My Microshading Journey: The Unfortunate Result of a “Good Deal” in 2015 (Part 1)

It was the winter of 2022 and I was doom-scrolling Instagram. I had recently FaceTimed with an industry colleague/friend of mine, who was raving about her experience with microshading.

“It’s the best!” she said. “I scheduled an appointment with this girl in Southern California and it’s been an absolute game-changer for me!”

At the time, I would have been the last person to consider semi-permanent makeup. My mother (who is consistently in tune with “What’s Popular” in South Korean culture) had convinced me to come along to one of her appointments years back. I accompanied her and somehow found myself in a position where I was also being pressured for eyebrows. You see, my mother isn’t someone who likes to pay full price for anything. Many might consider it to be a stereotypical Asian scenario, but she loves a deal. She lives for a good deal (check out Jimmy O. Yang’s comedy performance on Prime — it really hits home for me).

Located this low-resolution image within my Dropbox Camera Uploads folder.

Somehow, it was going to be a great deal for me to have my eyebrows done — alongside hers. We began the day at her house in Maryland and, later, I found myself in the back room of some (unknown to this day) hair salon in Northern Virginia.

A slightly aggressive older Korean woman emerged for my mother’s appointment. She brought out a book of colors — like they do for hair dye or nails. My mother made her selection and this woman got to work. It wasn’t my mother’s first time doing this and she called it an eyebrow tattoo — though it’s not exactly the same procedure as a tattoo. Eventually, it fades. This was the only factor that made me feel trusting in the process.

Once my mother’s procedure was complete, it was my turn. I was more than nervous, to say the least. I asked if it would hurt and a very stern response was given to me.

“Choosing eyebrow color! No hurting!” She applied some sort of numbing cream to my face and began to prepare her tools for whatever it was she was about to do. Unfortunately, it was not what I was promised. There was pain. Quite a lot of pain — and visible blood.

I was teary for the majority of the procedure. But, between this aggressive woman and my stubborn mother, there didn’t seem to be another option. I continued onwards.

After the procedure, we paid — all in cash — like many Korean people do when it comes to a “good deal.” I was unbelievably sore but was reassured that it would simply last for a day or two.

I was extremely careful but — regardless of my efforts — I developed a terrible scab on both eyebrows (remember that blood I mentioned during the procedure?). A few days later, these scabs fell off and nothing was left but my original, untinted eyebrows. I had spent several days resisting the urge to itch these scabs and my valiant efforts made zero difference.

Several weeks later, I returned for a touch-up appointment. It took quite a lot of convincing from my mother and she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Oh, what it is to be a child seeking approval from parents. Unfortunately, this touch-up appointment made zero difference (again). It was a repeat experience with scabs that would’ve done anything for an itch party. At that point (November 2015), I decided that semi-permanent makeup wasn’t for me. Ezcema was a reoccurring skin event throughout my life, so I made the assumption that my body was rejecting the procedure. “Perhaps it’s my sensitive skin?” I said.

It wasn’t until 2022’s events when I would regain my trust and realize that I couldn’t have been more incorrect with my skin sensitivity assumptions. (Spoiler: A clean, professional environment dedicated to microshading services truly sets the tone.)

(to be continued)