How Much Does Microblading Cost?
Microblading typically costs $400-800+ depending on artist experience and location. At my studio in Shorewood, IL, it’s $650 for the initial session including the 6-8 week touch-up, with $300 annual refreshers. Over two years, that’s roughly the same as what most people spend on daily brow products alone.
I’m not going to bury the number and make you scroll through 2,000 words to find it.
At my studio (Nirvana PMU in Shorewood, IL), microblading costs $650 for the initial session. That includes the touch-up at 6-8 weeks. Annual refreshers are $300.
There. Now you know.
But if you’re here, you’re probably asking a bigger question than “how much?” You’re asking “is it worth it?”
That’s a different question entirely. And the honest answer depends on who you are, what your mornings look like, and how much your time is actually worth to you.
Let me break it all down—no sales pitch, just math and straight talk.
The Full Price Breakdown
Let’s get specific, because vague pricing drives me crazy and it probably drives you crazy too.
The First Session: $650
This is where everything starts. Here’s what’s actually included in that number:
Pre-appointment consultation — I look at your natural brows, discuss your goals, and assess your skin type. Not everyone is a good candidate for microblading, and I’d rather tell you that before you spend a dollar than after.
Custom brow mapping and design (30-45 minutes) — I measure your facial proportions, bone structure, and natural features to design a shape that works for YOUR face. Not someone else’s face. Not a trending shape from Instagram. Yours. I go back and forth with you until you’re completely happy before any pigment touches your skin.
Custom color mixing — I don’t pull a pre-made pigment off the shelf. I mix your color to match your natural hair tone, skin undertone, and the look you want. This matters more than most people realize—it’s the difference between brows that look natural and brows that look obviously fake.
The microblading procedure (60-90 minutes) — Individual hair-like strokes, one at a time, building up your brows into something that looks like it grew there. Over 3,500 treatments and nearly 10 years of focused expertise go into every single session.
Numbing — Applied before and during the procedure. Your comfort matters.
Aftercare kit — Everything you need for proper healing, including aftercare balm and detailed instructions.
Follow-up support — Questions during healing? Text me. I mean it.
The Touch-Up: Included
This is important—some places charge an extra $150-200 for the touch-up. Mine is included in the $650.
Why does it matter? Because microblading is a two-appointment process. Your skin heals uniquely. Some strokes hold perfectly, others fade during healing. The touch-up at 6-8 weeks is where I perfect everything—fill in any faded areas, adjust color, and fine-tune the shape now that it’s healed.
If someone’s charging you separately for the touch-up, add that to their “lower” price and compare again.
Annual Refresher: $300
Microblading lasts 1-3 years depending on your skin type and lifestyle. Most of my clients come back every 12-18 months for a refresh. It’s a shorter appointment (up to 90 minutes), lower cost, and keeps your brows looking fresh.
Your total investment over 2 years: $650-950 (depending on whether you need a refresher in year two).
Now Let’s Talk About What You’re Currently Spending
Here’s where it gets interesting. I did a deep dive on the real time and cost of your daily brow routine, and the numbers are eye-opening.
The Product Costs
Let’s be conservative:
- Brow pencils (replaced 3x/year): $60-90
- Powder or pomade (replaced 2x/year): $40-70
- Brushes (replaced yearly): $12-25
- Brow gel (replaced 3x/year): $45-84
- Concealer for cleanup (replaced 2x/year): $20-60
- Makeup remover: $30-50
Annual product cost: $207-379
And that’s drugstore to mid-range. If you’re using Benefit, Anastasia Beverly Hills, or other high-end brands? Double it.
Over Two Years
Products only: $414-758
So the products alone cost nearly as much as microblading over the same timeframe. But products don’t give you back your mornings.
Over Five Years
Products: $1,035-1,895 Microblading + refreshers: $1,250-1,550
The gap narrows fast. And with microblading, you’re getting something products can never offer—you wake up and your brows are already done.
But Wait—What About Your Time?
Products are just the financial cost. Let’s talk about the cost nobody puts a price tag on.
If you’re spending 15 minutes a day on your brows (and most people underestimate this), that’s:
- Weekly: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Monthly: 7.5 hours
- Yearly: 90+ hours
- Over 5 years: 450+ hours
That’s 450 hours of standing in front of a mirror, trying to make two siblings look like twins. Every. Single. Day.
Now add in the check-ins throughout the day, the touch-ups after the gym, the removal every night, the shopping trips, the tutorial watching. The real total is closer to 149 hours per year.
What would you do with 149 extra hours every year?
Sleep in. Read. Work out. Spend time with your family. Start something new. Or just enjoy not thinking about your brows for the first time in years.
That’s what microblading actually gives you. Not just brows—time.
Why Cheap Microblading Is Expensive
I need to talk about this because I see it constantly.
Someone finds a deal—$200 microblading, $150 “flash sale,” a Groupon for $99. They think they’re being smart with their money. And then they end up in my chair six months later, asking me to fix it.
Here’s what cheap microblading usually gets you:
- Strokes that blur together into a solid block of color
- Pigment that turns orange, gray, or blue over time
- Shapes that don’t match your face because nobody spent time mapping
- Uneven depth that heals patchy
- An artist who’s still learning—on your face
Corrections cost more than doing it right the first time. A correction involves working with existing (often wrong) pigment, adjusting color, rebuilding shape, and managing expectations that are now complicated by bad prior work. It’s harder, takes longer, and costs more.
I’m not saying every affordable artist is bad. Some newer artists offer lower prices while building their portfolio, and some of them are genuinely talented. But here’s how to tell the difference:
Ask to see healed photos. Not fresh-off-the-table photos—anyone can look good fresh. Healed photos at 6-8 weeks show you the real result.
Ask how many procedures they’ve done. There’s a learning curve to this work. I didn’t become confident in my results overnight. It took thousands of faces.
Ask what’s included. If the touch-up is extra, that “$300 microblading” is actually $450-500.
Trust your gut. If the consultation feels rushed, if they can’t answer your questions, if their workspace doesn’t feel clean—walk away. Your face is not the place to bargain hunt.
What Makes Pricing Vary Between Artists?
Experience level, what’s included (touch-up, aftercare kit, consultation), pigment quality, studio overhead, and whether the artist specializes in brows or does everything.
You’ll see microblading priced anywhere from $200 to $1,000+ in the Chicagoland area. Here’s what actually drives those differences:
Experience Level
An artist with 500 procedures under their belt prices differently than one with 5,000. And the results are different too. Nearly 10 years of doing this one thing—and doing it every single day—means I’ve seen every skin type, every face shape, every challenge. That experience shows up in your results.
What’s Included
Some places charge separately for:
- The consultation ($50-100)
- The touch-up ($150-200)
- The aftercare kit ($25-50)
- Color correction if needed
Add those up. My $650 includes everything.
Tools and Pigments
Quality matters here in a way you can’t see until it’s on your face and healed. Medical-grade pigments that heal true to color cost more than bargain-bin alternatives. Single-use, sterile tools cost more than whatever’s cheapest online. No shortcuts, no assumptions.
Overhead and Environment
A clean, professional studio with proper sanitation protocols costs more to run than someone working out of their apartment. You’re paying for the environment your face heals in.
Specialization
I do one thing—and I do it exceptionally well. I don’t offer lash extensions, facials, nail art, and microblading-on-the-side. This is my entire focus. Every day. That specialization means something.
The Real ROI: What You Actually Get Back
Let’s move past the spreadsheet for a second. Because the real return on investment isn’t just financial.
Time You’ll Never Get Back
149+ hours per year. That’s the big one. Not just the minutes in front of the mirror—it’s the mental bandwidth. The decision fatigue. The “do my brows look okay?” loop that plays on repeat all day.
After microblading, that loop stops. You wake up. Your brows are done. You move on with your life.
Products You Stop Buying
Most of my clients completely eliminate brow products from their routine. Pencils, powders, pomades, gels, brushes—gone. Some keep a clear brow gel for extra polish on special occasions, but that’s it.
Annual savings: $200-400+ depending on what you were using.
Confidence That’s Hard to Quantify
This is the one that’s tough to put a dollar amount on. But it’s the thing clients mention most.
Not wondering if your brows look even during a meeting. Not checking your phone camera every time you leave a bathroom. Not skipping the pool because you don’t want to deal with your brows afterward.
My clients tell me they feel more confident barefaced than they ever did with full makeup. Because their brows frame their face in a way that just… works. Every day. Without effort.
The Morning You Get Back
Imagine this: Your alarm goes off. You get up. You wash your face. You look in the mirror and your brows are already perfect.
No pencil. No powder. No mirror check. No “are they even?” No starting over because one is higher than the other.
Just… done. Every single morning.
That’s what $650 actually buys you.
How to Budget for Microblading
If the price feels like a lot upfront, here are some practical ways to make it work:
Do the Product Audit First
Go through your bathroom and add up what you spend on brow products annually. Most people are shocked by the number. If you’re spending $25-30/month on brow products, you’re already spending $300-360/year. Microblading pays for itself in under two years—and gives you back your mornings starting day one. If you want to see the exact breakdown for your situation, try my Microblading Cost Calculator—it does the math in under a minute.
Plan Ahead
If you know you want microblading, start setting aside the cost of your brow products instead of replacing them. In 3-4 months, you’ll have most of the cost saved without changing your budget at all.
Think Per-Day Cost
$650 over 18 months (average time before a refresh) is about $1.20 per day. That’s less than your morning coffee. For brows that are done before you even open your eyes.
Ask About Payment Options
Some studios offer payment plans. It’s worth asking during your consultation.
Factor In What You Stop Spending
After microblading, most clients save $200-400/year on products they no longer buy. That means the real net cost is lower than the sticker price.
So… Is It Worth It?
For most clients, yes—microblading costs about the same as 2 years of brow products but gives you back 149+ hours per year and eliminates your entire daily brow routine.
I’m not going to tell you microblading is right for everyone. It’s not. Some people genuinely enjoy their brow routine. Some people are on medications that make them poor candidates. Some people aren’t ready for the commitment. That’s all completely valid.
But if you’re here—if you Googled “is microblading worth the cost” at 11pm because you’re tired of the same morning routine—I think you already know your answer.
Here’s what I’d suggest: check if you’re a good candidate first. Then read about what microblading actually involves so you know exactly what you’re signing up for. No surprises.
And if you want to talk through it in person? Book a free consultation. I’ll look at your brows, answer every question you have, and give you my honest opinion on whether microblading makes sense for you. No pressure, no obligation.
Because I treat your face like it’s my own. And I’d want someone to be straight with me.
Serving the Southwestern Suburbs
My studio is in Shorewood, IL, and I work with clients from across the Chicago southwestern suburbs. Whether you’re coming from Aurora, Bolingbrook, Downers Grove, or right here in Shorewood, you’re just a short drive away. I do one thing—and I do it exceptionally well. Over 3,500 treatments and counting.
Have questions about pricing or want to talk through whether microblading is the right investment for you? Contact me — I answer every message personally.
