If you have been researching brow tattoo, you have probably seen four names: microblading, Hybrid Brows (also called combination brows), ombre or powder brows, and feathering. They are related, but they heal differently, last different lengths of time and suit different skin. Here is how I explain the choice to clients at Spa Mosman.
The quick answer
- Microblading: the softest, most natural look. Best for normal to dry skin. Lasts 12 to 18 months. $1,100 at Spa Mosman.
- Hybrid Brows: microblading strokes plus soft machine shading. Fuller, longer lasting, suits almost every skin type including oily. Lasts 18 to 24 months. $1,490 at Spa Mosman. This is our most popular choice.
- Ombre / powder brows: a soft, makeup-like shaded brow with no hair strokes. Great for oily skin and clients who fill their brows every day. $990 at Spa Mosman.
- Feathering: a very light version of microblading with fewer, finer strokes for clients who already have good brows and want a subtle lift.
Microblading
Microblading uses a fine hand tool to place pigment in hair-like strokes. Done well, the strokes follow your natural hair growth, so the result is hard to tell from real brow hairs. It is the right choice if your skin is normal to dry, your brows are only slightly sparse, and you want the most natural finish possible.
Where it falls short: on oily or large-pored skin, strokes can soften and blur as they heal, and the colour fades faster. If that is your skin, Hybrid Brows will give you a better healed result.
Hybrid Brows
Hybrid Brows start with microblading to create the hair strokes, then add gentle machine shading between and behind them. The shading gives the brow more body and definition, like a light tint, while the strokes keep it looking natural. Because the machine work holds better in the skin, Hybrid Brows last around 18 to 24 months instead of 12 to 18.
I recommend Hybrid Brows for most clients because they suit combination and oily skin, they fill very sparse or patchy brows convincingly, and the cost per year works out lower than microblading once you factor in how long they last.
Ombre or powder brows
Ombre brows are fully machine shaded, lighter at the front and deeper towards the tail, with no individual strokes. Healed, they look like a soft brow powder. They are the best option for very oily skin, for clients with little or no brow hair, and for anyone who loves a defined, made-up brow.
How to decide
- Your skin type. Dry or normal: microblading or Hybrid. Combination or oily: Hybrid or ombre.
- How much brow you have. Light gaps: microblading or feathering. Sparse or patchy: Hybrid. Very little hair: Hybrid or ombre.
- The look you want. Invisible and natural: microblading. Natural but fuller: Hybrid. Soft makeup finish: ombre.
- How often you want to come back. Hybrid and ombre last longest.
If you are not sure, a $50 consultation (redeemable against your treatment) is the easiest way to find out. I map your brows, check your skin and show you what each technique will look like on you.
What every brow tattoo at Spa Mosman includes
- Consultation and brow mapping to your face shape and bone structure
- Custom pigment mix for your hair colour and skin undertone, using PhiContour pigments
- Numbing throughout
- Aftercare kit and written instructions
- Perfecting session at 6 to 8 weeks
Every treatment is performed by me, Fatemeh. I am an international cosmetic tattoo trainer certified with PhiAcademy (Italy) and PhiBrows, and I also train other artists in these techniques.
Healing, briefly
Brows look dark and bold for the first 7 to 10 days, then lighten by around 30 to 40 percent as they heal. The final colour settles by week 4 to 6, which is when we do your perfecting session. Keep them dry for the first week and avoid retinol, acids and sun on the area while healing.
Prices in Sydney
Across Sydney, microblading costs around $600 to $1,200 and Hybrid or combination brows around $800 to $1,600, depending on the artist's experience. For a full breakdown, read our 2026 microblading price guide.
Spa Mosman is at 3/8 Spit Road, Spit Junction, above Priceline, with parking at Bridgepoint Shopping Centre. Clients visit from Mosman, Neutral Bay, Cremorne, Balmoral, Seaforth, Balgowlah, Manly, Chatswood and North Sydney. See brow tattoo options and book.