Brow tattoo, ombré brows and microblading: what do the names mean?

The family of treatments and the finish are different things

Brow tattoo, eyebrow tattoo, permanent brows and permanent make-up (often shortened to PMU) are names you may hear for pigment-based eyebrow treatments. The terms do not, by themselves, tell you exactly how a brow is created or what the finished result will look like.

A more useful conversation starts with the effect you like: a soft shaded shape, a more defined outline or a hair-stroke appearance. Ask which technique the practitioner actually offers, what that appointment includes and whether it is suitable for your existing brows.

Ombré and powder brows describe a shaded look

Powder brows describe a soft, shaded pigment effect rather than a row of individually drawn hair strokes. Ombré generally describes a graduated appearance, often with a softer front and more definition through the body or tail. These labels can overlap, so photographs and a consultation are more useful than relying on the name alone.

At Flirty Studios, the public booking menu lists ombré brows as the full permanent eyebrow treatment. You can discuss the intended outline and shade at a dedicated consultation before deciding to proceed.

Microblading is a distinct technique

Microblading is associated with fine hair-stroke marks created using a manual blade tool. It belongs to the wider cosmetic tattoo family, but it is not another name for every powder or ombré brow service. The right choice depends on more than a preference for a treatment name.

New microblading is not currently listed as a full treatment at Flirty Studios. The menu mentions microblading in its PMU top-up service for existing work. If you have had it before, contact the studio to discuss that work rather than assuming a new-treatment appointment is available.

A fresh photograph is not a healed-result photograph

The image used with this guide shows freshly applied powder brows from Mina’s public portfolio, before healing. It is a real treatment photograph, but it cannot tell you exactly how the colour will settle or how your own brows will heal.

Ask to discuss healed examples as well as fresh work. Your practitioner should explain the likely appearance during healing, aftercare and any follow-up that is appropriate for your treatment. Do not assume the initial colour is the final colour, or that another client’s result is a promise for your own brows.

Existing pigment changes the booking conversation

A top-up maintains suitable existing work; it is not automatically the right appointment for every previously tattooed brow. Tell the studio who carried out the work, when it was done and what you would like to change. Existing colour and shape need to be assessed before the next step is chosen.

Flirty Studios lists separate timing bands for PMU top-ups. The treatment page brings the current options together and links to the chooser, rather than selecting the lowest-price interval for you. Contact the studio if you are unsure how your existing work fits the menu.

What to ask at your consultation

A consultation gives you time to decide whether a pigment-based treatment fits your preferences and circumstances. The Flirty Studios permanent brow consultation includes a patch test. The public menu lists the treatment for clients over 18, with individual suitability assessed by the practitioner.

• Which finish is actually offered, and how would it work with my brows?
• Can we discuss fresh and healed examples, including the photograph I have brought?
• How should I prepare, and what aftercare should I follow?
• Does previous pigment affect whether I can have this treatment?
• What does the full appointment cost, and are follow-ups separate?
• Who should I contact if I have a concern during healing?

Where temporary brow treatments fit

Waxing, tinting, hybrid stain and lamination work differently from a brow tattoo. Waxing shapes the outline; tint colours the hairs; hybrid stain colours the hairs and temporarily stains the skin; lamination styles the direction of existing hairs. They do not implant pigment into the skin.

If you want to try a different shape or definition before considering permanent brows, explore those appointments and discuss the effect you want with the team. The commercial treatment pages have the current inclusions, prices and booking options.