Every Brow Treatment Explained, From Microshading to Lamination (2025)

• Melanie Marrisis an eyebrow stylist and founder ofBrow Code.
• Christy Calafati is a permanent makeup artist at The Canyon Salon in Westlake Village, CA.
• Pilar DeMann is an eyebrow artist and founder of Pilar BLLaC.
  

Microblading

• What It Is: "Microblading is a semi-permanent cosmetic tattooing technique designed to elevate the appearance of your eyebrows," Marris says. "This manual method uses a handheld precision tool with ultra-fine needles to implant pigment into the skin, creating hair-like strokes that mimic the natural direction of your brows."
• Cost: Microblading costs vary widely depending on the location and which brow artist you see, with prices ranging between $500 and more than $2000. "The price variation often reflects the artist's experience, the quality of the materials used, and the salon's reputation," Marris says.
  
• How Long It Lasts: 1-3 years, but this will depend on factors like your lifestyle, sun exposure, and skin type. "Maintaining the results involves following the aftercare instructions closely and possibly scheduling touch-up appointments to refresh the strokes as they begin to fade," Marris says.
  
• Who It’s Best For: Microblading is helpful for filling in sparse areas or enhancing your brow shape and volume." I always advocate for preserving the natural beauty of your brows, using microblading to enhance, rather than overhaul," Marris says.
  
• How It’s Done: Here's what you can expect during microblading, with information shared by Marris.

1. First you'll have a consultation with a qualified cosmetic tattooist, where you can talk through your desired brow shape and outcome and to learn more about the procedure. It's a good idea to bring photos, ask questions, and make sure you feel good and confident about the procedure and the aftercare before moving forward. "It’s so important to do your research when looking at a service like this as the results are semi-permanent," Marris says.
2. Next, your technician will clean and numb your brow area.
3. Then they'll choose pigments that match your natural hair color and skin tone. "This step is also an excellent opportunity to discuss how the pigment will fade over time, what the immediate results will look like, and how your brows will appear in the years ahead, ensuring you have a clear understanding of both the immediate and long-term outcomes of your microblading treatment," Marris says.
4. Then they'll map your brows. Marris suggests having the initial strokes drawn on and then spending a day with the design, which gives you a chance to make sure you love the shape before proceeding.
5. Your brow artist will then use a handheld tool with tiny needles to deposit pigment into the surface layers of your skin in hair-like strokes. "This technique skillfully mimics the appearance of natural eyebrow hairs and effectively fills in any sparse areas," Marris says. "When done correctly, the finished product should be almost indistinguishable from real hair."
6. Your brows are complete at this point, but it's important to follow the proper directions for aftercare, like keeping your brows clean and dry, and avoiding excessive sweating for a week or two after the procedure.

Calafati points out that microblading isn't the best option for people with oily or combination skin. "Increased oil production will cause the tattooed hair strokes to blur, fade very quickly or not stick at all," she explains. It's also not a great option for people who like extended sun exposure.

Microshading

• What It Is: Microshading is a form of permanent makeup (or cosmetic tattoo) where a brow technician uses a manual or electric pen to add dots of pigment to your brows. This technique is used to add color, definition, and shape, often resulting in a somewhat airbrushed look.
• Cost: Microshading may cost anywhere between $500 and $2000, depending on location and your brow technician's experience and skill level.
  
• How Long It Lasts: Microshading lasts anywhere from one to three years before you' may need a periodic touch-up or refresher, Calafati says. The exact amount of time can vary depending on your skin type, lifestyle, and the color of pigment that was used. Typically, darker pigment lasts longer.
  
• Who It’s Best For: "Generally, this very gentle and sustainable brow treatment is suitable for everyone regardless of skin type, age, or skin tone," Calafati says.
  
• How It’s Done:

1. You'll start with a consultation, where you'll talk with your brow technician about your desired results.
2. At your brow appointment, they'll start by applying a topical numbing agent to relieve some of the pain during the microshading process.
3. The treatment itself will take an hour or two. "Using a handheld tattoo machine and pigment, the artist will shade a soft and powdery eyebrow into the superficial layers of the skin," Calafati says.
4. It's important to keep your skin dry for about 24 hours after your appointment.
5. Your brows will need time to heal before seeing the full results, and this will probably take about a month. "As the skin heals, the pigment is retained, [which] results in full and natural appearing eyebrows," Calafati says.
   

Brow Lamination

• What It Is: "Brow lamination is a brow styling technique that uses a perming and fixing solution to chemically straighten and set brow hairs into a sleek, and lifted shape," Marris says. DeMann explains that this brow treatment is kind of like a perm in reverse, softening your brow hair so it's smooth and lays flat.
• Cost: The price will vary depending on location and the expertise of your brow technician and may cost somewhere between $50 and $120+.
  
• How Long It Lasts: Brow lamination often lasts 6-8 weeks, depending on your hair growth patterns.
  
• Who It’s Best For: Brow lamination is a good option for anyone who's looking to enhance their natural brows or make their natural brows look fuller with minimal effort, Marris says.
  
• How It’s Done:

1. You'll start with a consult with your brow artist, where you can talk about your goals and desired brow results.
2. Your brow artist will do a patch test to check for allergic reactions.
3. Now it's time to clean and thoroughly dry your brow area and map out the brow shape.
4. Your brow artist will then apply a few different solutions to bond, set, and condition your brow hair, brushing your brows into shape and leaving time to let it set in between. This will take about 30 minutes total.

DeMann isn't as much of a fan. "So many people love and request this treatment — I personally only provide this service for people with heavy, wiry, coarse, wild brows," DeMann says. "The chemicals are very strong and damaging."

Ombré

• What It Is: Ombré is a semi-permanent brow technique where a small machine is used to add fine dots of pigment into the skin, creating a soft, shaded look. "Typically the color is lightest at the bulb and gets deeper and darker as it moves toward the tail," DeMann says.
• Cost: Prices vary — you may see brow tinging priced between $500 and $1000 or more.
  
• How Long It Lasts: Depending on your lifestyle, this treatment will last somewhere between one and three years. The treatment will fade more quickly if you regularly use retinol, exfoliate your skin, steam your skin, or swim, DeMann says.
  
• Who It’s Best For: "I personally think this is great for everyone — specially those who wear brow makeup daily and have light, gray, or patchy brows," DeMann says.
  
• How It’s Done:

1. Your brow technician will start by applying a topical anesthetic to numb your skin.
2. Next, they'll map an area to lay out the future shape of your brows.
3. They'll mix the pigment and begin shading your brows, using a machine to add fine dots of pigment. "The bulb of the brow is typically lighter or a less- pigmented formula and as the brow progresses, the pigment gets deeper in color and the artist uses a heavier pigment," DeMann says.
4. Once complete, your brows may feel sensitive. They'll probably scab, but be sure not to pick at the scabs. You'll want to keep your brows dry for 10 days and stay away from activities that will have you sweating excessively.

Airbrush

• What It Is: The airbrushed brows technique uses an airbrushing technology, such as a spray gun, to apply brow tinting solution directly onto the eyebrows. "The airbrush technique ensures a natural, long-lasting finish with precisely colored, beautifully defined eyebrows," Marris says. "The edges are clean and crisp, with subtle gradient effects for depth."
• Cost: $150 and up, depending where you go for the treatment.
  
• How Long It Lasts: Between two and six weeks.
  
• Who It’s Best For: Airbrushed brows are a good option for people who are looking for a layered and customized brow color and shape, Marris says.
  
• How It's done: Here, Marris explains what to expect during this type of brow treatment:

1. Your brow technician will prepare the airbrush system and do a test spray to confirm it's working properly.
2. Your technician will do a patch test and then clean your brow area to make sure the dye adheres properly.
3. Next, they'll brush your brows and use mapping tools to define the borders of your brows. This helps to customize the shape and style of your brows and make sure the stain doesn't spread outside the intended area.
4. Now it's time to apply the airbrush stain. They might work from the tail to the front of the brow, applying 2-3 layers, depending on the intensity of the desired look.
5. Your technician will remove the brow borders, clean off any excess dye, and allow somewhere between 8 and 12 minutes for the stain to set.
6. Finally, they'll use a damp cotton pad to remove the stain and then brush your brows into shape.