Brow lamination went from trend to staple faster than almost anything I've seen in this industry, and I still get questions about it every week. What is it actually doing to the hair? Who's a good candidate? Can I just use my lash lift kit? So here's everything I'd want you to know before you put it on your menu.
What Brow Lamination Actually Is
Brow lamination uses the same two-step chemistry as a lash lift, applied to brow hairs. Step 1 softens the bonds inside the hair so you can brush the brows into a new direction, and Step 2 sets them there. The result is brows that look fuller, longer and more even, with hairs that sit where you put them instead of wherever they decided to grow.
It's a styling service as much as a chemical one. You can create symmetry, correct hairs that grow in an awkward direction, or give a full, fluffy, feathered finish. And because the hairs become easier to groom, your client can brush them into place every morning and they'll actually stay.
Who It's For
The best candidates are clients with unruly brows, downward-growing hairs, or gaps where the hair is there but lying the wrong way. It's also great for anyone who wants that brushed-up, fluffy look without filling in every day.
Like any chemical service, it starts with a proper consultation. Look at the condition of the hair and her chemical history, and always follow the product directions, contraindications and patch-testing requirements before you begin.
Which System to Use
This is the one I most want to get right, because it trips people up. Elleeplex Profusion is built for both lash and brow lamination from the same lotions. It's a vegan cysteamine HCl system with no thioglycolate, with ReGen in the system to support the hair's strength. If you already lift lashes with Profusion, you already own your brow lamination lotions.
Brik & Pearl laminates brows too. Bond Lock sets both lashes and brows, and the system is suitable for professional brow lamination.
What you shouldn't do is reach for One Shot. One Shot is a lash lift system only and isn't used on brows at all.
The Tools on Your Station
A few things make brow lamination smoother, literally:
- Brow Lamination Wrap, the clear film that holds the brow hairs in place while the lotion works.
- Elleebana White Brow Pencil for mapping the shape before you start.
- Ellee-Brow Tweezer for prep and cleanup once the brows are set.
Adding Tint
Lamination and tint are a natural pair, because laminated brows show color beautifully. Infinity Aqua Drops work as a standalone brow tint or after a brow lamination, in seven intermixable shades. Belmacil Tint is the other option, a lash and brow tint that's been a professional standard for years.
Aftercare and Rebooking
Brow lamination lasts for weeks, and clients get the most out of it when they brush their brows into place each day. Elleefix Brow Styling Wax is made for exactly that: a take-home wax that keeps laminated brows looking fresh between visits.
As for when she can come back, it's the same answer as lash lifts. The condition of her hair matters more than the calendar. I wrote a whole post on how soon you can relift or redo a brow lam if you want the details.
Getting Trained
Brow lamination looks simple on Instagram, but reading brow hair, mapping a shape and setting it evenly takes real practice. Our online Profusion brow lamination training and the in-person brow lamination course are both built for exactly that. Both require a cosmetology or esthetics license, or current enrollment in an esthetics program.
If you're already lifting lashes with Profusion, you're closer to adding brows than you think.
Ask Ellee, our product expert at polymorphbeauty.com.
