Quick answer: avoid alcohol and caffeine for 24–48 hours before your appointment, stop blood thinners (aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, vitamin E) 48–72 hours prior, skip retinoids for 2–4 weeks, limit sun exposure/tanning for about a week, skip intense workouts the day before, and hold off on facials, peels, waxing/tinting, or Botox near your brows in the weeks leading up. Full timeline and reasoning below.
New to microblading, or not sure it's the right treatment for you yet? Start with our What Is Microblading? guide for the basics, or see how long results last before you book.
Your Prep Timeline at a Glance
|
When |
What to Do |
What to Avoid |
|
2–4 weeks before |
— |
Retinoids/Retin-A near brows, facials, peels, microdermabrasion, Botox/fillers near brows |
|
1 week before |
— |
Brow threading, waxing, tinting, sun exposure/tanning |
|
48–72 hours before |
Hydrate well |
Blood thinners (aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, vitamin E, niacin, certain herbal supplements) |
|
24–48 hours before |
— |
Alcohol |
|
24 hours before |
— |
Caffeine (coffee, tea, energy drinks), intense workouts |
|
Day of |
Eat a light meal, arrive with little to no makeup on the brow area, get good rest, plan extra travel time |
Heavy makeup or lotion on the brow area |
What to Do Before Your Microblading Appointment
Talk to your artist first.
A brief consultation to cover allergies, medical conditions, or medications you're on keeps your session safe and lets your artist personalize their approach.
Hydrate well.
Start drinking plenty of water in the days before your appointment — hydrated skin takes pigment more evenly and holds color better.
Eat a light meal.
A light meal or snack about an hour before keeps your blood sugar steady through the session.
Come with little to no makeup on your brows.
A bare or lightly made-up brow area helps your artist see your natural shape clearly and gives pigment the cleanest possible surface to work with — feel free to wear your usual makeup everywhere else.
Get good rest.
A good night's sleep beforehand means you'll be more relaxed and comfortable throughout.
Plan your travel.
LA traffic and parking are unpredictable — build in extra time (or use a ride service) so you arrive calm, not rushed.
What to Avoid Before Your Microblading Appointment
No blood thinners, 48–72 hours prior.
Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), niacin, vitamin E, fish oil, and certain herbal supplements all increase bleeding risk and can affect how pigment settles and heals. Always check with your doctor before pausing a prescribed medication.
No alcohol or caffeine.
Skip alcohol for 24–48 hours and caffeine (coffee, tea, energy drinks) for at least 24 hours prior — both thin blood and can heighten nervousness or sensitivity during the procedure.
No retinoids, 2–4 weeks prior.
Retin-A, retinol, tretinoin, and other vitamin A products thin the skin and increase sensitivity, which can hurt pigment retention.
No threading, waxing, or tinting, at least 1 week prior.
This lets your artist see your natural brow shape and hair growth clearly, and avoids irritating skin right before treatment.
Limit sun exposure and tanning, about 1 week prior.
Sunburned or freshly tanned skin is more sensitive and can affect how evenly pigment takes.
Skip intense workouts the day before.
Heavy sweating opens pores and can affect how your skin holds pigment during the session.
No facials, peels, or microdermabrasion, at least 4 weeks prior.
These treatments deeply exfoliate skin, leaving it too sensitive (or raw) for microblading.
No Botox or fillers near your brows, 2–4 weeks prior.
This gives injections time to fully settle so your artist can accurately map your brow shape against your natural expressions.
Already Broke One of These Rules? Here's What to Do
Life happens — if you accidentally had coffee this morning or a glass of wine last night, don't panic.
-
Had caffeine or alcohol closer to your appointment than recommended? Mention it to your artist when you check in. It may mean slightly more sensitivity or bleeding during the session, but it's rarely a reason to reschedule outright — let your artist make that call.
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Not sure if a medication or supplement counts as a blood thinner? Bring the bottle or ingredient list to your consultation, or call us ahead of time so we can advise before you arrive.
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Got a facial or wax closer to your appointment than advised? Call us — depending on how recent and how intense the treatment was, we may need to reschedule to protect your results.
When in doubt, a quick call to Belris before your appointment is always better than guessing.
Why Prep Matters for Your Results
None of this is about rules for their own sake — it's about giving your skin the best possible shot at absorbing and holding pigment evenly. Following this checklist minimizes bleeding, reduces sensitivity, and sets your artist up to deliver cleaner lines, richer color, and longer-lasting results.
Book Your Microblading Appointment in Los Angeles →
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I not do before microblading?
Avoid blood thinners (48–72 hrs), alcohol (24–48 hrs), caffeine and intense workouts (24 hrs), retinoids (2–4 weeks), facials/peels (4 weeks), brow waxing/tinting/sun exposure (1 week), and Botox/fillers near the brows (2–4 weeks).
Can I get a facial before microblading?
No — avoid facials, chemical peels, or microdermabrasion for at least 4 weeks before your appointment, since they leave skin too sensitive for the procedure.
Can I drink coffee before microblading?
No — avoid caffeine for at least 24 hours before your session. It can thin blood and increase sensitivity during the procedure.
How do I prepare for microblading?
Hydrate well in the days before, eat a light meal beforehand, arrive with little to no makeup over your brows, get a good night's sleep, and give yourself extra travel time to arrive relaxed.
I already drank coffee before my appointment — what should I do?
Let your artist know when you arrive. It's rarely a reason to cancel, but they may adjust their approach depending on your sensitivity that day.
