Everything you need to know about brow lamination

We tried the trendy treatment

Beauty Crew Beauty Editor / June 07 2021

Eyebrow lamination has been all the kids can talk about in the world of brows the last couple of years and with good reason. 

The trendy eyebrow treatment gives you the kind of furry caterpillars synonymous with brow legends like Cara Delevingne and Lily Collins. Who doesn’t want to have the kind of brows that have their own claim to fame? Just us…?

In fact, we’re so obsessed with the fluff-inducing look the treatment gives brows that we decided to give eyebrow lamination a whirl for ourselves. 

Lana Tarek of Lana Tarek Eyebrow Specialists fame not only hosted us and gave our eyebrows the five-star treatment they deserve, but she also ran us through the dos and don’ts to know about the brow enhancement.

What is eyebrow lamination?

Eyebrow lamination is a treatment where hair relaxer (AKA a perming solution and keratin) is placed on the brows. While the relaxer is on, they are smoothed down in an upwards motion to create a semi-permanent lifted and fluffy brow look. 

How long does eyebrow lamination last?

A brow lamination isn’t permanent, but results should last between 6 to 8 weeks. 

Want to make sure your brows last? Try introducing a lash conditioner or castor oil into your routine. We also suggest investing in a spoolie to keep all those brow hairs in place and to help style your lamination.

Things to know before a brow lamination

A brow lamination isn’t a scary treatment in the slightest, but there’s a few things to know. The first? You definitely can’t get your brows wet after your treatment. In fact, it’s a good idea to steer clear of sweat-inducing activities and any steam 48 hours after the lamination is performed. 

And although your brow technician should apply a skin protectant and be mindful of the treatment causing any irritation, if you suffer from persistent pre-existing skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, you’re going to want to steer clear of laminated brows. 

Same goes for pregnant women too, unfortunately. But hey, you can always grow those suckers out and celebrate postpartum motherhood with a trip to your brow tech.

Eyebrow lamination review

My brow lamination appointment began with Tarek sketching what would be my ideal eyebrow shape. And as you can see in the first photo below, my natural brows have a tendency to get a little droopy in the middle. A lot of my eyebrow hairs angle downwards, making me an ideal candidate for the upward results of eyebrow lamination. 

Straight after getting my brows laminated (second photo) my eyebrow hairs defied gravity, seeking the heavens and a heavenly kind of volume I had not yet experienced in this life. 

My brow lam made everyday styling a breeze because I didn’t have to overcompensate with my brow pencil, filling in all the spots that usually look a bit sparse. Thanks to the lamination process my brow hair was firmly set in place, making my arches look full despite any makeup. 

Fast forward to today and it’s officially been six weeks since my brow lamination and I’m only just starting to see my brow hairs go a bit limp in places.

I think I have to say it… I’m a fiend for the brow lamination look. My annoyingly wiry brow hairs were more manageable than they usually are, and my arches actually did their job, framing and lifting my face. Call me a convert.

Before brow lamination

After brow lamination

6 weeks after brow lamination

Want to see if you can nail the brow lam yourself? These are the best DIY eyebrow lamination kits available in Australia.

Main image credit: Getty

Briar is the Beauty Editor at BEAUTYcrew. Her 'down for anything' attitude has resulted in more than a handful of hair transformations, and she doesn't mind being used as a guinea pig for the industry's most unusual products and treatments. Her work has also appeared on Refinery29, Girlfriend and beautyheaven.