You've invested time and effort into achieving perfectly laminated brows—now let's talk about keeping them looking incredible for as long as possible. The period between treatments is when your daily habits really matter. With the right routine and products, you can extend your results, keep your brows healthy, and wake up every morning with brows that look like they've just been professionally styled.
Your Daily Morning Routine
The way you start your day sets the tone for how your brows will look and behave. Laminated brows are remarkably low-maintenance, but they do benefit from a quick daily routine that takes just a minute or two.
Step 1: Brush Into Position
After sleeping, your brows may have shifted slightly depending on how you rest. Before you do anything else—before moisturiser, before makeup—take a clean spoolie and brush your brows into their desired position. Use upward strokes, following the direction set during your lamination. This helps reinforce the shape and trains your brows to stay where you want them.
Keep a dedicated spoolie next to your bed or on your bathroom counter for this purpose. Using the same brush every day also lets you monitor product buildup and keeps things hygienic.
Step 2: Set If Needed
Most days, laminated brows hold their position without any additional product. However, on humid days, if you're exercising, or if your lamination is starting to grow out, a light setting product helps maintain that polished look.
Best Setting Products for Laminated Brows
- Clear brow gel: Light hold, invisible finish, easy to apply
- Brow soap: Stronger hold, slightly more effort, creates fluffy texture
- Conditioning gel: Combines hold with nourishing benefits
- Brow wax: Maximum hold, best for very humid conditions or stubborn hairs
Apply your setting product with upward strokes, working the product through from root to tip. Don't overload your brush—a little goes a long way, and too much product can make brows look stiff or flaky.
Your Evening Routine
Evening is when you repair, nourish, and prepare your brows for the next day. This is the time for conditioning treatments that restore what daily life takes away.
Gentle Cleansing
If you've worn brow products during the day, remove them gently before bed. Use a mild, water-based cleanser or micellar water rather than oil-based removers, which can break down the lamination treatment over time. Pat rather than rub, and avoid aggressive scrubbing motions.
Even if you haven't worn makeup, your brows collect dust, pollution, and natural oils throughout the day. A light cleanse keeps the hair follicles healthy and allows your nourishing products to penetrate properly.
Nourishing Treatment
After cleansing, apply a nourishing serum or oil to your brows. This is the most important step for long-term brow health. The lamination process, while safe, does cause some stress to the hair structure. Regular conditioning counteracts this and keeps your brows soft, shiny, and resilient.
Recommended Nourishing Products
- Castor oil: Classic choice, promotes strength and may support growth
- Argan oil: Lightweight, absorbs quickly, rich in vitamin E
- Brow serums with peptides: Target follicle health for thicker growth
- Keratin treatments: Reinforce protein structure damaged during lamination
Apply with a clean spoolie or your fingertip, working the product through your brows gently. There's no need for heavy application—a thin coat is sufficient. The product has all night to absorb and work its magic.
Weekly Deep Conditioning
Once a week, give your brows some extra attention with a more intensive treatment. This can be as simple as applying a thicker layer of your usual oil and leaving it on overnight, or using a dedicated overnight brow mask.
Some people like to warm their oil slightly before applying for deeper penetration—just make sure it's comfortably warm, not hot. Others create DIY masks by mixing castor oil with a drop of vitamin E oil. The specific product matters less than the consistency of treatment.
Styling Tips for Different Occasions
For Work or Casual Days
Your basic morning routine is usually sufficient. Brush, set lightly if needed, and you're done. Laminated brows are designed to look natural and effortless, so resist the urge to add too many products.
For Special Events
When you want your brows to look particularly polished, take extra care with your brushing technique. Use a Y-comb for precision placement of individual hairs. A slightly stronger hold product, like brow soap, keeps everything locked in place through hours of photos and celebration.
Consider a light dusting of brow powder or pencil work to fill any sparse areas, but keep the colour subtle—the lamination provides the shape, so you don't need heavy makeup.
For Exercise or Hot Weather
Sweat and humidity are the enemies of styled brows. Before your workout or heading out on a hot day, apply a water-resistant brow gel or wax. These create a barrier that helps your brows maintain their position despite moisture.
If your brows do fall flat during activity, a quick brush when you're done usually brings them back to life. Keep a spoolie in your gym bag for this purpose.
When to Re-Laminate
Knowing when it's time for your next treatment is part of maintenance. Most laminations last four to eight weeks, but this varies based on your hair growth cycle, how well you maintain your brows, and environmental factors.
Signs It's Time for a Touch-Up
- Brows no longer hold their lifted position even with gel
- New growth at the roots is growing in different directions
- The fluffy, brushed-up look has flattened out
- You're using more product than before to achieve the same result
Don't rush to re-laminate at the first sign of fading—let your brows rest and recover. The sweet spot for most people is every six to eight weeks. Laminating too frequently can lead to cumulative damage, making each subsequent treatment less effective.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even with good intentions, it's easy to develop habits that undermine your lamination results. Watch out for these common pitfalls.
Touching your brows throughout the day disrupts their position and transfers oil from your fingers to the hair. It's a hard habit to break, but try to leave your brows alone once you've styled them in the morning.
Sleeping face-down crushes your brows against the pillow, potentially flattening them overnight. Try to sleep on your back or side, or invest in a silk pillowcase that causes less friction.
Using harsh skincare products on or near your brows—particularly retinoids, AHAs, or BHAs—can affect the integrity of the lamination and irritate the delicate brow area. Apply these products carefully, avoiding the brow zone.
Over-washing your face with hot water or spending too long in steamy showers can gradually relax the bonds set during lamination. Keep your face away from direct hot water when showering, especially in the first week after treatment.
Building Sustainable Habits
The best maintenance routine is one you'll actually follow. If your routine is too complicated or time-consuming, you'll skip steps and your results will suffer. Start simple—just brushing and nourishing—and add more steps only if you find them genuinely beneficial.
Pay attention to how your brows respond to different products and techniques. Everyone's brows are unique, and what works perfectly for one person might not suit another. Your maintenance routine should evolve based on your personal experience and preferences.
With consistent care, your laminated brows can look beautiful for weeks on end, making the investment of time and money in each treatment well worthwhile. It's a small daily commitment that pays off every time you look in the mirror.