If I had endless amounts of money, I would invest in plenty of beauty treatments. One of those treatments would undoubtedly be regular brow laminations. I love how brow laminations look, but they typically run upwards of $120.
The thing about brow laminations is that they’re not exactly something you can DIY. “Brow lamination is a chemical treatment procedure that softens the hair follicles to remove any natural texture in the brow hair and makes the brow hairs lie very flat,” celebrity eyebrow specialist JoeyHealy says. “It’s a two-step process, the first being a solution that breaks down the hair bond, and the second is a neutralizing agent to keep them flat and in their desired shape. The goal is to create a controlled, pin-straight brow.”
Brow laminations give you eyebrows that look perfectly done with no effort. I’ve never been able to fake the look of a brow lamination before (I’m a brow gel girl through and through), but I also never found a gel strong or pliable enough to make my brows look pin-straight and stay that way.
Recently, however, a product trend has made it easier than ever to fake the look of a brow lamination at home. Brow lamination gels are made with treatment in mind and without harsh chemicals. Brands like Milk Makeup, Grande Cosmetics, Benefit, and more have recently released their versions of brow lamination gels, and they couldn’t be easier to use. I’ve even ditched my tinted gels in favor of these lamination-mimicking options. Keep reading for some of the best brow gels on the market for a lamination-like effect that costs a fraction of the price.
I’ve repeatedly used this product since it came out. It sets fast, so you have to act quickly. In my experience, it helps to use a bit more pressure on your brows than you normally would. It lasts all day long and makes your brows look exactly how you want them to without any crunchiness. It also conditions your brows thanks to hemp-derived cannabis seed oil.
Benefit’s setting brow gel holds hairs in place and couldn’t be easier to use. Polymers in the formula help ensure your brows stay for 24 hours.
This innovative gel does just as much for brow health as it does for freezing your arches into place. It’s infused with peptides for a conditioning formula.
“If you have more unruly brows that need a bit more hold, you can use a brow wax like the Anastasia Brow Freeze,” says Healy. Brow Freeze is a tried-and-true staple that will always be a good idea for super defined brows.
For fluffy brows that are ultra-defined, this liquid wax is tough to beat. Since it’s a liquid wax formula, its recommended that you apply it using a backcombing technique, then sweep brows upward before the wax sets for volumized, feathery brows.
Talk about a luxe brow gel. This laminator from Tom Ford is a worthy splurge purchase for lightweight hold and perfect brows every time.
Like glue for your brows, this gel ensures no movement and perfect placement.
Not only does this brow wax-gel hybrid come with the typical brow spoolie, it also has a double-sided comb to brush brows for versatile looks. It also moisturizes brows while it holds.
While the formula for this lamination gel is top-notch, the best part of this product is the applicator. Unlike a traditional applicator, this doe-footed comb helps ensure you grab every stray hair.
“I like using a clear brow gel to re-create the laminated look, preferably a buildable gel,” says Healy. “After brow gel application, you can go in with a pair of tweezers and cluster little bits together to get that spiky, fluffy look.”
“You can also use a clear bar of glycerin soap, like Pears soap,” says Healy. “All you have to do is dampen a spoolie, go into the soap, and apply to the brow as if you were applying a brow gel or wax. This is a super easy, affordable hack that people have been using for ages and produces the same results.”
“Hair products can double as a brow lamination hack,” says Healy. “Got2B Glued is a great drugstore option. It has a strong hold, is affordable, and is easily used with a spoolie.”
