OHLALA’s Lindsey Steenkamp steps up her brow game with Sibille Buchholzer Juen at Heavenly Spa by Westin.
I have always been curious about microblading – having watched some amazing transformations from the safety of my phone. I was hesitant as I have always been so particular with the shape of my eyebrows. I was a tween in the nineties and had my first girl crush on the character Audrey Horne from the TV show Twin Peaks, and as a result, I tweezed with impunity. Over time, the hair on my brows essentially gave up permanently, which means that my ‘90s brows don’t quite line up with today’s in-fashion fuller trend. Like most, I am curious but scared, especially after my friend sent me a Google search of ‘microblading fails’. I would recommend that you do not search that before an appointment, only if you are in search of a good laugh.
For those unfamiliar with this treatment, microblading is a semipermanent makeup treatment placing a special brow pigment under the top layer of the skin by using a handheld microblading tool, manually performing several ‘hairlike’ strokes to achieve natural and exquisite brows.
When I heard that the esteemed Sibille Buchholzer Juen was heading up the new microblading offering launched at the Heavenly Spa by Westin, my misshapen brow arches raised with interest and excitement.
Sibille boasts over 15 years of experience and has been tending to celebrity faces like Carolina Herrera, Daisy Lowe, Alice Dellal, Catherine Malandrino and Kylie Minogue for almost a decade. It’s always such a calming and beautiful walk to the Heavenly Spa by Westin entrance with sounds of the flowing waterfall wall and fresh air instilling instant calm.
I sit down with Sibille, and she explains that the consultation, measuring of the face and brows to determine my ideal shape takes the longest, whereas the actual treatment takes only 30 minutes.
The first part of achieving the look I want with microblading, is to find my ‘golden ratio’ determined by measuring my face with a caliper. I can choose the shape and thickness to a certain extent, but the caliper determines the right equation to my face’s length and shape. The ‘golden ratio’ is found in nature, in the form of an ocean snail shell and from the shape of unfurling ferns for example.
Proportions and length of the nose, the position of the eyes and chin’s width, are claimed to conform to some aspect of this ideal quota. The ‘golden ratio’ is basically what is the most pleasant in the eye of the viewer. One can safely say that microblading is as much an art as a science.
After my ‘golden ratio’ is determined, we look at colour swatches of ink. Sibille explains that the pigment they use is high-quality and will not fade to a strange tone with time. Eyebrows are the face’s business card, and it is advised not to compromise quality over price. We select a blend of two shades to match the colour of my brows. She opens the sealed set of miniature ‘nanoneedles’ infront of me, for my peace of mind. We get started, and I would say microblading is more uncomfortable than it is painful. All you feel is a faint sensation of fine needles barely scratching your skin’s surface. Sibille stops and checks the process with me throughout, giving me the mirror and making sure I am comfortable and happy with her work.
Microblading is a process of two sessions, with the second session being a touch-up after four to six weeks. The results last between one and one and a half years, depending on your skin type and skin care regimen. The longevity depends 80 per cent on how well you look after them and of course your lifestyle. After-care is vital for the best result and is relatively simple. The immediate results are usually dark and darken with healing, but they lighten up after a day or two. I am impressed by the tiny realistic hairline strokes that are now filling my bald spaces, literally reversing the years of bad tweezing. Today has been a total game-changer for my face, and Sibille gave me some golden nuggets of beauty advice too. As I leave the spa with my new full and fabulous brows, I feel much more confident.
Microblading is for everyone, whether it be for those, who need just a few more strokes or those (like me) who need a total brow overhaul. Are you spending too much time applying your eyebrow makeup, or not confident about their volume? You should definitely consider microblading.
For reservations and more information, please call 4492 1682.
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