About My Eyebrows (and Everything That Came Up While Getting Them Done)

I finally got my eyebrows done again.

It had been a couple of years since I last had them microbladed, and if I’m being honest, I never filled them in during that time. Ever. Not once. Even when they started fading and looking lighter in photos, I just let them be.

The woman who originally microbladed my brows moved out of Anchorage, so I knew at some point I’d have to figure out a new plan. The reason I went to her in the first place was because Danica and her sister both recommended her. I didn’t even know Danica had her brows done because they looked so natural. That’s always been the goal for me.

Enter Thao Cole.

I found her on Instagram, and her work speaks for itself. If you click through her bio, one of the links takes you to her website, where it explains that she prefers a quick 10 to 15 minute consultation before booking. You’re supposed to text or call first to make sure she’s in the studio.

When I texted her, I ended up going in the same day. That “quick” consultation turned into about 45 minutes, and honestly, that told me everything I needed to know about how she works.

Her business entrance

She asked a lot of questions. Do I fill in my brows? No. Any previous cosmetic tattooing? Yes, microblading. What do I like? What don’t I like? She even did two different techniques on each eyebrow so I could see which look I preferred. Then she took photos to keep as reference for the actual appointment.

My eyebrows at our initial consultation.

She took her time. Making sure the shape worked for my face. Making sure the brows were symmetrical. Making sure she could neutralize the red tones left from old microblading while still keeping everything natural.

I put down a $100 deposit that day and booked my appointment for about two weeks later.

Side note. Her studio address has changed from what’s currently listed on her website, so if you go, follow the directions she gives you directly.

The day of my appointment was a Saturday morning. We started at 10:00 a.m. She told me again that this would take about six hours, and she wasn’t exaggerating.

There was intake paperwork. Questions about medications. When she asked what I take, I realized I don’t even know the name of my anti anxiety medication anymore because I’ve been on it for years. She wasn’t concerned. She just needed to know.

Then came the reshaping. She redrew my brows exactly like she had during the consultation, checked in with me in the mirror, and then redid them again because she felt they were slightly thicker than what I was used to.

I had a hard time looking at myself in the mirror. To see how much eyebrows I don't have was so humbling. Thank God for cosmetic tattoos!

Seeing the outline was shocking. Not because it was wrong, but because it showed me how little eyebrow hair I actually have. There was so much blank space between the shape and where my hair naturally grows.

Once we agreed on the shape, the lidocaine went on around 11:30 or so. That has to sit for 30 minutes, which is when she brought out a tray with snacks and water and left me to relax.

I felt zero discomfort or pain when the Lidocaine was doing it’s work.

I watched Below Deck Med on my phone and finished season three, which felt like a win since season four premieres right as this newsletter goes out.

My plate of snacks. Little does she know that the way to my heart is through my stomach.

Just after noon, she started tattooing.

I fell asleep.

When I woke up, I realized I hadn’t brought my AirPods. There was soft music playing, but nothing to really distract me. And that’s when everything hit.

I cried. Quietly, constantly. Not because it hurt. The lidocaine absolutely did its job. I kept waiting for the pain to come so my brain would have something else to focus on, and it never did.

What I realized in that moment is how much I work to avoid being alone with my thoughts. Audiobooks. Podcasts. Music. Something is almost always playing. Being still for hours with no distraction brought up a lot I clearly haven’t processed yet.

She kept asking if I was okay. If I was in pain. If the light was bothering me.

Finally, I told her the truth. I wasn’t in physical pain. I was just really sad.

She asked if I had taken my medication that day. I hadn’t. So we paused, she handed me water, I took my meds, and we continued. She wiped away my tears as she wiped my brows, and the whole thing felt incredibly human.

She finished the tattooing around 3:45 p.m. After that, because I came in completely makeup free, she did light makeup on me. Foundation, blush, lip color, eyeliner, mascara. Then she took photos for her page, which I had already consented to, and she took photos on my phone too.

The final cost was $450, plus the $100 deposit I had already paid, and I tipped her 25 percent. Worth every penny.

The healing process is completely different from microblading. I can shower. I can work out. If I sweat, I just dab it off. She gave me very clear aftercare instructions, and after five days, I can go back to washing my entire face, brows included, with my regular cleanser.

And the brows themselves?

I love them.

They’re darker right now, which is normal, but the shape and color feel like me. Natural. Filled in the way I like without looking like I “got my brows done.”

I went in wanting better eyebrows. I left with better eyebrows and a reminder that I’m carrying more than I sometimes admit.

If you’re local and considering cosmetic tattooing, Thao Cole Artistry came highly recommended for a reason. Her attention to detail, her patience, and her care made all the difference.

Sometimes self care looks like lying still long enough for your feelings to catch up with you.

The finished product. I'm obsessed.