The Power of a Good Brow
Have you heard about the various ways to achieve great eyebrows and now you're wondering which one is best? Well, wonder no more, as I am going to lift the lid on some of these...
Eyebrow Lamination
I know it sounds like some kind of pastry cooking technique, but it definitely isn't! This treatment is vegan friendly and painless. It is a keratin based treatment that tames unruly brows. After treatment the brows will all be brushed up in the same direction, giving a thicker, fuller look. The aim is to avoid the need for pencilling in the brows.
Treatments take around an hour and involve tinting. It should last for around one month and the average cost is £75.
Is it for you?
Hmm - well it definitely wouldn't be my choice. I don't recommend it for more mature faces as it is too harsh, but could be effective for younger clients who favour the full on brow look.
Semi-Permanent
This treatment is effectively a tattoo on the eyebrows. I know you're panicking already! But hold off on that thought...
Semi-permanent works well on ladies with sparse eyebrows who are fed up with pencilling them on every day. If you find the right consultant it can look very natural with gentle strokes representing individual hairs, giving a nice definition and shape. Sometimes known as ombre brows, the treatment uses a fine needle to inkjet pigment into the skin.
It lasts for around 18 months, but it is expensive - anything from around £450-£750 and maybe even more. Clearly it is vital to find the right person to get this right.
Is it right for you?
That depends - if you have the budget, and can find a consultant who is highly recommended it can be a good option even for more mature skins, but since it lasts quite a while, getting it wrong could be a nightmare. Be sure to see lots of examples from anybody who is recommended to you, before taking the plunge.
Microblading
This is very similar to semi-permanent, but uses a scalpel like tool to put tiny cuts in the skin to represent hairs. This can achieve quite a natural effect and works well if you have sparse brows and/or fine hair. Effectively it builds the brow - working with what is already there.
If you have oily skin it doesn't work as well, and won't last as long. Irrespective of your skin type you may still need to use a brow pencil or similar to enhance the brow, as it is quite natural.
You will need top ups for microblading, which can make it frustrating.
Is it for you?
If you'd like to try one of these, and have the right skin type, microblading will probably give you a gentler introduction, but again, you do need to do your research to find the right person. Look for examples of their work.
I need to stress here that I have not had any of these treatments, and nor can I recommend anybody. From the research I have done, there is some suggestion that over time you will lose the individual hair definition, so brows could be more blocky.
If you would like to try a less invasive alternative, then eyebrow tinting could be the way forward.