Draw the full brow shape and every hairstroke first. A microblade cuts what you commit to — the map is what keeps the strokes natural and symmetrical.
Hold the blade near 90 degrees
Every pin must engage evenly. Too shallow an angle and only part of the blade cuts, leaving a broken stroke.
Three-finger stretch, tight
Stretch the skin taut so the blade glides in a clean line. On loose skin the blade drags and the stroke tears rather than cuts.
One light, shallow pass per stroke
Cut just into the upper dermis in a single smooth motion. Going deep or re-cutting the same line scars and blurs the healed stroke.
Check depth before the next stroke
A correct microblading cut shows a fine line with minimal blood. Read the skin after each stroke and adjust pressure before continuing.
FAQ
Questions artists ask us
What does 18C mean on a microblade?
18 is the number of pins on the blade and C is the blade shape — curved. So an 18C is an eighteen-pin curved microblade, used for manual hairstroke microblading.
Is the 18C good for beginners?
Yes — the 18-pin curved blade is the standard blade artists learn microblading on. The pin count and curve make natural, full-length hairstrokes forgiving to place. Practise on synthetic skin before working on clients.
What is the difference between the 18C and the 11C?
Pin count. The 18C has eighteen pins for longer, fuller hairstrokes; the 11C has eleven for shorter, finer, more delicate strokes and detail. Many artists carry both and switch by stroke.
What is the difference between a curved blade (C) and a U-blade (U)?
The pin arrangement. A curved blade like the 18C sits all its pins on the skin along a gentle arc; a U-blade like the 18U flares the pins into a U so only the tips contact, giving the sharpest, crispest strokes. Curved blades are more forgiving; U-blades are for experienced hands.
Is the 18C for machine or manual work?
Manual microblading only. It is a hand blade, not a machine cartridge — for machine hairstrokes you would use a round liner cartridge such as the 1003RL instead.
Is it sterile, and how do I dispose of it?
Each blade is single use and arrives individually sealed and pre-sterilised. Check the seal before opening. A microblade is a sharp — dispose of used blades in an approved sharps container; in California, never in household waste.
Can I reuse a microblade?
No. Microblades are single-use sterile devices. Reuse dulls the pins, blurs the strokes, and is a cross-contamination hazard that voids all safety certification.
How many blades will I use per treatment?
Most artists use one blade per client per session. A dull or bent blade is replaced immediately — a compromised blade tears the skin instead of cutting cleanly.
Elite PMU · Since 2012
From California's first state-approved PMU college
Elite PMU Shop is the supply store of Elite Permanent Makeup & Cosmetology College in Los Angeles — the first microblading and permanent makeup college approved by the State of California.
