Yes, Men Get Microblading. More Than You’d Think.
A significant percentage of my clients are men—they come in for age-related thinning, scars from injuries, alopecia, or simply wanting fuller brows. The difference for men is the technique: straighter lines, thicker strokes, lower positioning, and zero arch. When done right, nobody knows you’ve had anything done. That’s the entire point.
I’m going to be straight with you: a significant percentage of my clients are men.
They don’t post about it on social media. They don’t mention it at the office. Most of their friends and partners have no idea they’ve had anything done. And that’s exactly the point.
Over 3,500 treatments and nearly 10 years in, I’ve worked with guys from every background—executives, firefighters, contractors, retirees, gym regulars, guys who’ve never stepped foot in anything remotely resembling a salon. They come in for all kinds of reasons, and they leave with one thing in common: brows that look completely natural.
No one can tell. That’s not an accident. That’s by design.
If you’ve been thinking about microblading but feel weird about it because you’re a guy, this post is for you. I’m going to break down why men get it done, what the process looks like, what the results actually look like, and answer every question you’re probably too stubborn to ask out loud.
Why Men Get Microblading
Most men get microblading to address age-related thinning, fill scars or gaps from injuries, restore brows lost to alopecia, or fix over-grooming—not vanity, just specific problems solved.
Let’s kill the assumption right now: this isn’t about vanity. Most guys who come to me have a specific problem they want solved.
Thinning Brows from Age
This is the most common reason. As men age, brow hair thins out—especially at the tails. You might not notice it happening gradually, but one day you look in the mirror or see yourself on a Zoom call and something looks… off. Your face looks tired, older, washed out. A lot of the time, it’s the brows.
Scars and Gaps
Old injuries, sports accidents, surgeries—scars through the brow are incredibly common in men. A scar that cuts through your brow leaves a visible gap that makes one side look noticeably different from the other. Microblading fills those gaps with hair-like strokes that match the surrounding hair perfectly.
Alopecia and Medical Hair Loss
Some guys lose brow hair due to alopecia, thyroid conditions, or as a side effect of medication. This isn’t cosmetic in the traditional sense—it’s restoration. I approach these cases with extra care and sensitivity, because losing your brows affects how you see yourself in ways that are hard to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it.
Over-Grooming
It happens. Maybe you got a little aggressive with the tweezers, maybe an overzealous barber shaped them too thin, maybe you’ve been trimming too close for years. Whatever the reason, the hair doesn’t always grow back the way it used to.
Just Wanting Fuller Brows
Some guys simply want their brows to look better. Not dramatic, not different—just fuller. More defined. That’s a perfectly valid reason, and it doesn’t need any more justification than that.
The Masculine Approach to Brow Design
Here’s what separates good microblading from bad microblading on men: the shape has to be completely different from what you’d do on a woman.
When I work on a male client, I’m designing for a different bone structure, different facial proportions, and a completely different aesthetic goal.
What Male Microblading Looks Like
- Straighter lines. Men’s brows naturally sit flatter than women’s. There’s no arch—or at most, a very subtle one. I follow your natural brow bone, not a trendy shape.
- Thicker strokes. Male brow hair is typically coarser and thicker. The strokes I create need to match that texture so they blend seamlessly with your existing hair.
- Lower positioning. Men’s brows sit closer to the eye. I’m not lifting or reshaping—I’m filling in and enhancing what’s already there.
- Natural fullness, not definition. The goal isn’t sculpted or “done.” The goal is brows that look like you just happen to have good brows.
What It Doesn’t Look Like
Let me be clear about what I’m NOT doing:
- No arches
- No dramatic shaping
- No obvious makeup look
- Nothing that would look out of place on your face
The right shape changes everything—but “right” for a man means natural, masculine, and completely undetectable.
”No One Will Know”
This is the thing I hear most from male clients, both as a concern beforehand and as a relief afterward.
Before: “I don’t want anyone to know I had this done.”
After: “Nobody has any idea. They just say I look good.”
Here’s why microblading is so discreet on men:
The strokes mimic real hair. I’m not filling in a block of color. Each stroke is an individual line that looks like an actual brow hair. They blend in with whatever natural hair you have.
Color matching is precise. I custom-mix pigment to match your exact hair color—including the grays, the lighter hairs at the edges, all of it. The color heals soft and stays balanced, so it doesn’t look like you drew on your face with a marker.
Healing is subtle. Yes, there’s a healing period (I’ll get into that below), but it’s not dramatic. Most guys go back to work within a day or two, and no one notices anything except that you look… refreshed. Maybe better-rested. The kind of thing people can’t quite put their finger on.
That’s the whole point. Subtle. Masculine. Confident.
What the Appointment Is Actually Like
A private, no-fuss 2-3 hour session: consultation and brow mapping, 20-30 minutes of numbing, 60-90 minutes of the actual work, then aftercare instructions. You’re the only client there.
I know some guys avoid this because they picture a spa with candles and whale music. That’s not what this is.
The Studio
My studio in Shorewood, IL is clean, private, and professional. No frills. You’re the only client there during your appointment—there’s no waiting room full of people, no awkward small talk with strangers. It’s just you and me, getting the work done.
The Process (Step by Step)
1. Consultation and Brow Mapping (45-60 minutes)
This is where I figure out exactly what you need. I’ll look at your existing brow hair, your face shape, your bone structure, and what you want to achieve. Then I’ll map out the shape directly on your brows so you can see it and approve it before anything permanent happens.
This is also when you ask every question you have. No question is dumb. I’ve heard them all.
2. Numbing (20-30 minutes)
I apply a topical numbing cream to the brow area. You sit back and wait. Bring your phone, catch up on emails, scroll through whatever—this is downtime.
3. The Work (60-90 minutes)
This is where the microblading happens. I use a handheld tool (no buzzing tattoo machine) to create individual hair-like strokes, depositing pigment into the upper layers of skin.
You’ll feel some sensation—a scratching or light pressure—but it’s not the ordeal you’re imagining. Most male clients tell me it’s less uncomfortable than a tattoo, about on par with getting blood drawn. Read my full breakdown on what the pain is really like if you want the honest details.
4. The Result
When it’s done, I’ll hand you a mirror. And here’s the part I never get tired of: the moment a guy sees his brows and his face just… relaxes. Because it looks natural. It looks like him—just a better-rested, fuller-browed version.
Total Time
Plan for about 2-3 hours for the first session. You’ll come back for a touch-up at 6-8 weeks, which is shorter (about 90 minutes). The touch-up is included in your initial cost.
Healing and Results
The healing timeline is the same for men as it is for women. Your skin doesn’t care about your gender—it heals the same way.
Week 1: The Bold Phase
Your brows will look darker and bolder than the final result for the first few days. This is normal. The pigment is sitting on top of the skin and hasn’t settled yet. Don’t panic—it fades significantly.
Week 2: The Flaky Phase
The treated area will start to flake and peel, like a healing scratch. This is your skin regenerating. It might look patchy or lighter than expected during this stage. Again—normal. Do not pick at it.
Weeks 3-4: The Ghost Phase
The pigment seems to disappear or get very light. This freaks some people out. Relax—the color is still there, it’s just healing underneath the new skin. It’ll come back.
Weeks 4-6: The Final Result
The color settles into its true shade. This is what your brows will look like going forward. Full, natural, and exactly what I designed for you.
For complete healing instructions, check out my day-by-day aftercare guide. Following aftercare properly is half the result—I’m serious about that.
How Long Results Last
Microblading lasts 1-3 years depending on your skin type, lifestyle, and sun exposure. Most men come back for a refresh once a year or so to keep things looking sharp. Some guys stretch it to two years before they feel like they need a touch-up.
Common Questions Men Ask
These come up in almost every male consultation. No shame in any of them.
”Will it look feminine?”
No. And this is where the skill of the person doing your brows really matters. I design male brows to look masculine—straighter, thicker, natural. Not arched, not sculpted, not shaped like something off Instagram. If your brows look feminine after microblading, your technician did it wrong. Period.
”Can I still work out?”
Not for about 7-10 days after the procedure. Sweat can push pigment out of the skin while it’s healing, which means patchy results. After the initial healing period, you’re completely back to your normal routine—and the brows won’t budge no matter how hard you train.
”Does anyone actually notice?”
Here’s what happens in real life: people notice that something is different, but they can’t figure out what. You’ll get comments like “Did you get a haircut?” or “You look well-rested” or “Something’s different about you.” Almost no one guesses it’s the brows.
The guys who want to keep it private keep it private. No one needs to know.
”How much does it hurt?”
Honest answer: it’s uncomfortable, not agonizing. Most guys rate it a 3-5 out of 10 with numbing. It’s a scratching sensation, not a stabbing one. I’ve had guys fall asleep. I’ve also had guys who gripped the chair a little. Both are fine.
My detailed post on microblading pain breaks down exactly what 3,500+ clients have reported, including pain comparisons to things like tattoos, dental work, and blood draws.
”Am I a good candidate?”
If you have healthy skin in the brow area and aren’t on blood thinners, retinoids, or Accutane, you’re probably a good candidate. I have a full candidate checklist you can run through, or take my Candidate Quiz for a quick two-minute answer. Honestly, the best way to know is to come in for a consultation. It’s free, it’s no-pressure, and I’ll tell you straight if this is right for you or not.
”What if I hate it?”
First—the mapping stage exists specifically so you can see the shape and approve it before I start. If you don’t like it, I adjust. If I can’t get it right, I don’t proceed. I’m not going to put something on your face that you haven’t signed off on.
Second—microblading is semi-permanent. It fades over 1-3 years. This isn’t a decision you’re locked into forever.
Cost and Time Investment
Here’s the bottom line on what this costs:
- First session: $650 (includes your 6-8 week touch-up)
- Annual refresh: $300 (to keep results looking fresh)
- Time commitment: 2-3 hours for the first session, about 90 minutes for the touch-up
Think of it this way: you’re paying for results that last 1-3 years. Compare that to any other grooming investment you make, and it’s a pretty straightforward value. If you want to see the actual numbers for your situation, my Microblading Cost Calculator breaks it down in under a minute.
I do one thing—and I do it exceptionally well. That’s not a tagline, it’s how I’ve structured my entire practice. Microblading is all I do, all day, every day. Over 3,500 treatments. Nearly 10 years of focused expertise. You’re not my side project.
Ready to Find Out If This Is Right for You?
If you’ve read this far, you’re probably past the “should I?” stage and into the “how do I start?” stage.
Here’s how:
Book a free consultation. You come in, I look at your brows, ask what you want, show you what’s possible, and you decide. No pressure, no commitment, no awkwardness.
If it’s right for you, I’ll get you scheduled. If it’s not, I’ll tell you that too.
If you want to do more research first, here are the posts that answer the most common follow-up questions:
- What is microblading? — The complete breakdown
- Does microblading hurt? — Honest pain data from 3,500+ clients
- Am I a good candidate? — Self-assessment checklist
- Aftercare guide — Day-by-day healing instructions
I work with clients from Romeoville, Woodridge, Oswego, Montgomery, Yorkville, and throughout the southwest suburbs. My studio in Shorewood is private, professional, and built for exactly this kind of work—no fuss, no judgment, just results.
Have questions you didn’t see answered here? Contact me—I’m happy to talk through it.
