5 Tips to Finding the Best Type of Numbing Cream For Your Next Microblading Session
As a microblading artist, your kit will never be complete without numbing cream. It is one of the basic, yet most important tools you’ll need for any of your microblading treatments. However, finding the best type of numbing cream for your clients isn’t a piece of cake. There are just so many brands and variations that it can be confusing.
Thus, to help you out, we’ve come up with 5 quick tips to find the best one for all your microblading sessions!
Why Do You Need a Numbing Cream for Microblading?
Before we start talking about the type of numbing cream you should choose, let’s first discuss why you need to use one in the first place.
It’s Perfect for Clients with Low Pain Tolerance
A numbing cream is important especially for those who have a low pain tolerance. It provides a protective layer on the skin to minimize the pain your client will experience during the session.
Numbing Cream Can Prevent Skin Irritation
Numbing cream protects your client’s skin from any possible skin irritation they may get from the treatment. It is important to apply numbing cream near the brow bone and above the eyebrow, since this area can be easily irritated depending on the type of tools and pigment you’ll be using.
It Makes the Procedure Much Smoother & Quicker
Imagine you’re in the middle of a microblading procedure and your client suddenly starts squirming because it hurts, or worse, they start tearing up. It can get pretty uncomfortable for everyone especially if you’re having a rushed session.
While we all have different pain tolerance, it is much better to have a numbing cream applied in the beginning so you can just focus on your work. Without having to worry about any type of pain, your clients will probably have a smoother experience and you both can finish the session much quicker.
Tip #1: Know the Difference Between Topical Anesthetic & Duration Gel
When purchasing a numbing cream, it’s important to note that there are two types of numbing agents you can choose from: a topical anesthetic and a duration gel.
What’s a Topical Anesthetic?
A topical anesthetic is a type of numbing agent that is applied directly to the outer layer of the skin to prevent pain. It’s the numbing cream you put before the main procedure or during the beginning of treatment. It often takes effect in about 15 to 20 minutes after application and gives your client maximum numbness for about an hour or two.
One important thing to note about topical anesthetic is that you can’t apply it on open skin. This numbing agent is only for external use and must not be applied on open wounds or broken skin.
What’s a Duration Gel?
During the treatment, the topical anesthetic may slowly start to wear off. That’s why you need a type of numbing cream that you can use as a backup, especially when incisions are already present.
Unlike topical anesthetic, the duration gel is perfect for open or broken skin. It usually consists of epinephrine and lidocaine which help reduce the bleeding and bring comfort to your client’s skin.
Tip #2: Do Your Research Before You Purchase Numbing Cream!
Now that you know what types of numbing cream you need, it’s time to research more on their specifics.
One of the things you may have to research about would be the lidocaine content you’ll need for the type of numbing cream you’re getting. It’s important that you purchase a numbing agent with at least 4% or 5% lidocaine to maximize the numbness it provides.
It is also important to study the type of ingredients your numbing cream has so you could avoid causing any type of skin irritation or allergic reactions to your clients.
Tip #3: Find Only the Trusted Brands and Retailers
While you do your research, you can also check out certain numbing agent brands that you can get from your preferred type of retailer. You may get them online or via physical stores, depending on the type of numbing cream you’re getting.
You may also opt for triple anesthetic creams which usually have “BLT” on their names or labels. Numbing creams like this usually contain 20% of benzocaine, 6% lidocaine, and 4% tetracaine.
Finally, when purchasing online, it’s advisable to buy only from trusted e-commerce platforms such as Amazon.
Tip #4: Check Out Their Reviews and Testimonials
Of course, just like when purchasing anything online, reading reviews and testimonials can help you determine if the type of numbing cream you’re getting is actually worth your money or not. You have to understand that each type of numbing cream would work differently based on what type of skin type your client has, so it’s best to check out their specific responses.
This would also help you further narrow down your choices when it comes to the brands or retailers you should purchase from. You can always check out your chosen brands’ FB pages, official websites, Amazon storefront, and sometimes even Instagram or Twitter accounts to see their reviews.
Tip #5: Do Your Own Numbing Cream Skin/Patch Test
You’ll only be using the numbing cream on your clients but you can make sure that it won’t cause any type of irritation or allergic reactions by applying it first on your own skin. For this patch test, it would be best to allow at least 24 hours to actually see how your skin would react to the type of numbing cream you got.
To do your own skin or patch test, you may simply follow these steps:
- Choose a clear portion or patch of skin to do the test. It could be your wrist, forearm, the back or dorsal side of your hand, or even the back of your ear.
- Wash and clean the chosen patch thoroughly. Also, make sure that it’s free from any type of oil or chemicals from other products or creams.
- Apply the type of numbing cream you got on the patch of skin and cover it with a band-aid.
- Wait for 24 hours before removing the band-aid to see how your skin or the type of numbing cream you got reacts to it. However, once you feel any itch or discomfort, stop the patch test.
- If your chosen type of numbing cream irritates your skin, there’s a greater chance that it would also cause irritation or allergy to your client’s skin. Thus, it would be best to look for another type of numbing agent.
Apart from testing a certain type of numbing cream, you can also do this patch or skin test every time you’re purchasing a new cosmetic or skincare product. This way, you’ll be able to know if your type of numbing cream or any type of cosmetic product won’t irritate your skin.
And That’s a Wrap!
Ready to start your search for the type of numbing cream you’ll be using? Well, we know you are!
While it may seem kinda tedious, choosing the best brand and type of numbing cream would definitely help you level up your microblading sessions and satisfy your clients better. It may take some time to find the type of numbing cream that would work well with clients’ different types of skin, but once you get there, it’ll all be worth it!
And if you’ve already started your search, feel free to share your experience with us! Chat us or comment down below the type of numbing cream you’ve tried, and if it worked or not!
You can also follow our pages or sign up for our online microblading course to know more about the specifics of the craft and get certified!
BrowBeat Studio Dallas Microblading Certification and Training Academy
500 Exposition Ave
Suite 210
Dallas, Texas 75226
Phone: 214-431-5939
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