Brow Lamination Aftercare: What Should You Do and Avoid After Eyebrow Lamination?
By Tawnya Fornerod, founder of Just The Strip and a licensed esthetician of almost 25 years who owns multiple waxing studios.
Brow lamination aftercare comes down to two simple promises: keep your brows completely dry and untouched for the first 24 hours, then start a brow conditioning oil 24 to 48 hours after the service, or on your brow artist's timing, and use it every night. The oil we recommend after every eyebrow lamination is our Brow Conditioning Oil, made by us in small batches in the hills of Southern Oregon, and it goes on your brows only, never your lashes. Tinting, waxing and tweezing can be done at the lamination appointment, otherwise wait 48 hours, and give your brows at least six weeks between laminations, with eight to ten weeks being even better.
After almost 25 years in this industry, I still love the moment a guest sits up from the treatment table, looks in the mirror and sees those full, brushed up brows for the first time. The aftercare we send home is how we protect that moment, so here is the day by day routine I share with every pro we work with.
What should you do in the first 24 hours after brow lamination?
For the first 24 hours, the brow hairs are still flexible and settling into their new direction, so the whole goal is to leave them alone and keep them dry. That means no water, no humidity and no sweat on the brows, which is a good reason to save the steamy shower, the sauna and the hard workout for day two. Wash your face carefully with a washcloth, working gently around the brows rather than over them.
Keep makeup, brow products and skincare off the brows for that first day as well, and try not to rub, touch or brush them against their new shape. Sleeping on your back that first night keeps the soft, still flexible hairs from pressing into the pillow.
What should you avoid after eyebrow lamination?
Most of what to avoid after an eyebrow lamination falls inside that first day, and a few things carry on a little longer:
- Water, humidity and sweat on the brows for the first 24 hours.
- Makeup, brow products and skincare on the brows for the first 24 hours.
- Rubbing the brows or sleeping face down, especially in the first 24 hours.
- Sun on the freshly laminated area for 24 hours.
- Exfoliating around the brows for 24 to 48 hours.
- Tinting, waxing or tweezing for 48 hours, unless they were done during your lamination appointment.
- Another lamination sooner than six weeks, with eight to ten weeks being even better.
When can you start brow oil after brow lamination?
Begin your brow oil 24 to 48 hours after the lamination, or whenever your brow artist recommends, and from then on make it part of your nightly routine, because a nightly coat keeps laminated brows hydrated, flexible and easy to brush into place.
Brow Conditioning Oil is an overnight brow treatment made from seven oils: castor, sweet almond, jojoba and vitamin E, with rosemary, lavender and geranium essential oils for a soft, clean scent. It comes in a diamond shaped glass bottle with a roll on applicator, so you simply roll one or two coats along each clean, dry brow at night and brush it through with a spoolie if you like, keeping it away from your eyes. It contains sweet almond oil, so please skip it if you have a tree nut allergy.
If you had a lash lift at the same appointment, reach for Lash Conditioning Oil on your lashes instead, because the geranium in the brow formula is too strong for the eye area. Our post on when to use lash oil after a lash lift and brow oil after brow lamination walks through both services side by side, and our guide to the best brow oil and lash oil explains the difference between the two.
Why do laminated brows look dry or frizzy?
Laminated brows can start to look dry, fluffy or frizzy when they go without conditioning, because the lamination process leaves each hair more porous while it holds its new shape. The kindest thing you can do for them is the nightly oil, which keeps the hairs soft and supple so they lie the way your artist styled them and are less likely to break. A quick brush each morning with a clean spoolie, or a light hold brow gel if you love a little extra polish, helps the brows settle beautifully.
How do you keep brow lamination looking its best between appointments?
Once the first day has passed, the routine is wonderfully simple: brush your brows into place each morning, roll on Brow Conditioning Oil each night, and book your next lamination at least six weeks out, with eight to ten weeks being even better for long term brow health.
How do brow artists send clients home with brow lamination aftercare?
Clients who follow their aftercare get better results and come back happier, so it is worth making brow lamination aftercare easy for every guest to remember. Our Brow Lamination Aftercare Cards come in packs of 25 and put these steps in writing for the drive home, so your guest has the 24 hour rule and the brow oil timing right in hand.
Licensed brow artists, lash artists and estheticians can stock the Brow Conditioning Oil 3 pack at half of retail, which earns about a 100% return on every bottle that sells from your shelf, with one bottle for your room and two for retail. There is no application and no login, and we confirm professional status before every order ships. Our Brow Lamination Protocol lives in the PRO Resource Center alongside our price list, and our PRO Reseller Guide explains every way to buy for your studio, including drop shipping straight to your clients. We are a product company rather than a trainer or certifier, so we ask every pro to be fully trained before ordering our lamination system.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I need to keep my brows dry after lamination?
Keep your brows completely dry for the first 24 hours after brow lamination, with no water, humidity or sweat, so the new shape has a full day to settle. Washing your face carefully with a washcloth and working around the brows is the easiest way through that first day.
When can I start using brow oil after lamination?
Start Brow Conditioning Oil 24 to 48 hours after your brow lamination, or on the timing your brow artist gives you, and then use it every night on clean, dry brows to keep the hairs soft, hydrated and in shape.
Can I tint, wax or tweeze my brows after lamination?
Tinting, waxing and tweezing can all be done at your lamination appointment. Otherwise, wait 48 hours after the lamination before having any of them done.
How often can I get brow lamination?
Wait at least six weeks between brow laminations, and eight to ten weeks is even better for long term brow health.
Can I use brow oil on my lashes?
No, please keep Brow Conditioning Oil on your brows only, because the geranium in the brow formula is too strong for the eye area. Lash Conditioning Oil is the one made for the lash line.
A little ritual for beautiful brows
Brow lamination aftercare is how those soft, full, brushed up brows keep giving long after your guest leaves the treatment table. Shop Brow Conditioning Oil and the rest of our Lashes and Brows collection for yourself, and if you are a pro, stock the 3 pack for your room and your shelf from For the Pros Only. Our family owned company makes our brow and lash oils in small batches in the hills of Southern Oregon, and we are bringing more of our manufacturing home to the United States with every step we take. If you have any question at all, or would like to ask about pro samples, reach out to us at hello@justthestrip.com.
