What Is Brow Lamination and How Long Does It Last?

Brow lamination is a treatment that relaxes your brow hairs so they can be brushed into a new direction and set there. The result is brows that look fuller and tidier and stay brushed up without gel. It usually lasts four to eight weeks, fading as the treated hairs shed and new ones grow in.

People sometimes call it a perm for your brows. That is close, except the goal is hair that lies smooth and stays where it is put, not hair that curls.

How does brow lamination work?

Each brow hair holds its shape because of bonds inside the strand. Lamination uses two solutions to change that shape for a while.

1. A lifting solution softens the bonds so the hair becomes flexible.
2. The hairs are brushed up and over into the shape you want, covering thin spots where they can reach.
3. A setting solution re-forms the bonds so the hairs hold their new direction.
4. A conditioning step usually comes last, because the process is drying on the hair.

Nothing is cut into the skin and no pigment goes under it. That is the main difference from microblading, which is a form of cosmetic tattooing and is not something Spathetics offers. Lamination only changes the hairs you already have.

How long does brow lamination last?

Four to eight weeks for most people. Where you land in that range depends on a few things:

• How fast your brow hair grows. New hairs come in with their natural direction, so the effect softens as they replace the treated ones.
• The first 24 hours. The hairs are still settling. Getting them wet or rubbing them early can loosen the set.
• How you handle them afterward. Brushing them into place each morning keeps the shape looking the way it did on day one.

It fades gradually. There is no day when it suddenly stops working, and no line of regrowth to hide.

Because it is a chemical process, redoing it too soon can leave the hairs dry and brittle. Most people wait at least six weeks between laminations, and it is kinder to the hair to let the last one mostly grow out first.

Who is brow lamination good for?

• Brows with hairs that grow downward or in several directions.
• Small gaps that a longer hair could cover if it would only stay brushed over.
• Thick, unruly brows that will not hold a shape.
• Fine brows that look thin lying flat and fuller brushed up.
• Anyone tired of reaching for brow gel every morning.

The honest limit: lamination cannot create hair where none grows. If your brows are sparse or very light in color, a tint may do more for you, since it darkens the fine, pale hairs you cannot normally see.

Lamination, tint or wax: what is the difference?

They do three different jobs, which is why they are often booked together.

• Lamination changes the direction of the hairs and holds them there.
• Tint adds semi-permanent color to the hairs for a few weeks.
• Wax removes the stray hairs around the brow so the outline is clean.

At Spathetics you can book Brow Lamination by itself, Brow Lamination & Tint, or the full Brow Lamination + Tint + Wax, which is the most booked brow appointment.

Does brow lamination hurt or damage your brows?

It should not hurt. If anything stings or burns during the appointment, say so right away.

Done at a sensible interval, lamination does not harm healthy brow hair. The risk comes from over-processing, which is the reason not to rebook early or try to redo it at home between visits.

Who should skip it or wait?

• Anyone whose skin around the brows is sunburned, broken or irritated. Wait until it has healed.
• Anyone using a prescription retinoid or taking isotretinoin (Accutane). These make skin more fragile, which matters most if a wax is part of the appointment. Tell Ashley before you book and check with your prescriber.
• Anyone with eczema, psoriasis or another skin condition in the brow area, or a history of reacting to hair dye or perm solution. Check with your doctor or dermatologist first.
• If you are pregnant or nursing, ask your doctor before booking.

What do you do afterward?

Keep your brows dry and leave them alone for the first 24 hours. That means no water, steam, heavy sweating or brow makeup. After that, wash your face as usual and brush your brows into place in the morning. The full routine is in the brow lamination aftercare guide.

Fall is a busy season for photos, from homecoming to family pictures ahead of the holidays. If you are booking with a date in mind, schedule it several days before, not the morning of. Any pinkness from waxing will have faded, and you will have had a few mornings to get used to styling them.

If you are curious but not sure which version fits, the brows page lists every option with its current price. When you are ready, you can book an appointment online and pick the time that works for you.