While not everyone is blessed with excellent genes, the lack of Bradley Cooper-caliber genetics is not a barrier for a complete non-patchy beard anymore. All that is thanks to a new technology of beard tattoos and microblading.
So, are beard tattoos a good idea? Beard tattoos or micropigmentation are some of the most brilliant solutions for patchy beards and will help those with light or incomplete beards to rock an ultra realistic stubble. The solution is quick and fairly simple and worked pretty well for most of those who tried it out.
If you want to learn more about beard tattoos on the face, you’ve come to the right place, keep on reading for a brief guide with everything you need to know about the procedure, so you can make up your mind!
How Do Beard Tattoos Work?
Beard tattoos, also known as “beard microblading” or “beard micropigmentation” is an innovative technique that is used to help men with patchy facial hair to enhance their beards by filling in these patches and modifying the shape to give a sense of fullness and blending these hairs into a complete looking stubble.
The reason why beard microblading is called beard tattoos is that it’s fairly similar to how a regular tattoo is made.
However, unlike the real tattoos that get the ink deep into the skin layers, this technique uses very small blades to make scratches in the basal epidermis layer in the beard area, hence the name.
These small blades are loaded with pigments of the same color as the hairs of the beard, and as the blades insert these pigments in hairs-like strokes, they look like tiny hairs and blend in nicely between the hairs of the beard.
Microblading isn’t only used for beards, but it can also be used for giving fuller eyebrows as well using the same technique.
Who Are Beard Tattoos for?
As you can see, the treatment blends a micropigmentation of hair-like strokes into your beard to give a fuller look.
This makes it an ideal solution for men who like to wear a stubble-like beard but are suffering from spart patches.
Additionally there are some folks with asymmetric hairs on their beard where some areas have thinner or lighter color hairs that also give a patchy look. Microblading is also a great idea for those guys.
Similarly, a lot of men seek microblading because they have one side of their beard noticeably thicker or fuller than the other, which can be fixed with excellent results using beard tattoos.
In addition to patchiness and asymmetry, many microblading clients are those who have a mustache gap where their beards and mustaches aren’t connected.
In addition to improving your beard, microblading is proven to work brilliantly for a variety of other purposes, such solving alopecia problems, chemotherapy patients, and camouflaging any scars in the beard area where the scar doesn’t grow hairs by blending the scar into a full stubble
However, in my opinion, these are the best uses for beard tattoos. As a rule of thumb, the more microblading you need, the more obvious it shows. This is why I don’t think it’s a good idea for those who don’t have any facial hair at all.
In that case, I think that beard transplant is a relatively more effective and realistic treatment that will give better results.
Are Beard Tattoos Permanent?
Since microblading inserts the pigments into the basal epidermis layer of the skin, it may last for a long time but it’s not permanent, as it’ll fade away within a few years, usually about 2 to 4 years or more.
In other words, beard tattoos are not permanent. Instead, it’s rather called “semi-permanent” as it lasts for quite a long time, but will eventually require touch ups every couple of years in order to keep the pigment strokes looking fresh and blending nicely within your beard.
This also means that, even if you shave your beard, the microblading tattoo will remain, which makes it ideal for those who are committed to rocking a beard for years to come.
What Happens During a Session of Beard Tattoo?
One of the best things about a beard tattoo session is that it’s mostly a one time thing. This means that, as soon as you’re done with it, you’re good to go! Here’s what to expect during a session of beard and mustache micropigmentation:
- The area of where the beard tattoo is going to be applied is thoroughly cleaned, sanitized, and dried to remove all dirt particles and oils before starting.
- The specialist will inspect the area and make sure that it’s healthy and eligible for a beard tattoo
- The microblading specialist will provide you with a wide range of colors to pick the closest one to your hair’s natural color for maximum blending.
- The specialist will discuss and outline the area where the microblading is going to be applied to give you a sense of expectation of the results
- The microblading artist will then apply local anesthesia before applying the tattoo
- Lastly, the tattoo will be applied fully in one session
The time that a microblading or micropigmentation procedure takes is largely dependent on various factors, but mainly on the expected results.
In other words, just like regular tattoos, the more work required to fill in the patches, the longer the procedure will take.
However, for most clients, the procedure will take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on the complexity of the job.
Like the time needed, the cost of the beard tattoo procedure is also dependent on the amount of work needed as well as the rate at which the specialist or artist charges.
In most cases, the price may start from $150 or $200, but a more complex job that needs several hours may take up to $500 to $600 or more.
Is Beard Tattoos a Good Idea?
This technique is a brilliant solution for anyone who’s suffering from a remarkably patchy beard or wants to improve the hairline of their existing beard.
The technique is semi-permanent and doesn’t take much time. Also, you’re good to go as soon as you’re done with the procedure, which makes it ideal for those who want a quick solution to make their stubble look thicker and hairier.
Of course, the choice here is down to your personal preferences, but for me, I think that it works best for those who already have a beard but they’re genetically hindered by patchiness and low density.
However, as a semi-permanent tattoo-like procedure, the pigment will remain for up to 2 to 3 years, so if you’re not fully committed to rocking a beard or you’re planning to pursue a career where you have to fully shave your beard, it may not be the right call for you.
Final Thoughts
With that said, you now know more about beard tattoos and how the microblading procedure works.
As you can see, the technique is a brilliant solution for a specific group of people, but it may not work for everyone due to its high commitment.
If you want to improve your beard naturally, check out this guide where I discuss the best serums for patchy beards.