Microblading at A.F. Bennett

A.F. Bennett Salon & Wellness Spa operates on New Dorp Lane in Staten Island. Alongside its salon and spa services, it offers microblading, a semi-permanent brow method that places fine strokes resembling brow hairs into the upper layer of the skin to shape the brows. Clients can use it to fill in sparse areas or to create a full brow from scratch.

Before booking, clients can have a complimentary consultation of about 30 minutes. The procedure itself usually runs two to two and a half hours. A numbing product is applied to reduce discomfort, and each stroke is drawn individually, with the final look adjusted to the client's hair colour, skin tone and the direction their brow hair grows.

Touch-ups are part of the process. The first follow-up visit, about 8 weeks after the initial treatment and taking around an hour and a half, is booked within 6 to 8 weeks of the first session. After that, touch-ups are recommended every one to two years to keep the brows looking as intended. Aftercare for the 14-day healing period covers avoiding sun beds, gym sweating, makeup and anti-aging creams on the brows, and not picking at scabs. Gentle dabbing with sterile water and a light grape seed or coconut oil is advised, while petroleum jelly and Vaseline are not.

Results vary. Microblading is not performed on clients who are pregnant or nursing, and it is not recommended for clients with oily or large-pored skin, rosacea, eczema, acne, moles, keratosis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, or very dry or peeling skin. Healing is not guaranteed, and fading or unevenness can depend on skin type, lifestyle and aftercare. Previously tattooed brows may need one to three sessions to reach the desired result, and extra procedures and fees apply when the brow area has scar tissue that has been treated more than once. Strokes may look less defined or less dark on darker skin, and redheads, blondes and fair-skinned clients may see more swelling, redness and fading during healing. Cancellations need at least 72 hours' notice to avoid additional charges.

Each hair stroke is drawn individually, and the shape and colour are adapted to the client's hair colour, skin tone and brow growth direction.

The salon describes its atmosphere as intimate and relaxed.