Difference Between Brow Lamination and Microblading

Microblading and brow lamination have been around for a long time. But they’ve become all the rage recently. And here, when you’re trying to decide between these two, it can be difficult to discern the key differences.

Here’s the scoop. Brow lamination gently shapes the eyebrows using solutions. However, microblading uses needles to create semi-permanent pigment strokes. Where the lamination relies on the brow you have, microblading creates a more structured brow through precision artistry.

Brow lamination and microblading have the same end goal – enhance your eyebrows. But they’re completely different procedures. To make a well-informed decision, don’t just rely on assumptions. It’s a must to understand the nuances between them. We brought about a detailed & expert guide for you.

Table of Contents

What Is Brow Lamination?

In simple words, brow lamination is the perming of your eyebrow hairs to offer a fuller and more even look. It is typically a semi-permanent beauty treatment that sets your eyebrow hair in the desired shape.

In this procedure, two types of chemicals are used. One is a relaxing cream, and the second is a setting solution. With the relaxing cream, the brow technician relaxes the brow hairs and brushes them into the desired upward position. Then set the hairs in the new direction with a setting solution. The result is the eyebrows that have a fuller appearance without any bare or thin areas!

Why Choose Brow Lamination?

Why should you choose brow lamination? Check out the good enough reason below.

Get fuller, more defined brows: It straightens and lifts your eyebrows. Ultimately, it offers your brows a fuller and more defined look.
Immediate results: Brow lamination has no downtime. So, obviously, the results are immediate.
Tames unruly brows: It is an excellent choice for anyone who has curly and coarse brows that are hard to manage.
A hassle-free beauty solution: It tends to last 4 to 6 weeks. So, you get the flexibility. You can change your brow style more frequently.
Less invasive: You can have an enhanced eyebrow with minimal risks or discomfort.

What Is Microblading?

Microblading is a semi-permanent technique of cosmetic tattooing used for the eyebrows. Here, pigment is scratched into the skin in fine, short strokes to enhance its look and appearance.

In microblading services, the pigment is implanted into the upper dermis or epidermis layer of your brow skin. The technician creates precise hair-like strokes using a manually handled blade (more like a tiny musical instrument carved at the end of a scalpel!).

However, the technique is more shallow than the regular cosmetic tattoo. It results in more softer and natural-looking colors. Microblading is also safer but less permanent, as the pigment tends to break down more easily over time. That is why it is recommended to have a touch-up done every 1 or 2 years.

What Are The Benefits Of Microblading

Have a quick benefits overview below.

Improved appearance and confidence boost: Microblading enhances your brows. It offers them a fuller and more defined look.
Time-saving in daily makeup routine: After healing, microblading cuts down the time spent on daily brow makeup more notably.
Durable beauty that lasts: Microblading means to last long. It minimizes the daily eyebrow makeup application requirement.
Natural-looking eyebrows: The hand-held microblading tool creates hair-like strokes. It mimics your natural eyebrow and offers an ultra-natural look.
High customization option: You can have precise control over the fullness, shape, and thickness of the brows.

What Is The Difference Between Brow Lamination And Microblading?

Brow lamination and microblading result in well-groomed brows. However, the procedures differ from each other entirely.

Let’s compare both procedures from each nook and corner to have a detailed understanding.

Traits	Brow Lamination	Microblading
Eyebrow appearance	Fuller, and natural look. It offers a ‘soap brow’ effect	Realistic eyebrow and mimics natural growth
Treatment duration	About 45 minutes to 1 hour	About 2 to 3 hours
Aftercare and maintenance requirements	Minimal aftercare	More extensive aftercare
Healing timeline and process	Quick healing. No minimal downtime	Takes 25 to 30 days to heal
Longevity of results	Lasts 6 to 8 weeks	Lasts 1 to 3 years. May need touch-ups every 6 to 12 months
Pain and discomfort levels	Generally painless. You can only experience minor discomfort	Somewhat painful like tweezing
Potential risks and side effects	Skin irritation, redness, peeling, and swelling	Infection, allergic reactions, scarring, and undesired brow shape.
Ideal candidate for treatment	Unruly or difficult-to-manage brows	Thin or sparse brows, hair loss due to medical conditions
Cost Comparison	$50 to $150. No touch-ups required	$300 to $800. Touch-up appointments required

Eyebrow Appearance

Brow lamination offers a natural style and polished brows. You can get a fuller and symmetrical look with this treatment. It eliminates the need for daily brow gel and offers you the trendy ‘soap brow’ effect.

On the other side, microblading creates realistic individual hair strokes. The result mimics the natural eyebrow hair growth pattern. It offers a fuller and more defined appearance of the eyebrow rather than a solid block of color.

Unlike brow lamination, microblading creates fine hair-like lines that blend naturally with your existing hair.

Treatment Duration

Microblading is a more extended procedure than brow lamination. Typically, it takes about 2 to 3 hours to perform microblading. This includes initial consultation, mapping, numbing, and the procedure.

As for the brow lamination, it can only take 45 minutes to 1 hour. This makes the brow lamination a quicker treatment option.

Aftercare and Maintenance Requirements

Brow lamination and microblading involve aftercare to heal properly and offer you the best look. However, brow lamination requires minimal aftercare and maintenance.

After brow lamination, you just need to avoid excessive sweating and water exposure. And this is for the first 48 hours. You are also prohibited from rubbing your eyes, sleeping on the face, and applying eye makeup for a while.

Compared to brow lamination, microblading requires more intensive aftercare due to its semi-invasive nature. You need to follow aftercare instructions like avoiding water and harsh products on the brows for at least 7 days. But in contrast, brow lamination requires minimal aftercare, roughly just within the first 24 hours.

Healing Timeline and Process

In terms of the healing process, microblading has a longer healing process compared to brow lamination. That’s because it only manipulates your existing brow hairs with the chemical solution to shape them.

But as microblading involves tiny micro incisions in the skin to implant pigment, it needs time to heal. In general, it takes 25 to 30 days.

Microblading Healing Process

Healing stage	Description
Days 1 to 3	Eyebrows appear full and dark. Swelling and mild tenderness.
Days 3 to 5	Eyebrows remain bold and dark. Scabbing begins.
Days 5 to 8	Itchiness and peeling continue. Color lightens.
Days 8 to 12	Flaking stops, and color settles. Brows start to look natural.
Days 12 to 21	Eyebrows become more natural
Days 21 to 30	Full healing and you can see the final results.

Longevity of Results

While the microblading takes longer to perform and also heal, the results outlast the brow lamination. Microblading can last around 1 to 3 years with touch-ups needed every 6 to 12 months. However, it can depend on the skin type (normal, oily, dry), age (youthful/mature), or your lifestyle.

By comparison, brow lamination lasts for about 6 to 8 weeks. It depends on how fast your brow hair grows and how well you care for it. So, the brow lamination can be an excellent choice for those who want a less permanent change and want flexibility in eyebrow styling.

Pain And Discomfort Levels

Both brow lamination and microblading involve some pain and discomfort. However, brow lamination is generally a painless procedure. You can only experience minor discomfort during the procedure.

In contrast, microblading is somewhat painful. The level of pain you may feel will depend on your natural pain tolerance level. In general, microblading pain is similar to the sensation of tweezing your brows. “Just like a cat scratching.”

It is not as intense as getting a bikini wax. True, microblading is uncomfortable, but it’s not usually unbearable. The upside? Your brow artist will apply a numbing gel beforehand to minimize the discomfort.

Potential Risks and Side Effects

Although both brow lamination and microblading are excellent procedures for eyebrows, they’re not free of risks. You can experience allergic reactions or damage to brow hairs by brow lamination if you do it more frequently. Skin irritation is the most common side effect of brow lamination. It includes redness, peeling, swelling, and itching.

As for microblading, it can cause infection, allergic reactions, scarring, and misshapen brows that can’t be fixed overnight.

Ideal Candidate for Treatment

Microblading is suitable for anyone who wants to reshape or enhance their eyebrows in a natural-looking way. It’s especially suitable for you if you have thin or sparse brows or have experienced hair loss due to a medical condition or treatment.

However, in case you’ve skin sensitivities, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding, you should consult with your qualified technician whether it’ll be suitable for you or not.

As for brow lamination, it can be a suitable option for you if you’ve unruly or difficult-to-manage eyebrows. But if you have very sensitive skin, you should not go for brow lamination.

That’s because chemicals used in the process can cause irritation or allergic reactions. Moreover, for breastfeeding or pregnant women, there can be a risk of the chemical entering into the bloodstream and causing effects.

Cost Comparison

Brow lamination can be a more affordable choice than microblading. You expect to enhance your appearance with this technique within only $50 to $150. Moreover, brow lamination does not require any touch-up appointments as it is a non-permanent solution.

Compared to brow lamination, microblading costs vary more widely. Here, the cost depends on the experience of the technician, the location, and the complexity of the procedures. It can cost you around $300 and $800 on average. Plus, microblading requires a touch-up appointment to maintain the appearance.

Making The Right Choice For Your Brows!

Brow lamination and microblading have their fair share of good and bad sides. So, which one should you consider? Let’s help you choose the right option.

Consider your face shape and features

Your face shape and features have a very important role in determining the best option. For instance, if you have a round face, you may benefit from the microblading. That’s because it can add definition and elongation you may need.

But for someone with a square face, the softer and more natural look of brow lamination can be perfect for you.

Skin type and sensitivity Matters

Skin type and skin sensitivity are also important. Sensitive skin may experience irritation or discomfort with the brow lamination. Some skin conditions can worsen with the chemicals used in brow lamination. Like eczema, dermatitis, or psoriasis.

The same thing goes for microblading. Here skin type determines the most healing time, longevity, and even side effects.

Skin-type	Healing with Microblading
Normal Skin	Heals evenly. Color lasts for 1 to 1.5 years.
Dry Skin	Heals clean. Retain colors the longest. More than 1.5years
Oily Skin	Heals softly with powdery hair strokes. May experience color spreading
Sensitive Skin	Prone to experiencing redness, swelling, or irritation.
Combination Skin	Heals like normal skin or slightly oily skin

Keep in mind your lifestyle and preferences

Busy or active lifestyle? Brow lamination can be a good option. It requires minimal aftercare and is styled as normal. On the flip side, microblading requires more touch-ups and aftercare. However, you can choose it in case you want long-lasting results and are ready to invest more in your eyebrows.

Exploring The Alternatives To Brow Lamination And Microblading!

Not finding brow lamination or microblading suitable for your beauty needs or preferences? Don’t worry. Check out alternatives to them to decide the one that’s best for you.

Techniques or Procedures	Description
Fluffy brows	The breezy brows technique is done with a manual pen or machine.
Powder brows	Semi-permanent powder brows technique who want fuller results than hairstrokes.
Eyebrow tattooing	Permanent tattoo procedure where ink is placed deep into the skin.
Eyebrow tinting	Semi-permanent dye is applied over the eyebrows to define the eyebrow shape or enhance it.
Eyebrow penciling	Pencils are used to fill the sparse areas in your brows and add volume.
Nano Blading	Sharp, flexible nanoneedles used to create fine hair strokes
Microshading	Instead of full strokes, fine dots are placed to “shade” the eyebrows. It creates an ombre and shadowy effect.
Brow gels	Brow gels work like mascara. It keeps the eyebrows tidy and in place.
Injection	If you want to change the position and shape your brows you can consider Botox injections.

Final Words

All in all, down the road, it is your goal and preference that decide the best between brow lamination and microblading. Choose brow lamination for a quick and noninvasive beauty solution. However, go for microblading for more structured and long-lasting brows. But you’ll need to pay more for these ultra-natural results. Consult with Phinaz to get additional insight and make an informed decision.

FAQs

Now, let’s get to know some more about microblading and brow lamination. Here, we’ve covered some queries that concern the people the most.

Can I do brow lamination and microblading on the same day?

Brow lamination and microblading should be done on different days. It’s because of the conflicting nature of the aftercare process. Experts recommend getting the brow lamination either a few days before or after 6 to 8 days of your microblading.

Who isn’t suitable for microblading?

People with very oily or sensitive skin may not be good candidates for microblading. Also, if you have a history of keloid scarring, eczema, or psoriasis in the brow area, you need to consider expert consultation before microblading.

Does brow lamination mess up microblading?

Brow lamination can be compatible with microblading. However, it is essential to note that the compatibility is only when the microblading is fully healed. If you attempt brow lamination on freshly done microblading, it’ll disrupt the outcomes.

Can you have brow lamination if you have a microblade or permanent makeup?

Yes, you can. Generally, when you have newly done microbladed eyebrows, you won’t need brow lamination. But if the microblading color is fading or requires touch-up, you can have brow lamination or eyebrow tinting. It’ll make your eyebrows look like new.

Difference Between Brow Lamination And Microblading | Which Is Right For You?