence, even if it is just in the mean time while they are working to heal and get their own hair back. On the other hand, many clients of mine have great natural brows but they just like the perfected look of microblading versus their own natural brow. Either way, it's always an honor and pleasure to compliment someone's journey to feeling more comfortable in their skin.

​The phenomenal thing about our bodies is that when we finally know the truth and the tools we need, we gain momentum to move forward and reverse an array of undesirable symptoms.

Whether you are struggling with hairloss that is symptomatic of a medical condition or simply have noticed hair loss with age, I do believe this information can help you greatly.

Cheers to a radiant you!

By: Kelsy Klassen, Westender

​Facial tattoos aren't something North Americans really expect to read about in a beauty column, but a certain trend has been raising eyebrows lately.

With thin no longer “in”, eyebrow tattooing – a semi-permanent makeup or micropigmentation technique – has become a sought-after alternative to colouring in your over-plucked brows, or to replace hair lost to chemotherapy or illness.

We don’t mean those thick, blocky fill-ins of yore, though. Eyebrow tattooing has evolved to use more realistic, 3-D feathering effects over the last few years, as well as offering pigment choices that suit your skin tone. And, with the rise of Instagram, it is now easier than ever to covet and connect with beauty techniques from around the world.

You don’t have to travel far to find one of the world’s most popular cosmetic tattoo artists, though. At 69,000 Instagram followers and counting, Langley-based artist Shaughnessy Keely is so popular, she only opens up her studio website for bookings for one day a month. We joined the queue in March to see what it might be like to try to get in with the “brows-ing” beauty, whose clients have flown in from as far away as Germany for the $700 treatment, and within seconds of the registration window opening there were 473 people waiting in front of me in line.

Semi-permanent pigments are used to create realistic hair strokes. - Shaughnessy Keely photosA former student of Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Keely first mastered her illustration and design skills before moving on to tattooing and body mod – eventually becoming certified in cosmetic tattooing and micropigmentation. In 2015 she opened Studio Sashiko, a boutique, multi-artist tattoo studio (named after a Japanese needlework technique), to specialize in cosmetic tattooing, scalp micropigmentation, hairline reconstruction and eyelash extensions.

It’s her eyebrow tattoos that bring the world to her doorstop, though, so we reached out to Keely to learn more about this “highbrow” beauty trend.


What is cosmetic tattooing?
It's definitely not your typical form of tattooing. Cosmetic tattooing is meant to enhance your natural features for a result that is subtler than the average tattoo.


When you started cosmetic eyebrow tattooing, was it a well-known practice in Vancouver? Was it already popular elsewhere or in other cultures?
When I started tattooing, I think it was definitely something that was new-ish to North America. People were offering this technique in places like Japan, Korea, and Russia but I don't think it had become too popular over here, yet. I feel like social media has a lot to do with bringing cosmetic tattooing out of the shadows. The growth of this industry within the past couple of years has been insane!


What are some FAQ or misconceptions?
The biggest thing I get asked about would be if it hurts or not. Like any service, it always depends, but the majority of our clients are pleasantly surprised by how relaxing it is. We do our best to manage any discomfort by using topical numbing products. Most of our clients don't feel any pain. Some have even fallen asleep while getting their face tattooed!

Tattoos tend to change over time. What are the stages of an eyebrow tattoo and what can people expect after?
Immediately after the brows are tattooed they can look a little intense. This is because there is generally still some pigment residue on the existing hair and surrounding skin and there may be slight redness or swelling. After a few days as the skin begins to heal the tattoos will look slightly duller and depending on how well you heal most people experience some dry skin/flaking. About a week later (again, depending on how well you heal) your brow tattoo will begin to take on its more natural-looking healed state. Typically our clients like to return for annual refreshers to keep the shape and colour looking defined. 


How do you decide the look and shape of the future eyebrow? Describe the consultation process?
This is probably my favourite part! OK, second favourite from them seeing the results. I typically start by asking if they have anything in mind... often times the client will have a photo to share or a selfie showing me how they like to wear their brows normally. I definitely look at face shape and natural brow structure to determine a good starting point but we also talk about their brow struggle, and from there I can usually gauge how bold they want to go. Then I'll start to pencil in their brows, and once we have a shape determined, we move on to colour.
 

What common problems or conditions are you asked to treat?
I absolutely love creating a new set of brows for someone who has gone through some form of hair loss. We have a lot of clients who have alopecia or have gone through chemotherapy in the past and no longer have any eyebrow hair. It's pretty amazing to see the client light up when they see the final result!



Has Instagram helped your studio? What has its impact been?
Definitely! Instagram has been a huge source of new clients for us and it's actually pretty humbling how many people keep up with us. We have a map in our studio with pins from all the awesome places our clients have travelled from! 



What kick-started your popularity on the social media platform. What were you doing that got people’s attention?
I don't think I could really pinpoint what kick-started it all. I jumped on the Instagram app right when it came out and randomly and quickly began gaining "likes". Somehow photos of my tattoos, dogs and my face began showing up on the "Popular Page". Once I began my career in tattooing, I started posting before and after photos to showcase my work and it just snowballed from there. I think eyebrow tattooing is something that a lot of people have considered at some point in their life and through social media they were able to get a better grasp of what it would be like to have it done... it all becomes much more accessible at that point.


Do you ever get tired of tattooing eyebrows? What other things do you tattoo and how do you mix up your practice?
I wouldn't say I get tired of tattooing eyebrows because each client is so different from the next; but I am definitely interested in learning more traditional tattoo practices as well as perfecting other cosmetic services such as scar camouflage and areola repigmentation. Just need more time!


Tell us about your studio?
Our studio is the best, in my completely unbiased opinion. Everything has been handpicked and (mildly) obsessed over. Our space pulls inspiration from clean Japanese design elements. We wanted to make Studio Sashiko an inviting space for our beautiful clients. Most of them have followed us on social media for X number of years and many of them have travelled a fair distance to see us ­– we do not want to disappoint. And as far as staff goes, we work with the some pretty amazing and talented individuals. We are such a diverse group of artists but we complement each other so well. We are also rapidly growing, so stay tuned.



Your following is dedicated – people queue up each month just for the chance to book an appointment. Any advice for people hoping to get a spot?
Keep up with our Instagram account (@studiosashiko) for all updates on booking! We want to make the booking process as simple and fair for everyone as we can. The only tip I have is to be on our website at 11am PST sharp on the 15th of each month. If you don't get an appointment that day, there is always another opportunity the following month. We are constantly trying to perfect our booking process to make it easier for everyone, but we also have plans of expanding our staff to keep up with the demand.


Can you name some other tattoo artists you follow on Instagram, cosmetic or otherwise?
Oh, there are TOO many. I feel like I am finding and following new artists on a daily basis! Some of my current favs that I am lucky enough to be tattooed by are Katie Shocrylas (@kshocs) and Riki-Kay Middleton (@rkm_tattoos).


Are there others like you? Can you name some other eyebrow tattoo artists around the world whose work you admire?
My favourite activity is late-night Instagram creeping. I find SO many great brow artists. We are so excited to be hosting Helen Hoi (@hoitattoo) as a guest artist at our studio this year. She is doing some amazing brow work over in Calgary. I am also a big fan of Kate Ireland (@kateireland) from Portland, Oregon. We hope to work with some more brow artists in the near future as we expand to our brand new location in Los Angeles, California!

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