Strawberry’s and chocolate, oysters and champagne, lash lifts and a brow wax and tint – these are all perfectly partnered wonders of our world. - 4 Dec 2020

So why do we not partner a brow lamination with a brow henna treatment? And because we love science, especially skin and hair science that’s where our answer will take us friends.

Let’s start with brow lamination products – the products are designed to alter the pH of the hair in order to effect the inner structure of the disulphide bonds within the hair. The pH of the product needs to be high enough in alkalising agents to do this and often that is a pH that is no where near the same natural pH of your skin. Normally products that are designed for skin application are similar in pH or pH neutral so that the skin is not effected negatively by the application. As trained professionals the application of brow lamination products need to be applied with care and caution.  Referencing many contraindications and careful assessment of the skin is what makes a therapist or brow stylist a specialist in their field, they will understand the products, their ingredients and how they act as well as what to look for during the service.

This change in pH of the skin from the brow lamination product can leave the skin in an altered state, potentially more susceptible to reaction, sensitivity of drying out, flaking or peeling.

So now let’s think about brow henna. The wonderful and brilliant facets of henna are such that the specialised ingredients formulated within a henna blend will create a skin staining effect (depending on the colour chosen, skin type and condition and blend used).  This happens from the application of the carefully prepared product painted through the brow and allowed to dry onto the skin. The colour will wrap around the brow hair shafts and stain these also.  The keratinocytes resting on the top layers of our epidermis will attract the chemical composition of the henna and the colour will stain.  This reaction is a chemical one between the henna product and the skin.

If the skins pH has been altered from the brow lamination service, this can leave the skin area feeling more sensitive in the brow area on some clients. Applying henna on to skin that is sensitive may see clients have an unfavourable reaction or further sensitivity.

As tinting with traditional brow tinting products is faster and designed to colour hair, it’s chemical reaction happens on the hair more so and therefore makes tinting a better follow up service for colouring of hair after a brow lamination.

To learn more about brow lamination, brow henna, tinting or anything brows and lashes really, Elleebana and Elleeplex are industry leaders with content and training that is miles above the rest. With hands on training and online training coming soon, watch this space!