Brow lamination is a great way to ensure neat, tidy brows. Here’s a guide on how you can best prepare for brow lamination.
Before your brow lamination appointment, you should avoid waxing, tweezing, or threading your eyebrows for 1 week. You also should steer clear of any exfoliants or AHAs. Show up 5 to 10 minutes early to your appointment with a bare, clean face.
What Is Brow Lamination?
Brow lamination is an eyebrow service that is known for being a “perm” for your eyebrows.
It involves smoothing the hairs in an upward and outward direction.
An eyebrow artist will use a solution and brush it on the brows 2 to 3 times to keep the brows in place during the procedure.
The results are eyebrows that are fuller and more defined.
One of the best things about brow lamination is that the treatment doesn’t use needles or semi-permanent pigments like other brow services such as microblading and powder brows.
Instead, lamination works with the eyebrow hairs you already have, giving the treatment a very natural look.
Benefits Of Brow Lamination
There are many reasons why people choose brow lamination over other brow service options.
Here are some of the benefits of brow lamination:
Natural Look
Brow lamination works with the natural eyebrow hairs you already have.
Since lamination doesn’t make use of needles or pigments, it doesn’t add anything unnatural to your eyebrows.
It simply enhances the eyebrow hairs you already have.
However, brow lamination still does a great job of making the brows look fuller and more defined.
Since all of the hairs are brushed upward together, they look more uniform which is going to naturally make them appear filled in even though they aren’t.
For people who don’t fill in their eyebrows a lot or are used to having a more natural-looking brow, brow lamination is going to provide the best, most natural results.
You can even get your brows tinted at the same time.
Other procedures can be a little too intense and could make you regret getting the treatment.
Less Invasive
As previously mentioned, brow lamination does not use any needles or pigments like other brow services like microblading, ombre brows, powder brows, and more.
You can even combine your lamination session with other non-invasive treatments like a lash lift.
Since it does not involve the use of needles, the procedure is completely painless.
Since it is less invasive, the aftercare process is much shorter.
Brow lamination only requires 24 to 48 hours of aftercare whereas other brow services have aftercare periods that last two weeks, and sometimes up to one month.
Something to keep in mind about brow lamination is that since it’s less invasive, it doesn’t last nearly as long as other brow services.
Less Commitment
Another benefit of brow lamination is that it doesn’t require a lot of commitment.
Brow lamination typically only lasts six to eight weeks if you take care of them properly afterward.
Other brow services like microblading and powder brows tend to last a couple of years.
So if you don’t know how you’ll like the look of your brows after getting them done professionally, brow lamination is a great place to start.
Also, if you don’t want to keep up with touch-ups, brow lamination just fades away over time without you needing to go in for any additional touch-up appointments.
This is, of course, unless you like the look of laminated brows and would like to get them redone.
The good thing is that there is no mandatory touch-up appointment afterward like some other brow services require.
Should You Do A Patch Test For Brow Lamination?
Patch tests are not required for brow lamination. However, if you are someone with known allergies, sensitive skin, or if you’re just worried about the chemical solution, a patch test is definitely recommended.
If you do decide to do a patch test for brow lamination, it needs to be done 48 hours before the appointment.
This ensures that any negative reactions that may show up well before you get them done.
Always ask your eyebrow technician if you need a patch test based on the condition of your skin, brows, and allergies.
Who Is Not A Good Candidate For Brow Lamination?
Brow lamination is one of the least invasive brow services, but it still is not suited for everyone.
If you have any of the following conditions, brow lamination may not be the best service for you:
Skin conditions
If you have psoriasis, eczema, or any open tissue around the brow area, brow lamination is not recommended.
The solution used to laminate the brows is a chemical solution that will more than likely irritate the area.
Eye conditions
If you have any eye conditions like pink eye or you’ve had recent eye surgery, brow lamination is also not recommended until these conditions have all cleared up and you get approval from your physician.
Sunburnt skin
Brow lamination should also not be done on someone who has a sunburn that has not yet healed.
You need to wait until the sunburn is completely resolved before getting your brows laminated or getting any brow service.
Other conditions
Other contraindications include pregnancy/breastfeeding, taking blood-thinning medication, alopecia, and more.
Always talk to your eyebrow technician about any conditions you are worried about before going through with the service.
If interested, read more about why you should not get brow lamination when pregnant.
How To Prepare For Brow Lamination
Brow lamination does not require a ton of prep work, but there are some things to keep in mind if you want to get the most out of the service.
The most important thing is making sure your skin is going to be the least irritated possible.
Here is how to best prepare for brow lamination:
1. Arrive To Appointment With A Bare Face
It is important to arrive at your appointment with a bare face.
If you don’t, your brow technician will use a makeup remover to clean your brows.
A cleanser is used on the eyebrows regardless, but your eyebrow artist will appreciate you not wearing makeup.
It helps the procedure move along and saves time for their next appointment.
2. Do Not Wax, Thread, Or Tweeze One Week Before Appointment
Waxing, threading, or tweezing your eyebrows should be avoided one week before the appointment, as any of these techniques may irritate the area.
An eyebrow artist will not want to work on brows using a chemical solution if it is already irritated, and it’ll likely cause the client more irritation as well.
3. Do Not Use Any Exfoliants one Week Before Appointment
Both mechanical and chemical exfoliants are not recommended to use for at least one week before getting your brows laminated.
They can irritate the area by causing tiny micro-abrasions on the skin. When the solution is applied and gets into these micro-abrasions, it can cause even more noticeable irritation.
Are There Any Risks With Brow Lamination?
Allergic reactions are not common, but they do happen to people with allergies and/or hypersensitive skin. If you have either of these conditions, or you just want to be safe, a patch test is recommended.
Also, since the solution for the lamination is chemically made, you do risk some damage to your natural eyebrow hairs.
Usually, the damage is not severe enough for people to really notice, but over time, it may be an issue if you consistently get it done.
Consult with your eyebrow artist if this is a worry you have or something that you’re already experiencing, as there are remedies to bring your eyebrows back to life.
How Long Does Brow Lamination Last?
Typically, brow lamination lasts 6 to 8 weeks.
Of course, this is completely dependent on a variety of different factors such as how well you take care of them, your lifestyle, your brow type, and your skin type.
For people who do not take very good care of brows, they can last three weeks. For others who get lucky, it can last up to ten weeks.
Ideally, you should not wet your laminated brows 24 hours after having them done as this can remove the lamination.
Does Eyebrow Lamination Hurt?
One of the best things about brow lamination is that it causes minimal to no pain or discomfort.
The comfort level during the actual procedure is completely painless. Some people can experience slight itchiness afterward, but this is quite normal.