Let me start by saying this: I’ve never been one to pay much attention to my brows. Sure, I’d pluck a stray hair here and there, maybe swipe on some brow gel if I felt fancy, but I’d never ventured into the bold world of brow lamination. All I knew was that models and influencers seemed to be rocking those perfectly groomed, lifted brows, and I couldn’t help but wonder, ‘What all the fuss about?’ And, of course, my sister wasn’t helping. She was the ultimate “opp,’’ warning me with “better don’t come home looking like a clown.”
So, one afternoon, after one too many scrolls through Instagram and seeing yet another “effortlessly chic” brow close-up, I caved. Brow lamination it is!
It turns out I wasn’t the only one new to the world of brow lamination. My Editor-in-chief, Chidera Muoka, tried the experience too—and let me just say, we had very different approaches. These are our stories.
Pre-lamination jitters
Rena: I walked into the salon feeling like an undercover beauty newbie. Everyone around me seemed to know exactly what they were doing—glossy lips, perfectly curled lashes, and not a single hair out of place. Meanwhile, I was internally debating if this was the moment my brows would betray me forever. Would they end up looking like two tiny brooms stuck on my face? Or worse, would I look permanently surprised?
The minute I walked into Bremz Beauty, I grabbed the brow artist’s hands and practically begged her. “Please,” I whispered, “don’t make me look crazy. I just want nice brows. I’m not trying to look like I’ve stuck caterpillars on my face!” She laughed and promised I wouldn’t walk out looking like I’d drawn my brows on with a black marker. Her reassurance gave me a little hope, but I wasn’t 100% convinced. After all, my sister had planted the seed of doubt firmly in my mind.
Chidera: I walked into The Brow Hut feeling pretty calm, especially after seeing the incredible job they did on Celina Kama’s brows—which, honestly, are a lot like mine. The staff was so welcoming, and they immediately put me at ease as they led me to a private room for her session. I couldn’t wait and showed my brow artist Celina’s TikTok video. “I want them exactly like this,” I said, hoping for the same magic.
Rena: We started with a little chat about what I wanted, and she explained how brow lamination is quite a gentle process. She would relax my brow hairs with a lifting solution (just like a hair perm) to be brushed and styled into that fluffy, feathered look everyone is obsessed with. No harsh dye, no needles, just some chemicals to make the hairs more flexible. Okay, so far, so good.
Rena: Praying through the process
- Step one was applying the first solution, which smelled a little like I’d walked into a spa. She carefully brushed the product through my brows with a spoolie to ensure each hair was perfectly in place. Now, let me tell you, as she was brushing those little hairs straight up, I started praying silently: Lord, let these brows not betray me. But my brow artist was calm and collected, explaining each step as we went.
- She applied plastic wrap over my brows to keep them in place while the solution worked. This part felt weird. I had cling film on my face and could feel the product setting in—it was like my brows were becoming crunchy. At that point, I whispered another prayer.
- Next, she applied a neutralising solution to “set” the brow hairs in their new, lifted position. This part felt like a chemistry lesson, but I was too deep into the process to turn back now.
@opulencia_beauty_bar Eyebrow lamination process 🥰✨ #fyp
The grand reveal
The moment of truth arrived after what felt like an eternity (but was probably 10 minutes). My brow artist carefully peeled back the plastic wrap and brushed out my brows. I braced myself as she handed me the mirror. Was I about to see two black caterpillars on my face?
I looked, and I did a double take. My brows looked amazing! They were fuller, perfectly lifted, and—wait for it—natural. Not a single hair was out of place. I immediately felt a sense of relief wash over me. I didn’t look like I had drawn them on with a Sharpie. Even better, they felt soft and flexible—no crunchy, stiff brows here.
Post-lamination thoughts
Walking out of the salon, I almost forgot how worried I’d been. The first thing I did was send a selfie to my sister, who said, “Okay, I hate to admit it, but they look good.” That’s right, even the biggest brow-opponent was converted!
Now, waking up with perfectly styled brows every morning has been a game-changer. No more frantic brow pencil searches or ten minutes spent trying to make them symmetrical. It’s like my brows are always ready to go, and I didn’t have to do a thing. And the best part? These laminated beauties last for 4 to 6 weeks. That’s a whole month (or more) of looking effortlessly groomed without lifting a finger.
Chidera: When I saw the final result, I was thrilled. I’m super particular about my brows, and since I’m no expert at drawing or filling them in, the lamination gave me a sleek, polished look I absolutely loved. They not only looked amazing, but the treatment really emphasised the natural fullness of my brows—something I’ll never complain about!
So, to anyone on the fence about trying brow lamination, trust me, it’s worth the fear. Hold onto your artist’s hands, say a little prayer, and get ready to enter the brow glow-up of your dreams. And remember: you won’t look crazy or tattooed—you’ll look fabulous!
