What are the downsides of eyebrow threading?

### Pain and Sensitivity During Treatment Eyebrow threading hurts—there's no gentle way to put it. The level of discomfort varies significantly between individuals, but most first-time clients find threading more uncomfortable than they expected. The sensation resembles multiple simultaneous plucks as the thread catches and pulls several hairs at once. The inner brow area near your nose bridge tends to be most sensitive. This zone has denser nerve endings and thinner skin, making hair removal here particularly tender. Many clients tear up not from actual crying but from the automatic tear response when threading near the tear ducts triggers the sensitive nasal area. The area directly above your eye where the arch is shaped can also feel quite uncomfortable, especially if you have thick, coarse brow hair that requires more force to extract. The repeated plucking sensation continues throughout the appointment rather than being a quick "rip and done" like waxing, which some people find harder to tolerate. Good news: pain decreases dramatically with regular threading. Your first appointment will likely be most uncomfortable because you're removing the most hair and your skin hasn't adapted to the treatment yet. By your third or fourth session, most clients report significantly reduced discomfort as they're only maintaining the shape. ### Skin Reaction and Temporary Marks Redness after eyebrow threading is virtually guaranteed, particularly if you have fair or reactive skin. The continuous pulling action irritates the skin and temporarily inflames hair follicles, creating pink or red patches that can look quite obvious immediately post-treatment. This flushing typically fades within 30 minutes to 2 hours but can persist longer for sensitive skin types. Small raised bumps sometimes appear along the threaded area, especially if your skin is particularly sensitive or if this is your first threading appointment. These bumps represent minor inflammation around each follicle and usually disappear within a few hours, but they can be noticeable enough to cause concern if you're not expecting them. Some people develop slight swelling around the brow bone, particularly after extensive shaping work or if threading touched very sensitive areas. While this swelling is mild compared to something like an allergic reaction, it can make your brows look slightly puffy for an hour or two after treatment—not ideal if you have an event immediately following your appointment. In rare cases, threading can cause small skin abrasions if the thread is pulled too tightly against delicate skin. These tiny friction marks are usually more common with inexperienced practitioners who haven't mastered the precise tension control threading requires. They sting briefly and heal quickly but can be uncomfortable for a day or two. ### The Over-Threading Problem Perhaps the most distressing downside of eyebrow threading is the inability to reverse mistakes. Once a hair is threaded out, it's gone until it regrows—which takes weeks. This permanence (albeit temporary) means over-threading can leave you stuck with too-thin or misshapen brows until enough regrowth occurs to correct the shape. Over-threading happens more easily than you might think. Removing just a few extra hairs from the wrong spot can dramatically alter your brow shape, particularly at the inner corner where thickness and positioning critically impact your appearance. An overzealous practitioner might remove too much hair trying to create a more "dramatic" arch, leaving you with brows that look perpetually surprised. Asymmetry is another risk. While perfect symmetry is impossible (everyone's brows are slightly different naturally), poor threading can exaggerate asymmetry rather than minimize it. If your therapist doesn't carefully compare both brows throughout the process, you can end up with noticeably uneven shapes that are difficult to correct without removing more hair from the fuller brow—making both too thin. The growing-out period after over-threading is frustratingly long. Eyebrow hair grows slowly compared to other body hair, meaning mistakes can take 6-12 weeks to fully correct. During this time, you're left either living with the shape you don't like or resorting to brow pencils and powders to fill in the missing areas. ### Maintenance and Practical Considerations Threading requires regular appointments to maintain results, and for eyebrows specifically, this means visiting a salon every 2-4 weeks depending on your hair growth rate. This frequency creates both a time and financial commitment that can become burdensome, particularly if you need to schedule around work, travel, or other obligations. Finding and keeping a skilled threading specialist presents another challenge. Eyebrow threading is highly skill-dependent—the difference between an experienced professional and a novice is dramatic. Once you find someone who consistently delivers results you like, losing access to them (through moving, schedule changes, or them leaving their position) means starting your search over and risking subpar results while finding a replacement. Threading also requires letting regrowth reach a certain length before it can be effectively removed. You can't thread freshly tweezed or waxed brows—the hair needs to be at least 2-3mm long for the thread to catch it properly. This means accepting a brief period of visible regrowth between appointments that you might find unattractive. Weather and activities after threading can be problematic. You're advised to avoid sun exposure, swimming, gym workouts, and heavy makeup for 24 hours post-threading to prevent infection or irritation in the temporarily open follicles. This restriction can be inconvenient if you have plans immediately after your appointment or if you're traveling and trying to fit in beauty treatments around activities.

**Available at both locations**: - **Newcastle City Centre**: Professional eyebrow threading with realistic expectations, skilled execution, and customized shaping. - **Gosforth**: Comfortable environment with experienced specialists who prioritize safe, beautiful brow shaping over aggressive trends. **Our Eyebrow Threading Service**: - Eyebrow Threading: £10 | 15 minutes - Includes consultation, precise shaping, and aftercare guidance [Book Your Eyebrow Threading](#) - Available on Treatwell, Fresha, and Booksy