Brow Lamination: What Is It, Why Are We Doing It, And Do You Really Need To Learn It?

Brow Lamination: What is it, why are we doing it, and do you really need to learn it?

Unless you live under a rock, or somewhere with no internet access, you’ve probably heard of brow lamination at least once in the last twelve months, even if you don’t do brows at all.

The rise in popularity of the treatment has led to multiple brands releasing their own lamination products and upskill training, which you may have seen advertised in the catalogues and emails of your favourite beauty suppliers (favourite aside from us, of course 😉).

So you’ve heard of it, you’ve seen some inspiring photo examples of it on Instagram, and you know it works kind of similarly to lash lifting but you’re not exactly 100% sure: what is it?

The What

Brow lamination is an aesthetic treatment that, like a lash lift, breaks the bonds in the hairs to make them flexible and resets them into a more desirable position.  It uses the same system as a lash lift, but with a shorter processing time for skin and hair safety.

When laminated, the eyebrow hairs move more freely, so can be styled into a more upright position, or brushed to cover gaps or create an arch, without that resistance that we would typically need gels, soaps or waxes to counter.  Essentially, the idea is that a client can simply brush their laminated brows into position in the morning, and no further styling would be needed.

Brow hairs that have been laminated can often look ‘flat’; this happens because the hairs are brushed into a position which separates them, removing that density that occurs on some brows where the hair grows thickly.  The hair directions are changed to make the brows look thicker in height rather than density: the hairs are essentially ‘flattened out’ into their new position.  The hairs also get straightened out in the process, which causes them to lose their 3D look.

Part of a brow lamination treatment usually includes tint or dye (henna is not allowed), some shaping and a hydrating treatment to nourish the hair, as the process can be quite drying.

The Why

It’s no secret that pretty much everyone wants their brows to look full and thick.  The chase for the perfect, full brow has been a thing ever since Cara Delevingne first walked the runway and had us all drooling over her natural, tomboy brows.  Suddenly, thick and dark eyebrows were very important.

The trend has been driven away from the perfected and sculpted look favoured by Youtube and Instagram makeup artists in recent years, and a more naturally full and textured brow has become the new ‘perfect’.  Think about those beautiful bronzed makeup looks created by artists such as Emma Chen, Ania Milczarczyk and Nikki Wolff: those brows are what the trend-driven clients are wishing for.

While this look can be created temporarily, it does take practice, some time and a litany of makeup products.  The beauty trends, though, currently are moving away from high-maintenance routines, and clients are preferring that ‘I woke up like this’ vibe.  Last year’s beauty retail sales reports showed a massive shift away from makeup and towards skincare.  Clients are spending more on treatments and skincare to look good all the time with less daily effort, and lashes and brows have become a part of that.

Laminated brows immediately look fuller, thicker and more textured, and can easily be brushed into that high, spiky position.  Having laminated brows eliminates a lot of styling time, and works with that beautiful, minimalist look.  The aftercare products feel indulgent and are easily slipped into an evening skincare routine.

Do I Need to Offer it?

If you’re not a brow artist, my short answer is actually no.  I think you should be fully trained in all elements of brow styling before offering the brow lamination service, even if you are trained in lash lifts.  There are definitely some particular risks that come with this service.

If you do already offer some brow services then yes, I definitely recommend that you train in brow lamination!  The trend isn’t going away any time soon, so you’re not too late to jump on and make the most of it.

Brow lamination is a relatively quick service, taking around 45 minutes to an hour at the most.  It suits most clients (usual waxing and lash lifting contraindications apply), and the end result can be totally customised, so even if your clients aren’t into the super brushed up or bushy look, lamination can still work for them.  It’s a great treatment to tame unruly brows, or to redirect hairs to cover gaps or lift an arch in a straight brow.

It’s very easy to slot into their normal treatment routine; if they have their brows done on a 4-weekly rotation, you could essentially alternate between their normal brow sculpt and the lamination treatment, as it can be re-done after 8-10 weeks.

It’s an easy add-on to a lash lift service, too, as many lash lift systems can also be used to perform brow lamination, such as the new Elleeplex Profusion, or the Yumi system.  You can charge anywhere from $80 - $150 for a brow lamination, and perform it at the same time as you are doing a lash lift.

If you’re interested in learning how to create a perfectly laminated brow, we have included a Brow Lamination Masterclass as part of our new LashJoy Academy Only Masterclass Collection.  Tailored exclusively to existing brow stylists who want to upskill, the 4 hour course will cover all of my top tips for a safe and beautifully laminated brow, including a live demonstration.

If you’re a total newbie to brows, you will learn brow lamination when you attend my 4 Day Ultimate Brow Mastery Course, alongside brow henna, facial mapping and the other newbie on the scene: brow dye.