Nano strokes, combo or cloud brows: which style suits you? Your brows, your way

You are done drawing your brows on. You have scrolled through hundreds of brow photos and saved half of them. Now the question: which style is actually right for your face and your skin?

The honest answer is that your skin type decides as much as your taste. Here is how the three styles compare.

What are the three styles?

Nano strokes. Ultra-fine, hair-like strokes placed with a very fine needle on a machine. It is a modern technique that is gentle on the skin, heals softly and gives the most natural, hair-like look.

Cloud brows. Mirabell's signature powder brow. Soft, filled-in colour, like your best brow make-up, without the morning routine. Also called powder or ombre brows elsewhere.

Combo brows. Hair strokes at the front of the brow, soft shading through the tail. Natural at the start, more definition where you want it.

Why does skin type matter so much?

Fine strokes need skin that holds a crisp line. On dry or normal skin, nano strokes heal soft and stay defined. On oily skin, strokes can blur and soften faster, so shading, which is meant to look soft, usually heals more evenly. That is why we often suggest cloud or combo brows for oily skin.

Oily skin, sun and some skincare also fade any style faster. A colour refresh every 12 to 18 months keeps brows sharp.

Which style suits which look?

• "I want nobody to know." Nano strokes. Hair-like and soft.
• "I fill my brows in every day." Cloud brows. They look like your best make-up day.
• "Natural, but more." Combo. Strokes at the front where people look first, shading where brows usually need it.
• "My brows are thin or have been lost." Brows can often be tattooed back, for example after illness, alopecia or age. Start with a free consultation so we can check your skin.

You do not need to decide alone. At your consultation we check your skin type and your natural brows, then map and draw the shape. You approve it in the mirror before anything starts.

Do you have old brow tattoo?

If old pigment has turned grey, blue, red or orange, or the shape never suited you, it may need lightening first. We do that with laser PMU correction and removal, usually before new brows go on.

Does it hurt, and how long does it take to heal?

Most clients rate it low. Numbing cream goes on first and we check in with you throughout. Healing is the same for every style: darker and sharper for about a week, light flaking, a patchy stage in weeks 2 to 3, and your healed brows at 4 to 6 weeks. Your touch-up at 6 to 8 weeks perfects them. It is booked and paid separately, from €80.

Who should wait?

Semi-permanent brows are not right for you right now if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, are taking or have taken isotretinoin in the last 6 months, or have broken skin or a skin condition on the brow area. Tell us about blood thinners and any medical treatment. We check your health history at your free consultation.

Find your style, see healed results and book on our semi-permanent brows page. Want lamination, tint or a lash lift instead? See all brows and lashes.

This guide is general information, not medical advice. Results vary from person to person.