Another trend is upon us... it can be hard to keep up, can't it? 😵‍💫

But this trend may be slightly less harmess than brows masks, rainbow spoolies, or placing fruit stickers on lash lifts to get Instagrammable content.

Unfortunately, Airbrushed Brows may be a little more complicated. Read this blog before deciding if the treatment is right for your salon or not...

An airbrush is an air-operated, handheld tool that sprays liquid. Recently, people have been using an airbrush to tint brows. This is done by inserting a brow tint or hybrid stain into the airbrush and spraying the tint (in the form of a fine mist) onto the brows. It is a more advanced technique performed by professionals in a salon.

One of the advantages of Airbrushed Brows is quicker application time. However, when considering the time it takes to master the skill and the practice needed to get to grips with the airbrush itself, the treatment may not be more efficient than traditional application. Additionally, when you acknowledge the time it takes to set up the airbrush and clean it down after treatment, it may prolong the treatment time even more. 

Airbrushed Brows can create an ombre look, fading brows from light to dark. This can create a powder brow effect like semi-permanent makeup, ideal for those wanting a more dramatic look. However, it can be difficult to perfect this look. Often, the end result of Airbrushed Brows is less natural and more of a stencil-like shape. Some clients may prefer this look, but if they don’t, then it may be harder to vary the results using an airbrush. 

If you perform Airbrushed Brows for a client using a dark brown stain and then the proceeding client requires a light blonde stain, you may have stain residue left over in the airbrush from the previous client. Even if you think you have thoroughly cleaned your gun, removing every trace can be hard. To eliminate the risk of leftover stain residue, you would need to purchase separate airbrushes for different stain shades. 

Additionally, having to clean excess product out of the airbrush can lead to more product waste than in traditional tint application. With traditional application, you can control the amount of liquid more accurately, meaning less product is wasted. Similarly, you will naturally use more tint to fill the airbrush, causing more product to go to waste.

Brow tints and stains have chemicals in them, including PPD. When sprayed onto the face, the procedure comes with the risk of inhaling the fumes from such ingredients. This can lead to some serious health problems. As well as inhalation hazards, accidentally spraying the liquid in the client's eyes can cause injury. 

If you decide to offer the Airbrushed Brows treatment, you and your client should wear proper face protection, as well as covering their eyes, hair and skin surrounding the brows. Ensure you perform the treatment in a well-ventilated area to minimise inhalation risk. You should also check if your insurance provider covers airbrushing. 

Introducing a new service to your salon will also require a new risk assessment, and you will need to check the WEL occupational exposure limits for the active ingredients in the tint/stain you use. You need to confirm with your insurance provider that you are covered to introduce a new treatment and that Airbrushed Brows are covered before you invest in the equipment. A patch test is mandatory for all new treatments; this should be conducted 48 hours beforehand. 

Airbrushed Brows appear to be an advancement in the beauty world.

Still, there is very little research and knowledge on the treatment's effects, health and safety. Putting active ingredients into an aerosol increases the risks tenfold. If you decide to introduce this service, you must be aware of the potential consequences and the precautions needed to enhance safety.

Okay, that's enough of the serious stuff now. Whatever you decide, just be aware of the potential consequences for yourself and your clients. Thanks for reading huns. Have a gorgeous day xxxxx