Brow lamination vs Microblading: Difference, Costs & Benefits

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Brow lamination vs Microblading: Which one is better for you?

They say that eyes are the windows to the soul, so does that make eyebrows the curtains? No matter what they are metaphorical, we know that having beautiful eyebrows can increase our confidence and highlight our gorgeous eyes.

But, achieving a luscious eyebrow is not as easy as it sounds. Some of us may struggle with thin eyebrows and want to add more volume to our brows, but we might not have any idea of where to start.

Brow lamination and microblading are two eyebrow trends that seek to solve these problems. But what is the difference between the two? And which is better for your brows? You can find the answers to all of these questions and more below!

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What is brow lamination?

You probably had discover that finding a concrete definition of “brow lamination” and what exactly the process is can be difficult, so we are here to simplify this trend for you.

Brow lamination is a more recent trend that has taken the internet by storm. It has been labeled an alternative to microblading, and some people even say that it is better. 

To put it in simple terms, brow lamination is basically a perm for your eyebrows. However, brow lamination does not curl your eyebrows, but a setting lotion is applied to shape your eyebrows in a clean and uniform direction. This makes your eyebrows look much fuller and controlled.  

When you walk into the salon, your brow lamination will typically happen in four steps.

First, your stylist will apply a cream that lifts up your eyebrows. Then, they will brush the hairs upward to form them in a uniform direction. Then, they will apply the setting lotion that I mentioned earlier to keep your eyebrows in place.

Finally, some stylists will apply some sort of oil or rub to decrease the likelihood of skin irritation. For many stylists, the entire treatment is completed in under an hour. 

Brow lamination originated in Russia but has made its way all over the world for its rapid and remarkable results. This trend is great for those of us that have a natural eyebrow that we want to look fuller, or for those of us who have unruly or hard-to-manage eyebrows. 

Related post: A Helpful Eyebrows Makeup Beginner’s Guide (pro tips + step by step Tutorial)

Brow Lamination Benefits and Prices

You can find brow lamination sessions that cost anywhere from $50-$200, which is significantly cheaper than microblading. This is a huge benefit of brow lamination, and there are a couple of other benefits as well. 

One benefit of brow lamination is that it is low maintenance. After your session, you do not have to do anything to keep your brows looking beautiful. 

Another benefit is that it is relatively painless. Unlike microblading, there are no needles or semi-permanent makeup needed to create fuller-looking brows, which means that brow lamination is non-invasive. 

Finally, one more benefit of brow lamination is that it is not permanent. This is great if you want to try out the process and if you don’t like it, your eyebrows will go back to normal when the setting treatment wears off. 

Related post: The Do’s and Dont’s After Brow Lamination!

Does brow lamination damage your eyebrows?

While this is a really popular and considered a safe trend, there are a couple of warnings that you should know before you book a brow lamination appointment.

Brow lamination can cause irritation of your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin.

The chemicals used to keep the eyebrows in place are harsh, and some dermatologists do have worries about having chemicals that close to your eyes. 

However, while there is a risk of damaging your eyebrows with brow lamination, many report that if you don’t do it too often, your eyebrows will be just fine. 

brow lamination before and after
Photo Credit: Photo credit: Brow Lamination Artist Cynthia Paola

How long does brow lamination last?

Brow lamination typically lasts for about 3-6 weeks.

There are a few products on the market that claim to make your brows stay in place longer. You should probably already heard the term “soap brows”

These waxes and creams are also a great alternative if you don’t want to try the brow lamination now.

While the result will not be the same (especially if your brow hairs are thick), you can use a brow soap like this one to maintain your brow lamination between sessions.

Related post: Big Forehead? Easy big forehead solution without surgery! (natural tips)

Affordable Brow lamination kit

Another option is purchasing a brow lamination kit through Amazon or at a store. There are many brow lamination kits available for purchase, but here are a couple of tips before you rip open that package. 

Read all of the directions! These kits contain some strong chemicals, so make sure that you fully understand the process before you open anything up. 

Make sure you have everything you need BEFORE you start the treatment: Some kits will require you to cover your eyebrow strands in plastic wrap, but they don’t always include this in the kit. So, make sure that you have everything you need before you dive into the treatment.

Don’t expect professional results: If you have no experience with laminating your eyebrows, don’t expect that doing it at home will yield the same results as it would if you got them done by a professional.

It may cost more, but don’t forget, professionals carry experience that most of us do not, and sometimes, having a professional do your brows is the best way to go

Is brow lamination the same as microblading?

Even though brow lamination and microblading are intended to create fuller eyebrows, the two processes are completely different, and each is going to work better for different people. There are several key differences between brow lamination and microblading that we will dive into below.

Price: Winner- Brow Lamination

The price of brow lamination is significantly cheaper than microblading. We will go a little deeper into the cost of microblading below, but for now, we can definitively say that brow lamination is more cost-effective.

Longest Lasting Brows: Winner- Microblading

While brow lamination does cost less than microblading, you get what you pay for in terms of how long the treatment lasts. While brow lamination only lasts for a couple of months, microblading can last much longer with just one session.

The Right Fit for Consumers: Winner-Both

  • The biggest difference between brow lamination and microblading is that they address different eyebrow needs. For consumers with unruly brows, or brows that have gaps from overplucking, brow lamination is a perfect fit. 

But, brow lamination would not be the best solution for those of us with really thin brows. Since brow lamination shapes the natural brows that you already have, it won’t be able to do much without a lot of strands to work with. However, microblading is a perfect fit for thinning brows. As you will see below, you don’t need any brows for microblading to be effective for you!

Related post: The 7 steps to become a Successful Freelance Makeup Artist!

What is Microblading?

While brow lamination helps brows that already have a significant amount of strands, microblading is perfect for thinning brows.

Microblading is essentially cosmetic tattooing. While it is not permanent like a tattoo, a stylist will use hair-like strokes on the skin with a less-pigmented ink than typical tattoos.

Microblading uses a special microblade tool that does break the skin but does not go as deep as a tattoo would. This is why microblading is not permanent, but it is considered semi-permanent.

This process typically takes around two hours to complete as it is extremely detailed. 

Microblading before and after. Photo Credit: Yomaira Alcala PHI MASTER

Microblading Benefits and Prices

Microblading can cost anywhere from $400 to $1500, depending on where you get it done. Just like well-done tattoos tend to be a little on the pricer end, microblading can get pricey as well. But even though it is pricey, there are a few benefits to microblading that you should keep in mind.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of microblading is that it is for anyone. Unlike brow lamination, microblading can give the appearance of eyebrows even if you have extremely thin eyebrows or none at all. 

Another benefit is that microblading is low-maintenance, once healed.

After your brows have healed from the microblading treatment, you will essentially have fabulous brows for much longer than brow lamination.

Microblading before and after. Photo Credit: Yomaira Alcala PHI MASTER

Finally, a fantastic benefit to microblading is that your stylist will create an eyebrow shape and pigment that complement your face perfectly. No more brow pencils or tweezers with microblading!

While there are a lot of benefits to microblading, there are a couple of risks you should keep in mind.

The first is that because microblading does break the skin, there is a greater risk of infection. However, your brow stylist will typically provide you with aftercare instructions to minimize this risk. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that it is a semi-permanent procedure, which means if it is done badly, it is difficult to conceal.

No matter where you choose to get your microblading done, be sure to do a lot of research on the company and check out their reviews!

Related Makeup post: Best 25 Complete Professional Makeup Kits that won’t break your bank account!

How long does microblading last?

One of the most common questions about microblading is: how long does it last?

As we have mentioned several times throughout this post, microblading is a semi-permanent procedure.

Typically, microblading will last 1-2 years. It is important to keep in mind that most stylists will ask you to come in eight weeks after your first appointment for a touch-up, but after that, your brows will be looking fantastic for up to two years!

My top 3 Eyebrow products that will create a “Microblading-like” illusion:

  1. Imethod Eyebrow Pen: It has an applicator that creates natural-looking eyebrows and stays all day!
  2. Anastasia Beverly hills dip brow pomade: Using a small brow brush you can create hair by hair natural-looking brows!
  3. Aesthetica Brow Contour Kit: It’s an affordable 16-pieces eyebrow makeup palette to create amazing microblading-like eyebrows even for makeup clients!

Conclusion on Brown Lamination vs Microblading

Just like with any procedure, both brow lamination and microblading have amazing benefits and a few risks.

However, if you want to have fuller or better-shaped eyebrows, brow lamination and microblading are two great solutions!

If you have unruly brows or want a better shape, brow lamination is a great option, and if you have thinning eyebrows, microblading is an awesome way to create voluminous brows!

No matter what you choose for your brows, make sure to pick the treatment that is right for you and will boost your confidence, and your brows will surely thank you. 

I hope you found this Brow lamination vs Microblading guide helpful.

Don’t forget to share with others and pin it for later! Also, comment below what are your type of brows? And what brow treatment do you prefer?

I’d love to hear from you!

Bye bye!
Valeria

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The Mistakes you are doing that make your Makeup look CAKEY, PATCHY, AND DRY!
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Brow lamination vs Microblading: Difference, Costs & Benefits

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