The look of sleek, uplifted eyebrows has gained a lot of popularity over the years and the trend doesn’t seem like it’s going anywhere anytime soon.
Brow lamination is a quick and easy way to make your brows look fuller, darker, and more attractive. If you’re contemplating trying out the treatment for yourself, you’re probably wondering – is brow lamination safe?
Read this article to find answers to this common question plus more about the possible risks of the brow lamination procedure.
Is Brow Lamination Safe?
Generally, yes.
Brow lamination is a completely non-invasive procedure during which no trauma is caused to the skin, so it doesn’t require any downtime.
This means that if the procedure is done by a licensed professional, brow lamination should be safe for a majority of people.
It is a much safer (albeit temporary) alternative to brow microblading and machine brow treatments since it doesn’t involve the breaking of the skin or complicated aftercare routines.
However, it is important to note that in booking your appointment with an inexperienced brow technician, you risk winding up with minor complications, such as dryness of the skin and irritation.
Doing the procedure too often can also cause damage to your brow hairs, causing them to fall off prematurely, so bear that in mind before scheduling your next appointment.
Image source: Instagram @browsby_lupemua
How Is Brow Lamination Done?
The look of laminated brows is achieved by applying 2 types of chemical solutions onto the brow hairs during the brow lamination procedure.
First, a perming solution that contains in most cases an active ingredient called Ammonium Thioglycolate is applied to the brow hairs to temporarily relax and straighten them.
Next, a neutralizing solution is applied to fix the brow hairs into an upright position, making them appear fuller and darker.
After the initial procedure, clients can also opt for a brow tint to go with their laminated brows. Here, a brow tech will use a vegetable-based semi-permanent dye to add color to the freshly laminated brow hairs.
What Are the Risks of Brow Lamination?
While brow lamination is a much safer alternative to brow tattooing, there are still some side effects to look out for before booking the procedure. Let’s take a look at some of the potential risks of brow lamination:
- There is a risk of overprocessing your brow hairs if the perming solution is left on too long during the procedure, which can lead to weakness and breakage.
- There is a risk of skin irritation that can include redness, peeling, swelling, and itching.
- There is a risk of developing an allergic reaction to some of the chemical ingredients used during the procedure.
- If you repeat the process too often, or sooner than 6 weeks after the initial appointment, you risk developing skin dryness and brow hair damage.
- If you go to an inexperienced artist or try to DIY the treatment with a brow lamination kit, there is a risk of eye damage if the chemicals run into your eyes during the procedure.
Image source: Instagram @breezybeautyxbrizette
Is Brow Lamination Safe for Thin Eyebrows?
Yes.
Brow lamination is safe for thin brows when performed by an experienced brow technician.
This procedure is highly recommended for people with sparse eyebrows or thin eyebrow hairs, as it can give the illusion of more volume and length. Also, it can cover up any patchiness you may be experiencing.
It is also recommended for people with thin eyebrows to get a brow tint as well, as this can add more thickness and make the arches of the brows look more prominent.
Learn more about the benefits of brow lamination on thin brows here.
Is Eyebrow Lamination Safe on Sensitive Skin?
Due to the harshness of the perming solution used during the brow lamination process, it is possible that some people with sensitive skin may develop redness and irritation since these chemicals come in direct contact with the skin.
If you have dry skin, eczema, or rosacea around your eyes and eyebrows, we wouldn’t recommend getting eyebrow lamination.
Is Brow Lamination Safe During Pregnancy?
The most common piece of advice that pregnant women get is to stay away from harsh chemicals since they can be easily absorbed into the bloodstream through the surface of their skin.
For this reason, eyebrow lamination is not recommended for women that are pregnant and women that are breastfeeding.
It’s also important to note that during pregnancy, there is a higher level of hormones present in the body which can trigger skin sensitivity and as a result, cause unwanted reactions to the procedure such as irritation and inconsistent results.
Who Shouldn’t Get Eyebrow Lamination?
As previously mentioned, eyebrow lamination is generally considered to be a safe treatment for people who don’t have reactive skin and women that are not pregnant or breastfeeding at the time of appointment.
Any experienced eyebrow technician knows that performing a patch test before the procedure is highly recommended as it eliminates the chance of an allergic reaction, so do your research and book with someone you can trust.
In addition, if you have dry, damaged, and brittle brow hairs you should keep in mind that brow lamination might worsen these conditions and cause your brow hairs to fall off prematurely.
Brow lamination is also not suitable for people planning on doing a facial peel or other cosmetic procedure, since it can increase skin sensitivity. It’s best to wait until 2 weeks after your procedure or facial peel before a brow lamination.
Image source: Instagram @browsrelligion
Final Thoughts
Besides being a generally safe brow enhancement procedure, eyebrow lamination comes with some amazing perks that can transform your brows for a relatively long period of time.
It can give your brows a voluminous appearance and hide any sparseness or patchiness you may be experiencing, so it is highly recommended for people with thin brows.
However, if you have sensitive or reactive skin, we wouldn’t recommend getting this procedure. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consider waiting before booking their brow lamination procedure.
To learn more about eyebrow lamination, read our in-depth guide.
Cover image source: Freepik
