Brow Lamination vs Microblading: How They Differ
Lamination reshapes the brow hairs you already have and lasts six to eight weeks. Microblading tattoos fine hair strokes into the skin and lasts much longer.
Lamination vs Microblading: The Short Answer
Brow lamination restyles the brow hairs you already have, setting them in a fuller, lifted shape that lasts six to eight weeks. Microblading is a cosmetic tattoo: fine strokes of pigment are placed in the skin to look like hairs, and the result lasts a year or more. Lamination is about shape and direction. Microblading adds the look of hair where there is little or none.
If your brows have plenty of hair but grow downward, look unruly or uneven, lamination is usually the simpler fit. If your brows have gaps, are very sparse or have lost their shape over time, a cosmetic tattoo technique is often the better tool.
How Each One Works
Brow lamination. A solution softens the brow hairs so they can be brushed into a new direction, then a setting step holds them there. At KRIDO lamination is always paired with a tint for definition and a wax for a clean shape. No skin is broken. See the full process in brow lamination steps.
Microblading. A hand tool with tiny blades makes shallow cuts in the upper skin and deposits pigment, drawing individual hair strokes. It heals over several weeks and usually needs a touch up.
Side by Side
| Brow lamination | Microblading | |
|---|---|---|
| What changes | Direction and shape of your own hairs | Pigment in the skin that looks like hairs |
| Best for | Full but unruly or downward brows | Sparse, patchy or thin brows |
| Lasts | Six to eight weeks | Often one to two years, varies by skin |
| Healing | None, just 24 to 48 hours of keeping dry | Several weeks, with flaking and a touch up |
| Commitment | Low, easy to stop | Higher, it fades slowly |
Healing and Downtime
Lamination has no healing period. You keep the brows dry and makeup free for 24 to 48 hours and brush them daily. Our brow lamination aftercare guide covers it.
Microblading heals over several weeks. Brows look darker at first, then flake and can look faded before the color settles, with a touch up a few weeks later.
What KRIDO Offers
KRIDO offers brow lamination and, for cosmetic tattooing, nano brows, powder brows and combo brows. Nano brows create hair strokes with a single fine needle and suit many people who are considering microblading. Read nano brows vs microblading for the difference.
- Brow Lamination, Wax & Tint: $150, about an hour, lasts six to eight weeks.
- Nano Brows: $697, Powder / Ombré: $497, Combo: $597, each with a consultation first and a touch up five to six weeks later. Final quote at the consultation.
How to Choose
Try lamination first if you have enough hair and want a polished, brushed up look without commitment. Consider a cosmetic tattoo if you are filling in the same gaps with pencil every morning. Many people start with lamination and decide later. Lamination is also a low risk way to see how a fuller, lifted brow shape suits your face before committing to anything longer lasting.
See brows and lashes at KRIDO, permanent makeup, or book a consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Is brow lamination better than microblading?
Neither is better overall. Lamination suits brows with enough hair that need shape and direction. Microblading and other cosmetic tattoo techniques suit sparse or patchy brows.
Can you laminate microbladed brows?
Many artists will laminate the natural hairs once a cosmetic tattoo has fully healed. Ask your brow artist about your own brows and timing.
Which brow treatments does KRIDO offer?
Brow lamination, wax and tint for shaping your natural hairs, and nano brows, powder brows and combo brows for cosmetic tattooing.
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