Brows

Baby Brow Lamination Can Transform Your Eyebrows — But It’s Not For Everyone

Here's how to tell if your brows are good candidates for this trendy treatment.
By Jesa Marie Calaor
brow lamination trend at the tip of the eyebrow
Getty Images

Eyebrow trends are often divisive (ahem, razor-thin eyebrows of the ‘90s) and the latest thing on TikTok, baby brow lamination, is following suit. The treatment is a new take on brow lamination (the chemical treatment that sets brow hairs so that they create a fuller, more refined shape) that only involves grooming the front of the eyebrows. “The results are more subtle and perfect for an everyday, fluffy brow look,” says Sarah Maxwell, a makeup artist and founder of the lash and brow-care brand Sarah Maxwell Beauty. “Additionally, since you’re not treating the entire brow, the lamination process impacts fewer brow hairs,” leading to less overall damage.

As enticing as that may sound, it’s not necessarily for everyone. That’s because the way we style and care for the tiny hairs above our eyes should be specific to our faces. I was reminded of this when I went to the salon to try baby brow lamination on my sparse, wavy, very dissimilar eyebrows and was told the treatment may make their differences even more distinct. What might work for the TikToker on your FYP might not be for you.

The brow experts we consulted foresee this treatment being a big trend in 2024, but how do you know if it's something you might want to try? Ahead, they weigh in.

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What is baby brow lamination?

In short, it’s brow lamination but only on the “first inch or inch and a half of the start of your brow,” says Autumn Estelle, makeup artist, cosmetologist, and brow expert for Benefit Cosmetics. “The rest of the brow is left untreated.” The ideal candidate for this treatment is someone with “brows that are already full throughout the entire length of the brow,” says Danielle Vincent, makeup artist, brow specialist, and founder of Kimiko Beauty. “It also is great for those whose hair at the front part of the brow grows in many directions.”

TikTok content

Video by @venusroom

A quick refresher: Brow lamination is a four-step process that involves softening the hairs using a chemical solution before shaping, taming, and setting them into your desired shape — basically a straightening perm for your brows. It creates a fuller, more uniform look that lasts about eight weeks. So why would you get only the front of your brows laminated? “For some, a fully laminated look can feel too intense,” says Vincent. “Only laminating the fronts of the brows can add some lift and help control the direction of unruly fronts, creating a kind of cool ‘undone’ feathery start to the brows.” Brow expert Kristie Streicher, who offers what she calls a Nurtured Brow Lift at her Beverly Hills studio, says, “I have a few clients that have cowlicks on one or both brows and this is especially helpful in correcting, to give ultimate symmetry without having to tweeze.”

You’ll want to follow the same preparation protocol as a full brow lamination: Stop using exfoliants (alpha hydroxy acids and retinol) 48 hours before your treatment and ask for a patch test if you have sensitive skin or have never had a lamination. And be prepared to pay what you would for a full lamination — between $75 and $250 — depending on your location and your expert’s skill level.

Should you get baby brow lamination?

Though the chemicals are applied to just a portion of your eyebrows, you’re going to want to look at their full shape to determine if you’re a candidate for the treatment. “If your brows have a lot of little bends and waves or curls in them and you only straightened the front of the brow, it wouldn't look right,” says Robin Evans, brow expert, aesthetician, and founder of Levans Beauty. Vincent adds that you should skip this look if you have sparse brows “with hair that tends to run more horizontally, as the lifted fronts will look too contrasted to the rest of the hairs, creating an unnatural look.”

TikTok content

Video by @rachelwilliamscreative and @thego.to

Baby brow lamination risks

Before you make your appointment, ask yourself a few questions: Are you pregnant or breastfeeding? Do you have sensitive skin around your brows or eye area? If you answered yes to any of those questions, it’s safest to stick to your favorite brow pencil.

Any type of brow lamination also poses risks to the delicate skin and hair of your eye area. “Harsh chemicals from this brow lamination could cause eczema, which is characterized by red, dry, itchy, and inflamed skin,” board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD, previously told Allure. Also, overprocessing (which can happen if you leave the chemical solution on even a second too long) can leave your brow hairs brittle or broken.

A final word

If you’re still not sure if this treatment is right for you, talk to your brow artist, who might recommend a different take on the trend. While laminating the front portion of the brow can “give that Brooke Shields or Taylor Hill vibe” as Streicher says, that might not be the ideal option for everyone. Sometimes, she only treats the center to correct cowlicks or stray hairs. It’s all about customization.

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