Is Microblading Permissible to Restore Eyebrows Lost Due to Medical Treatment?
Question
As-salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I was diagnosed with a medical condition that caused my hair loss, including my eyebrows. Alhamdulillah, my scalp hair has regrown, but my eyebrows are still very thin. I understand that tattooing is haram, but is it permissible to do microblading to restore a natural appearance, following my original eyebrow shape? I would only do this until my natural eyebrows regrow, in shaa Allah.
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajma‘in.
Islam recognizes the difficulties faced by those who experience illness or loss, and the Shari‘ah provides ease in such situations according to need and intention. Matters related to appearance are judged by purpose — whether the intent is beautification or restoration.
The General Ruling on Tattooing and Alteration
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allah has cursed the women who pluck their eyebrows, and those who have it done, and those who tattoo and those who have themselves tattooed, and those who change the creation of Allah.”
(Bukhari, Muslim)
From this, scholars ruled that permanent alteration for beautification is prohibited.
However, when something is done to restore what was lost due to illness or harm, it is not regarded as altering Allah’s creation but rather returning it to its original state (رد الشيء إلى أصله).
The Fiqh Foundation
This falls under the principle:
الضرر يزال – “Harm must be removed.”
and
ما حرم لغيره أبيح للحاجة – “What is prohibited for a secondary reason may be permitted due to need.”
The loss of eyebrows after medical treatment is a form of physical and emotional harm.
Restoring them to their natural form through a method that mimics what was lost is a case of hajah (need), not indulgence or beautification.
Scholarly Discussion
Many contemporary fatwa councils have adopted this position, distinguishing between beautification (which is forbidden) and treatment or restoration (which is permitted).
Application to Microblading
Microblading is a semi-permanent procedure that deposits pigment in the skin to resemble natural eyebrow hair.
If it is performed only to restore the eyebrows to their original natural shape after medical treatment, and not to beautify or reshape beyond that, it is permissible.
The intention and scope of the act define its ruling.
Final Ruling
If a woman undergoes microblading to restore lost eyebrows due to medical treatment, keeping the natural shape and intent of restoration, this is permissible, insha’Allah.
It falls under returning the creation to its original form and removing harm.
If done purely for beautification or stylistic enhancement, it remains haram.
And Allah knows best.