What cosmetic technique applies semi-permanent pigment to imitate eyebrow hairs?

The cosmetic technique that applies semi-permanent pigment to imitate eyebrow hairs is microblading.

A technician uses a handheld tool fitted with several tiny needles to make fine, hair-like incisions in the upper dermis and deposit pigment. Unlike conventional eyebrow tattooing, which usually uses a powered machine, microblading creates individual strokes by hand. The result is intended to add fullness, define shape, or recreate the appearance of missing brow hairs.

Earlier forms of cosmetic eyebrow tattooing became more common in the United States and parts of Asia during the 1980s and 1990s. The microblading style, also called eyebrow embroidery or feathering, gained popularity in Singapore around 2007 and spread widely in North America during the mid-2010s. Iron-oxide-based pigments are commonly used.

Microblading is not truly permanent: pigment can fade or blur because of ultraviolet exposure, skin type, skincare products, and other factors. A touch-up is often recommended after about six weeks, with later refreshes commonly needed every 12–18 months. Threading removes or shapes hair, while dermaplaning exfoliates skin; neither imitates brow hairs with implanted pigment.