Brows are having a moment. And no matter how you shape and take care of your eyebrows, there's a good chance you've heard about microblading. This semi-permanent tattoo technique is used to create the illusion of fuller brows by creating hair-like strokes that mimic your natural hair growth. These days, there's a new term on the rise. Microfeathering is the new brow tattoo trend that has gained some serious traction over the past year.

But what's the difference, you ask? To get all the details on the newest semi-permanent brow solution, we tapped the woman behind microfeathering, Kristie Streicher, who not only created the technique, she trademarked it. Plus, extra precise inputs by dermatologist Shari Sperling and brow experts Dallas Trigg and Sonya Bottini. Here's everything you need to know about feathered eyebrows.

"When I first learned microblading, I was quite turned off by how unnatural it looked. I thought it looked much too over-filled and resembled a tattoo," says Streicher. "It wasn't until I started developing my own technique that I recognized the many variables that can affect the result. She spent a year developing her technique on over 300 test models, using it to conservatively fill-in sparse growth rather than recreate an entire brow. She says, "Microfeathering is my trademarked and proprietary technique created to help give people their fullest, most natural-looking brow. 

I genuinely try to create hair-like strokes that resemble and mimic natural hair to fill in sparse areas." She describes the final look as "soft, natural and truly custom to the individual's face."

Benefits of Microfeathering

Gives a natural look

Makes brows appear fuller and more fluffy

Is semi-permanent 

According to Trigg and Bottini, the purpose of any cosmetic tattooing is to enhance natural features. Microfeathering is softer and more subtle than microshading, for example, and is meant to be a natural-looking enhancement that gently fades over time. "Fading is desired as it allows the artist to make changes to color and shape over the years as the brow trends change, and the client's natural coloration and facial changes occur," they explain.

How to Prepare for Microfeathering

"I insist on working with one's natural brow shape and not a previously shaped brow," explains Streicher. Sperling confirms that the natural eyebrow should not be plucked, twisted, or waxed for a few weeks prior to having the procedure done so that the natural shape of the eyebrow can be assessed and enhanced.

Nowadays, it can vary from studio to studio, but all clients looking to receive microfeathering with Streicher must begin with growth training, which can range anywhere from six to 12 months. During training, she strategically tweezes every six to eight weeks, with no tweezing in between to evaluate and perfect your natural shape. She says, "Not working with the individual's natural hair growth pattern can detrimentally affect the outcome. My greatest fear is to take away the very thing that gives us a beautiful natural brow and individual character."

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