If you are booking microblading anywhere on Long Island, the single most useful thing you can do is ask to see the artist’s Nassau County certification and their healed photographs. Nassau County requires anyone performing tattooing, microblading or permanent makeup to hold a Tattoo/Body Piercing Artist Certification from the Department of Health, and requires the studio to be licensed too. That is a real, checkable standard, and it filters out a lot.
This page is a practical guide to choosing well. Our own Long Island studio is in Oceanside, Nassau County, but the advice below applies wherever you book.
1. Check the Nassau County certification
Nassau County Department of Health licenses both the artist and the studio. Per the county’s own Tattoo & Body Piercing Program, any individual performing tattoo, microblading or permanent makeup services in Nassau County must hold a valid Tattoo/Body Piercing Artist Certification, valid for three years, obtained by sitting an in-person examination at the Department of Health in Mineola.
This is not a formality. It means the artist has been examined on bloodborne pathogens, cross-contamination and sterilisation. Asking to see it is normal and any legitimate studio will show you without hesitation.
2. Ask for healed photographs, not fresh ones
Brows photographed immediately after the appointment look crisp and dark for everyone — that is what fresh pigment does. The honest test of an artist is what the work looks like six weeks later, after the skin has healed and the colour has settled. Ask specifically for healed results, ideally on skin similar to yours. Our microblading portfolio and ombre brow portfolio are there for exactly this.
3. Make sure the technique matches your skin
This is where most disappointing brow work goes wrong, and it happens before the needle is ever picked up.
| If your skin is… | Often the better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Normal to dry, fine pores | Microblading | Crisp blade strokes hold their definition well |
| Oily or combination | Nano brows or ombre powder brows | Blade strokes commonly blur and heal patchy on oily skin |
| Mature or thin | Nano brows | A machine controls depth more gently than a blade |
| Previously tattooed brows | Correction, then a decision | Existing pigment dictates what is realistically possible |
An artist who recommends the same technique to every client regardless of skin type is telling you something useful about how they work.
4. Expect a consultation and a touch-up
A proper appointment starts with mapping the brow shape and getting your approval before any pigment is opened, and it includes a follow-up session once healing is complete. The touch-up is a standard part of the process, not an admission that something went wrong. Be cautious of anyone offering microblading with no consultation and no follow-up.
5. Understand what pricing does and does not tell you
Brow work priced far below the local market is usually a signal about training, pigment quality or single-use supplies rather than a bargain. Equally, a high price alone guarantees nothing. Judge on certification, healed photographs and how carefully the consultation is handled.
Microblading in Oceanside and across Nassau County
Cosmetic by Banou’s Long Island studio is at 3173 Long Beach Rd, Oceanside, NY 11572, serving Nassau County and the wider New York metro area. Treatments are performed personally by Nancy Akbari, the artist behind our original Beverly Hills studio. We also run Banou Academy training in New York for artists who want to qualify in this work themselves.
Contact the Oceanside studio on (212) 470-7973 to arrange a consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do microblading artists need a licence on Long Island?
In Nassau County, yes. Anyone performing tattooing, microblading or permanent makeup must hold a valid Tattoo/Body Piercing Artist Certification issued by the Nassau County Department of Health, and the studio itself must be licensed. The certification lasts three years. You are entitled to ask to see it.
How do I check a Long Island brow artist is legitimate?
Ask three things: that they hold a current Nassau County Tattoo/Body Piercing Artist Certification, that the studio is licensed by the Department of Health, and to see healed photographs of their work rather than photographs taken immediately after the appointment. Healed work is the only honest measure of a brow artist.
Is microblading the right technique for me?
Not always. Microblading uses a hand-held blade and holds best on normal to dry skin. On oily or mature skin the strokes commonly blur as they heal, and nano brows or ombre powder brows usually give a cleaner long-term result. A good artist will tell you this before you book, not after.
Where is Cosmetic by Banou located on Long Island?
Our New York studio is at 3173 Long Beach Rd, Oceanside, NY 11572, in Nassau County. Treatments are performed by Nancy Akbari, the same artist behind our Beverly Hills studio.
How long does microblading last?
Typically around one to two years before a colour refresh is wanted, though this varies a great deal with skin type, sun exposure and aftercare. Oily skin generally fades fastest.