The loss of eye lashes and eye brows as a result of Alopecia Areata can be as devastating as the loss of scalp hair. When mine began falling out, it seemed like more than I could handle. My lashes were my most beautiful feature and losing them was very traumatic. My brows each fell out at different times. I worried about how I could pencil in one and make it look like the other, the one that hadn’t yet fallen out. I was also very anxious about what I’d do when both were gone…how would I be able to draw an even arch, and how could I make the pencil look textured - like a growing brow instead of a mark smooth and flat to the skin?

Because of my own experiences, I can quickly identify and empathize with others facing the challenges of Alopecia Areata. When one of my long-time clients came to me with a problem relating to her bangs, I immediately suspected issues with her eyebrows. Her hairstyle was perfect for her face. Yet she insisted that her bangs were too short and wanted her hairpiece returned to the factory so longer bangs could be added.

As we talked I noticed that she didn’t look me in the face; she completely avoided eye contact. I felt like she was hiding behind her bangs and hair. Remembering my own misery I asked: “Are you unhappy with your bangs because you want longer ones to cover your lack of eyebrows?” At this point she looked at me and started crying. This poor woman was not only dealing with her lack of eyebrows, but with the results of cosmetic tattooing that had turned blue - a deep shade of aqua in fact. I could also relate to this frustration. Sometime after my brows had been tattooed, they had turned to a lavender-grey. It took several years to correct the discoloration.

When I learned about cosmetic tattooing, I was very excited and was one of the first to have the procedure done. The discoloring just mentioned can be easily prevented, and good cosmetic tattooing can make a world of difference for people with Alopecia Areata. It can “create” natural looking eyebrows that will last. It’s similar to body tattooing in that pigment is injected into the derma layer of the skin, but cosmetic tattooing has become an industry and an art form in its own right. Many cosmetic tattoo artists use new digital, handheld equipment that is specially designed for the industry and is much lighter than the traditional equipment used in body tattooing. Several different tools are required to get the pigment in properly, and the technician’s choice of needles along with her artistry is what creates a brow that looks life-like.

The cosmetic tattooing of eyebrows is generally a two step process. The technician - or you yourself - will first draw your eyebrows on using brow pencil. This can take a little while, but it’s good to keep in mind that real growth eyebrows are not twins. Our faces are naturally asymmetrical, and our brows are not exactly the same. Once the brows are drawn, the technician will go to work. The actual injection of pigment will take between 45 minutes and an hour. Though nothing is fool proof, the procedure is relatively safe and most people are very happy with their results.

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