If your social media FYP is flooded with the latest and greatest beauty trends, then surely you’re no stranger to the laminated brow look—aka, full, feathered and pigmented brows that stay put and make a statement.

What is brow lamination, you ask? Whether you have naturally bushy brows that need grooming or thin brows that could use a lift, this popular technique is often done in a salon and creates gorgeous brow definition to give your eyebrows a wide-awake look that stays put for six-to-eight weeks.

There are downsides to professionally laminating your brows, though: it often comes with lengthy appointments, a hefty price tag and no-budge pigment that you’re committed to (at least for a bit).

Looking for an easy and affordable way to achieve pro-grade laminated brows at home that you can wash off EOD? Skip the salon appointment and say hello to our new Brow Laminating Gel—a lightweight, clear-drying brow gel that delivers our strongest e.l.f.ing hold yet! This must-have product features a dual-ended applicator that makes it easy to sculpt, shape and set your brows with total precision, while the flake- and water-resistant formula really locks down your look (no unwanted stiffness here!).

We’re here to give you the full scoop on our latest launch (and how it compares to our other e.l.f.ing amazing brow products!), plus a step-by-step to help you master the look of enviable laminated brows.

So, what do you need to get this laminated look? First and most importantly, you will need a clear eyebrow gel that’s labeled for soap brows or lamination (e.l.f. Brow Lift is perfect for this and just won the Allure Magazine Best of Beauty Award for 2022!). These types of products are designed to help get that laminated look. These are the best eyebrow gels to really tame stray hairs, hold them in place all day and help make your brows more smudge proof. Other things you will need is something to fill in sparse areas of your brows (eyebrow pencil, pen, or powder), a concealer, and your favorite long wear makeup setting mist. For tools, you will want one of those brow lift applicators with a spoolie on one end and a flat metal spatula on the other. Having the special tool really helps make application quicker, smoother, and easier. Other tools needed are a concealer brush, tweezers, and cuticle scissors.

HOW TO LAMINATE YOUR BROWS:

• Step 1: Pat the skin and hairs dry around the brow area. This doesn’t seem like a big deal, however it can make or break how well your eyebrows get laminated as well as how long the look will last.

• Step 2: Use the spoolie end of your brow lift applicator with NO product on it to brush your brow hairs up and out. You don’t style your hair without brushing it first. You don’t laminate your brows without brushing the brow hairs first. This helps the brow gel go on smoother.

• Step 3: Put a small amount of the clear brow gel on the spoolie end and brush your brow hairs up and out positioning the hairs to get an eyebrow lift. It’s important to use as a little gel as possible so that it can actually dry down and hold your brows. If you put too much gel on, your brows WILL look gloppy and gooey and you will have to start over.

• PRO TIP: Keep a pair of cuticle scissors nearby during this step. Once you start laminating your brows you WILL find hairs that need to be trimmed.

• Step 4: Once your brows are in place (and before the gel dries), use the flat side of the brow lift tool to gently press the hairs flat against the skin. This is when you can also reposition any brows using either the flat side of the brow lift tool or a good pair of tweezers.

• Step 5 (most important step): LET IT DRY! Unless you want to redo your brows, let them dry and set before filling in any sparse areas. This is part of the lamination process! Once your laminated brows are dry, then you can move onto the next step.

• Step 6: Using a brow pencil or a brow pen, fill in sparse areas by drawing individual brow hairs where needed. If using a brow powder, dampen the brush first to make sure you are drawing very fine hairs rather than just shading in the brows. The idea is to get a microbladed look.

• PRO TIP: Draw in your brow hairs in an up and out direction rather than down. It keeps the look lifted and minimizes the chance of product getting gooey and cakey.

• Step 7: Define the edges of your eyebrows with a bit of concealer. Using a flat concealer brush, blend a bit of concealer above and below the brows to give a good edge to them.

• PRO TIP: Concealer too difficult to use? Use the flat concealer brush with your favorite tinted face powder to help define the edges of your brows. This method also helps control any oil or shine that might threaten your gorgeous brows later in the day.

• Step 8: When you’re done with your entire makeup look and you set it with your setting mist, add an extra quick spritz to your brows to keep them beautifully laminated all day long.

Laminated brows do take some practice to get them right, but once you’ve nailed the technique, you can get perfectly laminated, natural looking brows anytime you want. No appointments or needles required.

Related Article: How to Do Your Eyebrows for Beginners