Microblading vs. Powder Brows (Ombre / Combo / Nano): What You Should Know Before Choosing

If you’re thinking about enhancing your brows, you’ve probably heard terms like microblading, powder brows, ombre brows, nano brows, or combo brows. They’re all semi-permanent treatments, but each works differently, heals differently, and gives different results. At The Wink Lab, we believe an informed client is a happy client — so here’s a breakdown to help you decide which brow style suits you best.

What are the Different Styles?

Style	What It Is / How It’s Done
Microblading/Nanoblading	Using a handheld blade/needle tool to make fine, hair-like strokes. Gives a natural “fluffy hair” look. Nanoblading is similar but uses smaller, finer needles.
Powder Brows / Ombre Powder Brows	A machine used to deposit pigment in tiny dots/pixels, creating a shading or powdery makeup-like effect. Ombre refers to a soft gradient, often lighter toward front & darker toward tail. I
Combo Brows (Microblade + Powder/Ombre Shading)	Combines microblading hair strokes in the front or sparse areas, plus powder or shading for fullness and depth. Great if you want both natural strokes + defined shape.

Pros & Cons: Microblading vs Powder Brows

Here are what people (including Reddit threads) and professionals say about the upsides and downsides of each:

Feature	Microblading / Hair Strokes	Powder / Ombre / Combo Brows
Look on Day 1	Very natural, crisp hair strokes. Looks like real brows.	More bold / makeup-like at first. You’ll see more “filled in” effect.
Healed Appearance	Over time strokes can blur slightly; in oily skin especially strokes may “fade” or lose crispness.	Heals into a softer, shaded look. Ombre effect tends to hide fading or smudging better.
Skin Types	Works best on normal to dry skin. Less ideal for oily or very textured skin because pigment tends to spread or blur.	Better suited for oily skin, mature skin, or anyone wanting less maintenance. The shading technique holds its shape/pigment more evenly.
Longevity / Touch-Ups	Typically lasts ~12-18 months. Requires more frequent maintenance especially if skin conditions or oil affect retention.	Can last longer (often 2-3 years) before a major touch up, depending on skin type, care, and technique.
Pain / Healing	Some discomfort from the blade strokes; healing involves fine scabs where strokes were made. May need more precise aftercare.	Still requires aftercare; shading may mean a larger area is treated so swelling or healing time might be slightly more noticeable; but many people find the machine shading more tolerable overall.
Cost	Often slightly less expensive initially depending on location & artist. But with ongoing touch-ups, cost can add up.	Can cost more up front, especially for ombre or combo styles. But longer-lasting results and fewer touch-ups may balance that out.

When to Choose Which Style

Here’s a quick guide for when microblading, powder/ombre, or combo might be the best fit:

• You want ultra natural look, hair-like strokes, and you have relatively good hair growth → Microblading / Nanoblading

• You have oily skin, want brows that look like makeup, want less frequent touch-ups → Powder Brows / Ombre

• You want the best of both: natural strokes + shaded fullness → Combo Brow

• You want long-term durability and less maintenance → Powder / Ombre tend to win here.

  
  

  

Before & After: What Changes

People often notice:

• Brow shape looks more defined and fuller, especially in sparse areas

• Front of brow (near the nose) tends to be softer/light and tail more defined/darker in ombre or combo

• Immediately after, color is bold or dark; as it heals, it softens

• With microblading, the hair strokes are more visible; with powder, shading fills the space

Costs & What to Expect

• Costs vary by region, artist experience, technique. For example, in some areas microblading might run lower than ombre powder, but somewhere else powder may cost more.

• Touch-ups: microblading may need annual or ~1-18 month refreshes; powder/ombre/combos may stretch longer between touch-ups depending on skin, aftercare.

Final Thoughts

• Choose the look you love + what your skin type supports

• Look for an artist who shows healed results (1-2 years post treatment) so you know how their work fades

• Consider maintenance, aftercare, costs over time, not just initial price