Move over, microblading…
It’s the hot new treatment that’s everyone wants to try: brow lamination are the two words on every brow enthusiast’s lips.
The results speak for themselves, delivering fuller-looking brows without the need for your best eyebrow make-up products. When you look at the before and after pictures, it’s hard to believe both shots are the same person’s natural brows.
I decided to put the treatment to the test in the name of beauty journalism and, after scouring several Treatwell listings, booked myself in at Thea Beauty in London.
Keep reading for everything you need to know before you try, including my own before and after pictures. And when you’re done here, be sure to get more tips and tricks in our guide on how to get thicker eyebrows.
What is brow lamination?
‘Brow lamination involves straightening and lifting the hairs using a chemical solution, which allows the hairs to have more flexibility to move them into your desired shape, therefore covering any gaps or stray areas,’ my therapist Thea explains.
After your natural brow hairs are straightened, a fixing solution is applied to keep the hairs straight, as well as a tint if desired. The result is fuller-looking brows that stay in place when brushed into shape, lasting around six weeks.
Before the treatment, it’s imperative that you do your research to ensure you get the results you’re after. Social media is your friend here – I chose Thea as her Instagram pictures of her work reflected what I wanted for my brows.
What’s the difference between brow lamination and microblading?
While microblading involves your therapist using semi-permanent dye strokes to fill in your brows, brow lamination straightens and lifts your natural hairs to achieve a full and feathered look, with no tattooing involved.
If the first option sounds more like your thing, read our guide to microblading for everything you need to know about costs, aftercare and more.
Brow lamination before and after
My natural brows (left) aren’t as sparse as they could be, but I’d never have guessed that I had enough hair to result in the ‘after’ shot above. The redness surrounding my brow in the right-hand picture is from having stray hairs tweezed and waxed, and went down very quickly after I left the salon.
Brow lamination aftercare
For the first 24 hours after your treatment, it’s important to keep your brows completely dry and avoid touching them. After that, Thea advised me to keep the area moisturised using an oil or cream.
How much does brow lamination cost?
Brow lamination can cost anywhere between £45 and £100. Prices will vary depending on where you’re based, who performs the treatment and if they charge extra for any add-ons, like tinting.
I’ll definitely be going back for more brow lamination treatments in future to keep my brows looking full and feathered. There’s no denying those results!
Products that give you that brow lamination look
If you want to achieve the groomed look ahead of your treatment, these products are known to replicate after effects of brow lamination.
Anastasia Beverley Hills Brow Freeze, £24 | Cult Beauty
When this product first launched, the beauty world couldn’t quite believe it had lasted so long without it. It was so popular that Cult Beauty struggled to keep it in stock. Using a spoolie. apply this clear gel directly onto the brows in an upwards motion. Brows will stay in place all day.
REFY Brow Sculpt, £16 | Selfridges
The REFY Instagram account is slightly addictive. Watching people apply this product is deeply satisfying. Using the mascara-style applicator, you apply the product directly onto the brows, making sure to coat each strand of hair. Then you use the comb (which can be found inside the lid) to perfectly groom and neaten up your brows. The results are truly amazing.
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