The "Double Tail" Dilemma: Why We Used Pico Laser on Faded Brows to Create a Lifted Look
It is a common misconception in the world of Permanent Makeup (PMU) corrections: "My brows are already faded and light, so you can just tattoo a new shape right over them, right?"
The answer, unfortunately, is often no—especially if you are looking to change the position of your brows.
We recently had a client who presented this exact scenario. She had previous microblading and powder brows that had faded nicely into a soft shadow. The color wasn't the problem; the placement was. She wanted a modern, "lifted" look, but her old tattoo sat too low on her brow bone, dragging her eyes down.
Here is how we navigated her transformation from a low, outdated shape to a lifted, airy Nano Combo Brow, and why a single session of Pico laser was the non-negotiable first step.
The Challenge: The Shape was "Out of Bounds"
When this client came in, her old PMU was soft and faded. However, the tail of the brow dropped lower than she wanted.
She wanted a lifted effect, where the tail of the brow sits higher towards the temple.
The "Double Tail" Risk If we had simply ignored the old tattoo and tattooed the new, lifted shape she wanted, she would have walked out with two tails:
The new, higher tail we just created.
The old, lower tail that—even though faded—would still be visible underneath.
To give her that clean, lifted look, we had to clear the path. We needed to remove the old ink that fell outside of her desired new shape.
Step 1: Strategic Pico Laser Removal
Because the client’s old brows were already faded, 1 session was enough to remove the old work. We did full removal for a smooth clean canvas—with specific focus the lower arches and tails.
We used the Pico Laser, which is incredibly precise.
Precision: We did test patch to ensure that the old work didn’t shift in color as this dictates the pigment formulas used by other Artists. Once that give us clarity, we continue to precisely clean up the entire eyebrows.
Efficiency: Because the old brows were already soft, one single session was all it took to erase the entire eyebrows completely.
This quick step created the negative space necessary to lift the brow without the old tattoo haunting the new design.
Client underwent 1 pico laser removal session before redoing brows with Nano Combo Brows.
Clean removal after 1 pico laser removal before redoing brows with nano combo techniques
Step 2: The Lift with Nano Combo Brows
Once the old, low tails were gone, we had a blank canvas to construct the new shape.
To keep the result subtle and modern, we chose Nano Combo Brows.
Why Nano was the Perfect Choice Since the client wanted a "change," she didn't want the solid, blocky look of a traditional powder brow. She wanted texture and yet can stay on her oil skin.
Nano Hairstrokes: We used a digital machine pen to create ultra-fine, hyper-realistic hairstrokes at the front of the brow and along the top perimeter. This created the illusion of real hair where she had none.
The Lifted Spine: By placing the nano strokes and shading higher where the arch to the tail is so that we can visually lifted her brow bone.
The Result: A Subtle, Structural Change
The difference was in the details. The client didn't leave with darker, heavier brows; she left with better brows.
Clean Tails: Thanks to the laser, there was no "shadow" of the old, low brow underneath. The lift was crisp and clean.
Natural Texture: The nano strokes softened the entire look, making it difficult to tell where the tattoo started and her real hair ended.
This transformation proves that sometimes, to move forward, you have to take a half-step back. By committing to just one removal session, she avoided a messy cover-up and achieved the effortless, lifted aesthetic she had been dreaming of.
Unsure if You Need Removal?
If you are looking to change the shape of your old brows—especially if you want to lift them—you might need to clear the way first.
Don't settle for a cover-up that doesn't quite fit. Let us assess your current brows and design a plan that gives you the best possible results.
