Unexpected microblading costs that can catch you off guard!
April 13, 2020 - 10 minute read
Microblading is going to be the most expensive eyebrow service you get, and that expense goes beyond the advertised price.
There's the cost of the initial treatment, but then there are other ongoing expenses that can catch you off guard.
It helps to know what you're getting into, especially if it's your first time getting permanent makeup (PMU).
1) Touch up appointment can cost you an additional $50-$300
Did you know you microblading is a 2 part process? "You will need a touch up to achieve optimal results for your eyebrows" is a common saying in the permanent makeup industry.
The good news is that some microblading studios include the follow-up appointment as a complimentary service, while others charge for it.
Based on our research in Canada, we found that 60% of permanent makeup studios offered a complimentary touch-up, while the other 40% charged for it. On average, it cost $110 for the touchup and ranged from $50-$300. At the top end, Hoi Tatto in Calgary charges $300.
Is the touch up necessary? Yes, there's good reason why it's necessary. Besides you've already spent so much money and done part one which is longer of the two appointments.
The touch up appointment occurs 4-8 weeks after the initial procedure. By this time, your eyebrows would have healed and the pigment would have settled.
Since everyone's skin absorbs the pigment differently, there is a chance that your brows would have faded or have gaps in it as shown in the photo. The PMU artist would be able to assess your eyebrows and touch up any irregularities to give you the best results. This could include using a darker pigment and redoing faded hairstrokes.
Also, you may not even have a choice in the matter since some studios include this in their prices. This is defintely not a deterent to get your eyebrows microbladed, it may just be an extra cost that you need to be aware of and prepared for.
2) Should you tip your microblading artist?
Everybody tips on services like manicure/pedicure, haircuts and facials, but tipping isn't as clear-cut for expensive permanent makeup services. Many of the services are costly, ranging from $400 to $1000 which is significantly more than your everyday beauty services. That means a standard 15% gratuity could cost you an extra $60 to $150.
This begs the question, should you tip your permanent makeup artist? If so, how much to tip? There are no hard and fast rules for tipping as the consensus is split down the middle. Microblading artists have received tip amounts ranging from 0 to as high as 20%. Gratuity is a personal choice that should reflect your budget and satisfaction.
Just like you, there are many people searching online what the tipping etiquette is for microblading. See our poll results and take our poll, here are the most common opinions:
- Don't give any gratuity because the service is so expensive. Artists can earn $100-$500 per hour.
- Don't tip if the owner does your service, but give gratuity if it's an employee which could be on salary or contract that needs to pay commission to the owner.
- It's in the service industry, you should tip like any other beauty service you get from spas and salons. But the standard amount of 10-15% is not expected, unless you're over the moon with the results and want to do so.
- What about tipping on the touch up appointment? If the price of the treatment includes the follow up and you already tipped, you don't have to give gratuity again for the touch up since no money is being exchanged. With that in mind, you are free to tip if you like how your eybrows turned out and want to show some appreciation for their work.
3) Don't forget about taxes which can be an additional $30-$80
Although taxes are unavoidable, it should still be worth mentioning for high ticketed services. It's not very often that you shell out $500-$1000 for a beauty service.
The tax rate is different for each province in Canada , on the low end we have Alberta with 5% tax and at the top, we have 15% tax in the Maritimes. I'm not suggesting that you travel to Alberta, but if you happen to be there, it might be worthwhile to get your brows done to save 7-10% in tax differential.
For example in Toronto, Ontario, the average microblading price is $550, 13% tax would cost $71.5.
4) Budget for ongoing annual maintenance - average price for 1 year touch-up is $228 in Canada
Your microbladed brows will fade over time and a yearly colour boost is recommended to keep your them looking fresh. In Canada, the average cost for annual touch-up is $228. At the top of the spectrum, you have HRH Beauty in Toronto that charges $500 for annual combo brow touch up .
The pigments in your eyebrows will naturally fade and these factors may affect how fast they do:
- Skin type - oily skin fades faster than dry skin and younger skin fades more quickly as well
- Skincare products - products that contain AHA or Glycolic Acid will cause your brows to fade faster
- Sun exposure or tanning - the UV rays from the sun causes the pigment to fade
The longer you go without a touch-up, the more expensive it gets and if it surpasses 2 years, most PMU clinics will charge you the full price of new brows. As prices are subject to change without notice, touch up pricing may increase for various reasons:
- The artist gets more certifications and becomes more skillful
- Too much demand for the artist and appointments are booked up a month or 2 in advance
5) Non-refundable deposit - ranging from $50-$200
All microblading studios require a non-refundable deposit to secure your appointment. The deposit amount is usually 20% of the cost of the treatmeant and varies from artist to artist.
The deposit is not an additional cost, although you could forfeit your deposit if you miss your appointment. Well who makes appointments and not follow through, sometimes life gets in the way. Most studios will allow you to reschedule the appointment once as long as it's at least 48-72 hours before. Here is Lina Tran studio's policies, as you can see the permanent makeup industry has very strict deposit, cancellation and late policies. So make sure you don't forget about your appointment and arrive early.
In total, how much more money could it cost you?
Let's use
Beauty Room in Toronto
as our example, they charge $450 for microblading.
$450 + $150(follow-up) + $78 (13% tax) + $67.8 (10% tips) = $745.8
That's an additional $295.8 from the original $450, costing you close to an extra 66%
What about the annual touch up?
It cost $250 for a 12-18 month touch up, with tax and tip, it works out to be $310.75
In a little over a years time, it would cost $1,056.55 to have eyebrows done at Beauty Room,
which is more than double the original price tag of $450.
Final thoughts
Should you get microblading and is it worth it? Absolutely yes, I don't know a single person that regretted getting their eyebrows done. Will there be some unhappy customers, yes, but there are far more elated people who've had great experiences and ended up with fabulous eyebrows.
Our goal for this article was to just highlight things that may be overlooked. By being informed, you can manage your expectations and not be caught off guard when you start your brow journey.
This is an exciting time as the demand for permanent makeup is still on the rise. Each year, more and more PMU artists are entering the industry, while the masters are honing their crafts and creating "art" with their own signature styles.
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