Eyebrow Permanent Makeup · Comparison
Nano Brows vs Microblading at Eastside Microblading & Beauty: How They Compare and Which Is Right for Your Skin
Both create natural, fuller-looking brows, but they use different tools and suit different skin types. Compared by Amanda Banks, International Grand Master Permanent Makeup Artist and former AAM Board Member, across 10,000+ treatments at the Bellevue and Scottsdale studios.
10,000+ Treatments
Grand Master Artist
Former AAM Board Member
Client reviews
Bellevue & Scottsdale
In Short
Nano brows and microblading at Eastside Microblading & Beauty are both cosmetic eyebrow techniques that create natural, hair-stroke brows, but they use different tools and suit different skin. Microblading uses a hand-tool blade to place individual hair-like strokes and heals best on normal-to-dry skin, lasting 12 to 18 months. Nano brows use a single-needle machine to place ultra-fine strokes that hold cleaner on oily, mature, or thin skin and last 18 to 30 months. Both are performed by Amanda Banks or master artists she has personally trained, with pigments that pass European safety standards and topical 4% lidocaine only. The studio has performed 10,000+ treatments. Your skin type is assessed on a pre-visit suitability review so you start with the right technique.
What Each Technique Is
What each technique is
Microblading
Best forNormal-to-dry skin, little or no prior brow work
A fine blade deposits pigment in individual hair-like strokes mapped to your face. Done well, it is the most natural-looking brow technique there is: crisp, believable strokes that read as your own brows on their best day.
- The crispest, most defined hair-stroke look
- Heals best on normal-to-dry skin
- Lasts 12 to 18 months before a maintenance touch-up
- The studio’s most-requested brow service
- On oily skin, fine strokes can blur and fade sooner
Nano Brows
Best forOily, mature, or thin skin, or microblading that faded fast
A single ultra-fine needle on a digital machine places hair-like strokes with far more control over depth and saturation. The healed look is just as natural as microblading, and the precision is why it holds where a blade struggles.
- Just as natural, with more control over each stroke
- Holds cleaner on oily, mature, or thin skin
- Lasts longer, typically 18 to 30 months
- The fix when microblading faded within months
- Same European-standard pigments and 4% topical numbing
Side by Side
Nano brows and microblading at Eastside, compared
| Factor | Microblading | Nano Brows |
|---|---|---|
| Tool | Hand-tool blade | Single-needle machine |
| Best skin type | Normal to dry | Oily, mature, or thin |
| The look | Crisp individual hair strokes | Ultra-fine, natural hair strokes |
| Typical longevity | 12 to 18 months | 18 to 30 months |
| Healing on oily skin | Can blur and fade faster | Holds cleaner and more evenly |
| Comfort | Topical 4% lidocaine only; most rate it 2 to 3 out of 10 | Topical 4% lidocaine only; most rate it 2 to 3 out of 10 |
| Perfecting touch-up | Scheduled and charged separately at 6 to 8 weeks | Scheduled and charged separately at 6 to 8 weeks |
| Pigment | Passes European safety standards | Passes European safety standards |
When microblading is the right fit
- You have normal-to-dry skin
- You want the crispest, most defined hair-stroke look
- You have little or no prior brow work to correct
- You have always wanted natural, hair-by-hair brows
On the right skin type, microblading heals beautifully and is the studio’s most-requested brow service. The team will confirm it is your match during your suitability review.
When nano brows are the right fit
- You have oily, mature, or thin skin
- You have had microblading fade faster than you wanted
- You want the longest-lasting natural result
- You want the more forgiving choice on mature skin
Nano holds cleaner exactly where microblading struggles. If you are not sure which camp your skin falls into, that is what The pre-visit suitability review is for.
Healed Results
Healed brow results across both techniques
Healed brow work at Eastside
Healed brow work at Eastside
Healed brow work at Eastside
Healed brow work at Eastside
Healed brow work at Eastside
Healed brow work at Eastside
"I always joke that since you waited to come to us, we have the most experience now"
Most people researching nano brows versus microblading have already seen the wrong examples, the brows that healed too bold, turned the wrong color, or faded in a few months. The clients who find Eastside Microblading & Beauty are the ones who research the most, who are the pickiest, who want their brows to look like brows and not makeup. Here is the honest truth a lot of studios will not lead with: the technique matters far less than matching the technique to your skin. The best microblading in the world will still blur on very oily skin, and the most beautiful nano work is overkill for someone whose dry skin would have held microblading perfectly.
So the studio’s recommendation framework starts with your skin, not with a sales preference. On normal-to-dry skin, microblading gives the crispest, most natural hair strokes and is usually the call. On oily, mature, or thin skin, nano’s machine control over depth holds far cleaner and lasts longer, so it is usually the call. We tell clients this plainly because we would rather you get the technique that lasts than the one you walked in asking for. I always joke that since you waited to come to us, we have the most experience now, tens of thousands of treatments worth of seeing exactly how each technique ages on each kind of skin.
A specific pattern we see constantly: a client comes in frustrated that her microblading disappeared within six months and assumes she did something wrong. She did not. Her oily skin was never going to hold a blade stroke, and no one told her that before her first appointment. Switched to nano, the same natural look finally lasts. That conversation, the honest one about why the first result faded, is the one we have on nearly every oily-skin consultation.
Symmetry is one of the things Eastside is known for. We use symmetry software, your bone structure, and the ratios of your face to map the right balance before choosing a technique. The goal is to make both brows work together on your face, not force them into someone else's shape. We think about your result in years, not weeks: the pigment, the depth, and the technique are all chosen for how the brow will look at month 14, not just on healing day. You do not need to decide between nano and microblading before you reach out. On your quick personal recommendation, the team assesses your skin type and explains which one is designed to last best for you.
What either appointment actually feels like.
Nano or microblading, the visit is the same Eastside experience. Amanda walks through the consultation, the symmetry mapping, the pigment match, and the three unhurried hours we block out for you.
Read the transcript
When you walk into Eastside, the first thing that you’ll notice is how calm it feels. The lighting, the scent, everything is designed to help you feel at ease. And we start every permanent makeup appointment with a very detailed consultation. We use symmetry software, your bone structure, and the ratios of your face to show you your ideal shape first. And we draw that with a pencil. Then we work closely together as a team to really fine-tune and make sure that it’s really you. And it’s one of our favorite parts: when we see and show you your ideal shape and you get that exciting feeling, like it’s you again. That’s when we start.
Next, we choose your pigment. And we are experts at selecting a color and a tone that blends with your natural brows, your skin tone, and how it’s going to age over time. And that’s the part that most people unfortunately don’t think about. But we do. And that is really where experience in permanent makeup comes into play.
The treatment itself is very gentle with our technique. And most clients, believe it or not, they rate the discomfort level of a treatment a two or a three out of ten. We use a topical numbing cream, but honestly, most of our clients fall asleep. Our technique is that gentle. The entire appointment takes about three hours, and we block out that time for you so that nothing feels rushed. We really enjoy it, and you deserve that. This is a prominent treatment on your face. It’s not a quick appointment.
And when we’re done, we’re going to walk you through everything: your healing timeline, your aftercare kit, and what to expect over the next few weeks. And it’s pretty easy. And then comes the best part. There comes this moment once you’ve healed, and you get out of the shower in the morning, and you look in the mirror the first time, and you feel like yourself again, but elevated. And you don’t feel obligated to put makeup on walking out the door. And that’s why we do this.
So schedule a call with our team, and we’re going to help you with some personalized information that is going to help you determine which treatment type would be best for you and the most natural. But here’s the thing: experience really matters when it comes to permanent makeup on your face. So I’m really glad that you’re doing your research. Because in Washington and Arizona, there are no training requirements. And for us, this is a lifetime relationship. The way that we approach permanent makeup is a lot different than everyone else out there, because we want it done right the first time, and we know you forever. And having a result that you’re happy with for the long term makes the closest relationships.
Common Questions
Nano brows vs microblading FAQ
Which is better, nano brows or microblading?+
Neither is universally better; the right one depends on your skin. Microblading gives the crispest hair strokes on normal-to-dry skin and lasts 12 to 18 months. Nano brows hold cleaner on oily, mature, or thin skin and last 18 to 30 months. Eastside Microblading & Beauty matches the technique to your skin type on a pre-visit suitability review.
Do nano brows last longer than microblading?+
Yes, for most clients. Nano brows typically last 18 to 30 months, while microblading lasts 12 to 18 months. Nano’s machine-placed strokes hold pigment more consistently, especially on oily skin where microblading tends to fade faster. Both keep best with a maintenance touch-up.
I have oily skin. Which should I choose?+
On oily skin, the team almost always recommends nano brows. The fine blade strokes from microblading blur and fade faster on oily skin, while nano’s single-needle machine places pigment with more control so it heals cleaner and lasts longer. Your skin type is assessed during your suitability review.
Does nano hurt less than microblading?+
Most clients rate both 2 or 3 out of 10. Eastside Microblading & Beauty uses topical 4% lidocaine only for both techniques, with no injectables, and many clients fall asleep during the appointment. Comfort is similar; the bigger difference is which technique suits your skin.
Can I switch from microblading to nano brows?+
Often, yes. If your microblading has faded, nano can be applied once the team reviews your current brows. If there is heavy or discolored old pigment, a correction or removal may be needed first. Send photos before booking and the team will tell you honestly what is possible.
How much do nano brows and microblading cost at Eastside?+
Pricing is set during your suitability review because it reflects your brow plan and skin type, and it varies by location (Scottsdale PMU pricing is lower than Bellevue). Both initial appointments include the consultation, mapping, application, and healing kit. The 6-to-8-week perfecting touch-up is scheduled and charged separately.
Who performs the work?+
Amanda Banks (International Grand Master Permanent Makeup Artist, former AAM Board Member, and founder of Eastside Microblading & Beauty) and master artists she has personally trained. Every artist is trained to the same Eastside Standard, and both techniques use pigments that pass European safety standards.
How do I decide between them?+
You do not have to. Submit the consultation form on our website, choose your studio and that you are considering brows, and the team assesses your skin type and goals on the call, then recommends microblading or nano so you start with the technique that will last for your skin.
About Amanda Banks
Founded and led by Amanda Banks
International Grand Master Artist
Former AAM Board Member
10,000+ Treatments
Founder, Beauty Angels Academy USA
Amanda Banks is the founder of Eastside Microblading & Beauty and the practitioner behind every Eastside Standard. She is an International Grand Master Permanent Makeup Artist, a former member of the American Academy of Micropigmentation Board of Directors, and the founder of Beauty Angels Academy USA, a permanent makeup training network operating in 100+ countries. Amanda has personally performed and supervised over 10,000 treatments, and every artist at the studios is trained by her to the same standard. Amanda is also a Beauty Angels Academy Grand Master Trainer, International Speaker, and Season 14 winner of TV’s “The Blox”.
Explore More
More brow work at Eastside Microblading & Beauty
Ready to find your right brow technique?
You can book online or request a personal recommendation. The team assesses your skin type, recommends microblading or nano, designs your plan, then reserves your appointment.