Brow Lamination Vs Microblading
From paper-thin to bold and bushy.
Eyebrows have seen many styles over the decades, and in recent years, we have begun to see an increased emphasis on highlighting them in our makeup routine.
What was once an overlooked feature is now recognised for its importance: the face’s frames.
With the increased awareness of styling our brows just right, we have seen an expansion of specific products and techniques that promise to be your ultimate brow solution.
Two innovations have recently taken over the brow conversation: brow lamination and microblading.
What are these techniques, and how do you know which one will work best for you?
So, what are the differences between brow lamination and microblading?
In general, brow lamination creates smooth brows in a set shape to enhance existing brows, while microblading is tattooing additional hair strokes with long-lasting pigment to create the appearance of more brow hairs.
Below, we will discuss in depth what each of these brow techniques is and how to determine which one is right for you and your brows.
What Is Brow Lamination?
Brow lamination has been blowing up social media for the past few years.
Whether it‘s before-and-after photos or video tutorials documenting the entire process, resulting in shiny, fluffy brows.
Essentially, brow lamination is a “perm” for your eyebrows, but rather than creating waves or curls, it creates straight, vertical hairs that are sleek and shiny.
By perming the brow hairs in this way, it creates a shape that can be maintained even without additional brow products.
Individual brow hairs are defined and lengthened through the lamination process, which allows the brows overall to appear fuller, fluffier, and very much on-trend.
The lamination process also smooths brow hairs and leaves a slight sheen, a result that almost mimics how brows look after brow gel application.
If you’d like to see the whole process, here’s a great YouTube video from Huyana Beauty.
Who Is Brow Lamination For?
Brow lamination works on a wide variety of brow types and concerns.
Whether you are looking for a solution to smooth out unruly brows, want to add definition to your arches,.
Are concerned with thinning brow hair or dealing with gaps from over-waxing/tweezing? Brow lamination can smooth, create shape, and help the brows appear fuller.
If your brows are particularly sparse or you have minimal brow hair, microblading might be the better solution for you, so keep reading!
Benefits Of Brow Lamination
Brow lamination is a non-invasive technique that creates semi-permanent results and can take less than one hour.
It can also be a more affordable alternative to fix brow concerns than its more invasive counterparts, such as tattooing or even microblading.
By straightening the brow hairs and allowing them to all lie in the same direction.
Brow lamination fills in the appearance of any gaps or spaces in the brow and gives the appearance of additional brow hairs.
Brows look well-groomed, sleek, and natural.
Downside Of Brow Lamination
While no needles or pigments are used in the brow lamination treatment, it does use processors that can irritate the eye area.
Because the eyelids and the skin around the eye are delicate.
Using chemicals in those areas can cause redness, itchiness, bumps, or general irritation, especially if your skin is already particularly sensitive.
Some experts also caution that, as with the hair on your head, “perming” the brow hairs consistently might eventually cause damage.
Brow Lamination Process And Maintenance
To begin the brow lamination process, a processing cream is applied to the brows to lift the hairs, making them pliable and easier to shape in the desired direction.
Next, brows are brushed up in a uniform and vertical direction, which is then followed by a lotion neutraliser to seal the brow hairs in place.
Lastly, a nourishing oil is provided to help mitigate any skin irritation or hair dryness caused by the chemicals.
Along with any final grooming tweaks to the brows, such as tweezing or waxing.
Avoid using cosmetics, steam, or skincare products on the brows for the first 24 hours after the lamination.
Brow laminations are semi-permanent, so while the results could last for a couple of months, touch-ups will be needed to maintain the shape and style generally every 6-8 weeks.
What Is Microblading?
Before brow lamination started taking over the scene, microblading was the in-demand brow service.
While it is still a very popular treatment, it achieves a fuller brow through a different technique.
Microblading adds hair-like strokes to the eyebrows using tiny needles to deposit colour pigment beneath the skin.
The results are brows that appear fuller, denser, and more defined.
To see the full process, here’s a great video from It’s Laura Miranda on YouTube.
Who Is Microblading For?
Microblading works well for those with sparse or patchy eyebrows who want to fill in areas where brow hair is lost.
However, microblading can also work for those who want to add more definition to their brows or enhance the fullness of their natural brows.
Depending on how you want your eyebrows to look daily, microblading can work for pretty much anyone.
Microblading can work for a wide variety of skin tones and hair colours, as there is a diverse range of colour pigments available.
Benefits Of Microblading
Instead of spending the time in your makeup routine patiently filling in your eyebrows, microblading already takes care of it for you.
By filling gaps in sparse areas and adding the appearance of more individual brow hairs.
The usual work of filling in and evening out your eyebrows with your typical brow-styling product isn’t always necessary.
The effects of microblading vary depending on your desired eyebrow look; you can work with your microblading expert to determine the best brow look for you.
From adding needed brow hairs to the tail of your brow for a natural, soft definition to a full, dense brow, each style can be tailored to work with your own features.
Microblading is a semi-permanent procedure, and the effects can generally last for about one to three years with minimal touch-ups needed.
Downside Of Microblading
Similar to brow lamination, some irritation around the eye area can occur with microblading.
You should avoid washing and applying skincare and makeup to the eyebrows and surrounding area after the initial process.
The newly microbladed brows will become itchy and start to scab over as they begin to heal.
Microblading does require time to heal, as the hairlike strokes are created by small cuts depositing pigment into the skin.
Healing varies by individual but can generally take up to three to four weeks.
During the healing process, especially after the initial appointment.
The appearance of your brows will vary in terms of colour, texture, and overall appearance, resulting in some scabbing and flaking.
Depending on skin type, amount of natural brow hair, and desired look, microblading often takes more than one session to achieve the desired results.
Second or third appointments are scheduled between 6 and 8 weeks after the first session.
Numbing creams are used during a microblading appointment, but depending on individual response and pain tolerance, the process can range from mild discomfort to more pain.
Microblading Process And Maintenance
The first step in the microblading process is discussing the desired outcome with your specialist and collaborating on what works best for your individual features.
When the process is ready to start, the microblading specialist will apply numbing cream to the area and let it begin to take effect.
Using a handheld needling tool, the microblade specialist will begin creating small, hair-like strokes, essentially tiny cuts to the skin.
The colour pigment is deposited with this small tool as well.
Because the device used is a handheld needling tool, the specialist has greater control to manually create the desired shape and hair appearance than with a tattoo gun.
Typically, an aftercare treatment is applied at the end to aid healing.
After the first session, a second session is then required to finalise any needed touch-ups or tweaks.
Depending on the desired look or the scarcity of natural brow hair, a third session might be recommended.
After that, touch-ups are recommended about every 12 months.
Microblading appointments can take anywhere from about 40 minutes to two hours or more, depending on the desired results, and do require several weeks to heal properly.
As previously mentioned, on average, the results from microblading can last anywhere from one to three years.
However, oily skin types generally tend to absorb the pigment and fade quickly, and may need touch-ups sooner.
Can Both Be Done?
Microblading and brow lamination do work well together because they target the brows through two different techniques.
While microblading adds realistic hair-like strokes, brow lamination relaxes brow hairs to achieve a more defined shape.
While microblading and brow lamination can be done together, it is best to wait until the microbladed brows have healed before starting the lamination process.
Both methods involve the delicate skin of the eye area, chemical creams, and/or needles.
It is important to do your own research on the professionals you are interested in.
Read reviews of the salons, and ask questions to get a full understanding of who you are trusting with your eyebrows.
Best Products To Try
With the changes in brow trends over the years, there has also been a great deal of brow products exploding on the market to help you achieve the brows of your dreams.
If you are still unsure of whether you want to try brow lamination or microblading.
Or want to try to achieve similar results while you wait for your brow appointment? Here are a few products that you can add to your routine now to see similar results.
To mimic the lifted and lengthened effect of a brow lamination, using a strong-hold brow gel that defines individual brow hairs will help.
A product like this, a no-colour gel, allows you to shape and lift your brow hairs into a feathered look.
Soft look achieved through lamination, with a strong hold to keep brows in place throughout the day. A gel like this works best with a clean mascara spoolie.
If you want a fluffy brow and also like to add colour, this is a great option for you.
The tinted gel will still allow you to shape and define your brows to the desired appearance, but with the tint of colour.
It will allow the brows to look slightly fuller with a more dimensional finish while still being natural.
If you are looking to recreate the results of a microblade brow or need to fill in more sparse areas than a simple gel would do, an eyebrow pen is the product for you!
The fine-pen tip applicator lets you mimic hair-like strokes with precision.
Using light flicks to draw on additional brow hair, you will be able to create the appearance of a fuller eyebrow overall.
Similar to a brow pen, a brow pomade lets you draw on brow hair with a brush, just as you would with a gel eyeliner and a slanted brush.
By using a brush to apply the product, you can have more control than using an eyebrow pen, especially if you are a beginner to filling in your eyebrows.
Both brow gels can work with either the eyebrow pen or the brow pomade to provide additional hold or create more definition in the brows.
Including one or more of these brow products in your routine can help you see which brow styles you like.
What works best for you, and gives you a glimpse of what either brow lamination or microblading can look like for you.
Which One Is Best For You?
In general, brow lamination will give you a feathered, full result with definition to the individual brow hairs.
The shape will remain in place as long as the treatment lasts. It works best if there is already an existence of some eyebrow hair to begin.
Microblading adds density and fullness to the brow by adding in brow hairs in a natural way to fill in sparse areas, or even create an entire brow if little to no brow hair is remaining.
You can achieve a natural to a bold brow, requiring little additional product.
Both procedures are semi-permanent; however, brow lamination lasts only 8-10 weeks, while microblading can last up to 3 years.
While brow lamination would require more frequent touch-ups, after the first or second microblading session, touch-ups are only recommended every 12 or so months.
Brow lamination is non-invasive, with no downtime required after the procedure takes effect.
Microblading typically requires 2 weeks or more of downtime to heal and a second session to achieve the desired results.
Cost-wise, brow lamination is more cost-effective than microblading.
Depending on where you go and where you are located, brow laminations can cost anywhere from $60 to over $150.
Microblading typically costs about $600, though it can range from less than that to closer to $2,000.
Conclusion
While brow lamination and microblading share similarities, the goal of both methods is to have your eyebrows looking their absolute best for your individual brow shape and style.
Eyebrows are an important facial feature that provide structure and definition to the eye area and the face as a whole.
Whether you prefer going natural and makeup-free most days or full-on glam.
Choosing the right brow style for you can elevate your look to the next level and let your unique features shine through.
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