Yahoo Lifestyle Brow lamination review: EYNTK about the treatment
On a day when I’m not wearing makeup, I only do one thing: gel my brows. Yes, I am a bushy brow obsessive, and my desert island luxury of choice would be a lifetime’s supply of Benefit’s 24-hour brow setter. Your brows, as they (actually don’t) say, are the picture frames to your face and I simply will not be spotted on that desert island by a lone iguana judging mine.
I’ve long been tempted by microblading, but the cost and fear of it ageing badly have always made me hesitate. This is why brow lamination is the dream treatment for me – an ultimately lazy when it comes to bothering with makeup outside of the office or a social occasion, gal.
Intent on setting myself up for a makeup-free two-week holiday, I headed to brow mecca: Blink Brow Bar (BBB) to see if they could sort me out and to find out a bit more about how the process works, how long it lasts and some tips to make the most of your treatment.
Where to get a brow lamination
As brow lamination is a specialist treatment, it’s worth doing your research before you select your salon. Having attempted some at-home brow laminations during the pandemic, I can tell you first-hand it is not easy to get right and unless you want a 90’s style speed-line running through yours from over-developing hair loss (who, me?) then best to leave it to the professionals.
I chose BBB because lashes and brows are literally all they do, and their walk-in beauty bar-style salons and own-brand products were giving specialist in their trade.
BBB has 16 locations across London, Manchester and Paris. I opted for their Liberty outpost as, quite frankly, any excuse to go to Liberty would do me. Plus, it’s not too far from Cosmo HQ.
What to expect at your brow lamination appointment
Brow lamination works by setting your hairs in a desired shape, much like a perm. So, if you’ve got slightly unruly arches, the process will straighten them, cover any gaps and ultimately create an entirely new shape. Think nailing those dream fluffy Cara Delevingne brows.
To do this, lamination follows a four-step process. First, an adhesive is used to secure the hairs in whatever direction you choose (for me? Up! Up! Up!), followed by a styling lotion which relaxes the hair cuticle to allow the hair to mould to the desired shape. Next, a fixing lotion helps set the brows in the new posish and finally, a serum is combed through the hair to prevent any damage or snapping and keep the cuticles nice and hydrated.
BBB are meticulous about creating the perfect brow, so my appointment also included a light threading to whip off any stragglers and really emphasise the arch.
The whole appointment will likely last around 40 minutes, with an additional 10 mins if you have a tint as well, so it’s a great opportunity to kick back and sneak on a podcast while your new lewk develops.
The Liberty chairs are chic (velvet, paisley upholstery, natch), but they’re not enormously comfortable, so ask your therapist for an extra cushion or bring along a jumper to support your neck if you’re a fidgeter like me. And if you’re getting a lash lift, don’t even consider peeking at your Whatsapp notifications or you’ll ruin the whole thing.
The therapists at BBB are all so friendly, so I ended up having a natter with mine and, since I was going to be horizontal for so long, I thought why not go the whole hog and get a lash lift too, to really make the eyes pop. When in Rome etc (or, in my case, when heading on holiday to rural Italy).
At BBB a brow lamination costs £60 without tint and £10 with.
Brow lamination aftercare
Brow lamination is essentially a perm for your brows (but one that straightens, not curls, obvs), so as we know from watching Legally Blonde on repeat, the key is not to wet the hair for 24-48 hours after treatment. This means: no sweating, swimming, getting stuck in torrential downpours or hair wash days. It’s worth considering all those limitations before you head to the salon.
And it goes without saying, try to avoid brow makeup for the day after (ideally two) as it could interfere with the setting process.
BBB recommends using their London Nourishing Brow Oil (£27) a few days after your treatment to keep the brows healthy and conditioned (I didn’t do this, I must admit, and having previously used it I didn’t love the oil getting into my eyes – but then my therapist did comment on my declining brow condition, so perhaps I should have listened).
And sorry to say, but you might want to attempt a back sleeping position for night one just to be uber cautious you don’t mess the brows up in the night.
Your fabulous new set of brows can last up to eight weeks, though it all depends on their condition and what you get up to during that time.
Brow lamination results
A transformation! I looked about 10 times less like an exhausted mole than I did before I went into BBB – result! My brows were perfectly shaped (I hadn’t realised how many errant stragglers had been hanging out there) and the tint made them really pop.
I’ve had brow laminations in the past where I come out looking like former chancellor of the exchequer Alistair Darling, or to reference someone who makes it less obvious I wasn’t a zygote during the early ‘00s, Eugene Levy. Now, sure, Eugene has some stellar brows, but it can be a bit much for day-to-day. Leaving BBB I headed off to drinks with a pal feeling fresh and fabulous and she was none the wiser it had taken me an extra hour to get ready for our date.
The next day I zipped off for two weeks in Italy and I didn’t wear a scrap of makeup the entire fortnight as my brows and lashes did all the heavy lifting for me.
After a fortnight of swimming (and, alright, sweating too), they no longer stand on their own, but one swipe of my trusty gel is all it takes to keep them looking fresh on the daily – and I’ve had lots of DMs on Insta commending my immaculately tamed arches thanks to the tint and the shaping.
As brow lamination doesn’t last as long as lash lifts, I’d say prepare for two-weeks of perfect brows, with a steady decline from there (though, disclaimer: I swim a lot, so this will also reduce the longevity of the treatment). It’s a bit of an expense for a brief beauty treatment, but for a holiday or event or just to ease the faff of your daily routine, totally something I’d recommend.
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