The eyebrows frame your face, and fortunately for us, we don’t have to depend on sharp tweezers with poor eyesight to transform our eyebrows into a work of art. There are a myriad of new methods that allow us to clean, trim and change the look of our eyebrows. A more recent and gaining popularity procedure is known as brow lamination.
You might have seen photos of slicked-up, full brows with a high-shine look that have taken over the pages of your Instagram or TikTok “For You” page. That’s the process of brow lamination. Consider it as semi-permanent Soap eyebrows. If we’re talking about laminating, we’re not about turning paper sheets into glossy posters that look like kindergarten. But, it does provide similar effects of smoothing by applying chemicals to place the eyebrow hairs in a vertical direction creating a brushed-up appearance.
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As a result of this procedure, it is also referred to this procedure as an eyebrow perm. In this instance, rather than creating the appearance of a curl or wave, the focus is on smoothing out the hair. If your hair strands keep growing in a tangled direction, or you have gaps, or you were a victim of the overplucking period, this is precisely the time to use brow lamination to fix that.
It doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, does it? It is. However, (yes, there’s a BUT Sorry!) like many other cosmetic treatments available, There are some disadvantages. Let’s take a look at the advantages as well as the risks, aftercare, and costs.
What is brow lamination?
Brow lamination is a “brow hair texturizing treatment,” brow and lash professional Sarah Maxwell claims. It’s a method that a brow specialist “softens the hair follicle” by using an acid treatment “and then re-shapes, or sets, it into a more refined, lifted, smoother shape,” she says. The result? Perfect brows that have been brushed to perfection. Create a fuller, more well-defined, and uniform appearance.
What exactly are the advantages of the brow?
The primary benefit of having laminated brows is the appearance of the appearance. “When done correctly the brow will lay in a more aesthetically pleasing shape, with the brows looking fuller and more lifted,” Maxwell says. Maxwell. Alongside smoothing the hairs out, you can also alter the shape of the brows slightly while laminating them, such as elevating the arch or dropping the tail to achieve the desired shape.
In contrast to other treatments for brows, such as microblading, it isn’t invasive. It doesn’t last forever, which makes it an excellent alternative for individuals who do not want to commit to other brow treatments.
They not only look stunning after lamination, but they’re also much easier to manage. “The hairs, if unruly before, will be more easily managed in their smooth shape,” Maxwell says. Maxwell. Hairs lay in a vertical line, appearing like they’ve been expertly put in their place.
One of the most attractive advantages of lamination is that it lasts up to eight weeks. That means no hectic brushing of brows and gel set each morning, allowing for a less maintenance routine for your daily routine.
What do I need to prepare my brow laminate?
Before you begin to think about what you can expect at your appointment, you must arrive prepared. Avoid using retinol, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and other exfoliation products for at least 48 hours before the appointment time, as they could result in a reaction to the chemical solution for lamination, which can cause a skin reaction. The brow techs advise you not to tweeze, thread, or wax your eyebrows before your appointment.
If you know you have sensitive skin or have had an allergic reaction to hair dyes, it’s a good idea to have a patch test before your appointment. In contrast to several cosmetic procedures, lamination does not necessarily necessitate a test patch, so it’s unlikely to know if you’re allergic until the solution is placed on the eyebrows.
Inform your brow technician of the severity of any skin problems (including psoriasis and eczema) and in case you’ve had a reaction to chemicals previously or if you have any eye issues or have sunburn. The tech will let you know whether you can continue receiving treatment; all things considered, it is beneficial to your health and safety.
How do I go about the process of brow lamination like?
Now, you’re in a good mood and ready to get your eyebrows glued. What are you expecting?
In the beginning, you’ll be taken to a reclined chair where you can relax, and your brow technician will begin cleaning the area, ensuring it’s clean of any oil, makeup, or bacteria. Then, they’ll apply a relaxation cream which triggers a reaction to disulfide bonds within your brows. This bonds in place the protein (keratin) chains within our hairs. The hairs are softened, making them flexible enough to create the desired shape. You can also apply plastic wrap to your hair to accelerate the process.
The process is then left for around five minutes (contingent on the thickness of your hair), then it is taken off, then a setting lotion is applied. This cream is known as”neutralizer,” “reform,” or “setting” cream “neutralizer,” “reform” or “setting” cream and essentially “sets the hair into its new shape reforming the hair and its keratin chains,” Maxwell clarifies. The cream is left on for another couple of minutes, and the technician will use a spoolie or a brush to brush the hair back into place gently.
When the brows have been set to their desired position, some professionals would prefer to smooth out hairs that aren’t in the right place. Maxwell does not recommend using wax following the lamination process because “the ingredients in the lamination process have opened up the hair follicle and pores around the brow and can rip or break the delicate eye area skin.”
Maxwell does not recommend cutting the hairs unless they are long and clearly out of place. “Cutting the hair ends up looking like an electrocution versus that fluffy look that makes a good brow lamination,” Maxwell says.
Is there any risk in the process of eyebrow lamination?
Because of the strong chemical used during lamination, it may be a few negatives with the process. “[Brow lamination] can have a detrimental effect on the overall condition of the hairs over a period of time, especially if it is a treatment that is built into a continued beauty regime,” the brow creator and teacher Kallinika Aynsley says to the magazine. It’s possible to over-process your hair during lamination, mainly if it’s an ongoing process and your technician isn’t skilled.
“My biggest piece of advice to anyone interested in the treatment is to be aware of over-processed brows, this is where the hair could potentially become ‘frazzled’ and the hair can become crispy and shed,” Says Aynsley. “I would only suggest brow lamination for a short-term beauty fix,” she says.