Did you ever hear permanent makeup artists tell you that microblading originated in Japan and has slowly made it in the US? How it has been used for centuries there, and women there have been using it to spruce up their looks? Well, we are sorry to inform you that’s all wrong. We had this intense fantasy where we thought it was a technique created by a samurai, and geisha have been using it, but as it turns out, it’s not Japanese at all.

We here at the Harlowe Beauty Studio specialize in high-end microblading services for eyebrows. Our team dove deep into the history of microblading to find and understand its origin. What we found changed our view of microblading forever, and we thought we should let you know what we saw as well. So in the following passages, you will find a brief history of microblading and its origin. But before we dive into that, let’s talk about what it is!

What Is Microblading?

Microblading for eyebrows is a permanent makeup technique that has risen to prominence in the last few decades. It’s a tattooing technique where a small handheld tool made of several tiny needles is used to add semi-permanent pigment to the skin. Not to be confused with eyebrow tattooing, microblading differs in how the esthetician uses a blade that creates fine slices in the skin.

The technique is used to create, enhance or reshape the eyebrow appearance in terms of both shape and color. In microblading, the esthetician uses the handheld device to deposit pigments to the upper region of the dermis. Unlike tattooing, microblading doesn’t last as long because, in tattooing, the pigment is delivered deeper.

Nowadays, there are a few different names for microblading like embroidery, feather touch, or hair-like strokes but it is most commonly known as microblading. One thing to remember is that microblading artists aren’t necessarily tattoo artists and vice versa. While body tattooing and permanent makeup artists carry the same license, most stick to one area. If you want to know more about microblading and examples, then please check this out. So now that you know what microblading is. Let’s dive into the history of microblading and its origin!

History Of Microblading

While there are many conflicting reports on the history of microblading, the technique of implanting pigment after the creation of fine incisions in the skin may date back thousands of years. However, the technique has been predominantly used for eyebrows in the last 25 years or so. Now, not much is known about microblading, but one thing is clear. It has become the most popular method of cosmetic eyebrow tattooing in Europe and the United States by 2015.

There are new emerging microblading techniques as well, such as 1D, 3D, and even 6D techniques. Since there are so many different reports on the origin of microblading, we thought we should clear it up for you. So we dove deep into research and found some things that you should know about. Here in the following, you will get to read all our discoveries so that you know and understand the origin of microblading. So without further delay, let’s begin!

Is Microblading Japanese?

When we started our research, we were sure of the fact that microblading started in Japan. So we began to look for microblading masters from the land of the rising sun. However, to our frustration, we found nothing. We discovered that no Japanese microblading artists, no beauty salon in Japan, have ever heard of the technique. Unlike other Asian countries, microblading isn’t a standard service for Japanese girls, and we haven’t found a single one who does this regularly.

To put it simply, if microblading was Japanese, then we would have been able to find Japanese microblading artists, but there were none. That discovery led us to the notion that microblading for eyebrows isn’t a Japanese invention. It was created somewhere else. Now you may be wondering, if it isn’t Japanese, then where did it come from? Well, that’s what we will talk about next!

Where Did Microblading Come From?

Wikipedia and several other reputed online sources say that microblading originated in China. However, that’s not the only origin story out there. There are other sources that credit the invention of microblading to an artist in Vancouver and from there started to invade salons in the USA and Europe. These conflicting stories give rise to the question, “how old is microblading?” The answer, however, varies from person to person, with many believing that it’s centuries-old while others believe that it’s around 25 years old, and others think it started back in the 2010s.

However, you could find microblading services in places like Singapore and Korea in 2005. In Asia, it’s predominantly known as “Eyebrow Embroidery,” It predates the time the western world got introduced to microblading for eyebrows. So to answer the question, “where did microblading come from?” Well, we have to say that this permanent makeup technique originated in Asia.

There Are Two Different Microblading Techniques?

Yeah, there are two distinctly different microblading techniques out there. One is the manual microblading or the embroidery technique, and the other is the Manual Soft tap technique. Each provides fantastic results, and in the following, we will talk about the two methods in detail:

Embroidery Microblading Technique: This technique is the most famous and most common technique throughout the world. The pigment is deposited into the skin using a group of needles. Each needle scratch creates a hair stroke. Thus, it is also known by many as the hair stroking tattoo, and in Asia, it is known as eyebrow embroidery.

The Manual Soft Tap Technique: This microblading technique uses a blade to deliver pigment on the skin creating a multi-dimensional look with some areas lighter and some darker. It’s an entirely new and different technique that you won’t usually find in an esthetic clinic or beauty salon near you. The method is unique as it has been modified from a Japanese body tattooing technique called the Tebori, which is a famous technique from the infamous Japanese Irezumi. The Tebori is famously used by the Japanese Yakuza and is widely considered the most painful tattoo. Our theory is that people mixed up the two, and the soft tap technique was dubbed as microblading, and from there came the idea that microblading is a Japanese export.

Is Microblading Chinese?

So why do we say that the soft tap technique got mixed up as microblading? As we mentioned earlier, we found no evidence of any microblading service or origin in Japan. Most estheticians and beauty salons didn’t even know what it was. Whereas, we found almost, if not all, the blades and tools for microblading come from China. So if microblading were truly Japanese, then surely we would have Japanese pens or needles or even pigment at the very least. But we found nothing of that sort.

So we came to the conclusion that microblading for eyebrows might’ve originated in China. Odds are when microblading first came to the western world, the commercial heads didn’t want to use China as a source, maybe because we usually associate China with producing and supplying low-quality stuff. So they started to say it’s from Japan. However, when we dug deep, we found that microblading for eyebrows is indeed a Chinese technique. The microblading tool originated in northern China, where it has built up a long history over the years.

You can check out this blog on The Microblade Tradition In China for more information. We still don’t truly understand why microblading was named a Japanese export by the Western beauty evangelist, but we know that it’s either Singaporean, Hong Kong Chinese, etc. Taiwanese and not Japanese. If you want to learn more about the origin, you can also check out this GetTheGloss Blog!

What Are The Biggest Microblading Markets?

While you may think that microblading’s biggest market is in the US or Europe, but you would be wrong. Countries like China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Korea have a vast microblading industry where the western market would pale in comparison. Compared to China, Europe and the US is nothing.

If you go and search microblading near me in the US or Europe, you may find hundreds of recommendations. However, if you do the exact search in Asia, you would come up with thousands upon thousands of beauty salons, estheticians, and permanent makeup artists. It’s a highly saturated market in Asia, and if you play your cards right, you may be able to order hundreds of microblading products at a very low rate.

Work With The Best

Now that you know what it is and the history of microblading, you need to find the best artists nearby for your appointments. If you are a Amelia Island resident, then you are in luck. Harlowe Beauty Studio is one of the best microblading centers, and if you want some expert opinion on the matter, please contact us, and we can help you out.

And with that being said, that about wraps it up for now. Let us know in the comments below whether or not you knew that microblading is a Chinese export. Also, share this history of microblading with your friends, family, and other acquaintances so that they can learn and evolve. We will come back with something new for you soon. Until then, see ya!