Brow Lamination, Microblading, or Both? Building Your Brow Service Menu

Brow services are having a moment.

Scroll Instagram for 30 seconds and you'll see:

• Brow lamination transformations
• Microblading before/afters
• Brow tinting reveals
• "Soap brows" tutorials

Every esthetician, lash artist, and cosmetologist is asking the same question: Which brow services should I add?

Let's break it down.

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The Brow Service Landscape

What's Available

What's Actually Trending

Hottest right now (2026):

1. Brow lamination (mainstream adoption)
2. Combination services (lami + tint)
3. Natural, fluffy brow aesthetic
4. Subtle microblading (less Instagram, more "your brows but better")

Cooling down:

• Dramatic microblading
• Heavily defined brows
• One-size-fits-all shapes

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Option 1: Brow Lamination

What It Is

A chemical process that relaxes and redirects brow hairs, creating a fluffy, brushed-up look. Think of it as a perm for your brows.

The Business Case

Startup costs:

• Training: $300-800
• Kit: $150-300
• Total: $450-1,100

Service pricing:

• Lamination alone: $65-100
• Lami + tint: $85-130
• Lami + tint + wax: $100-150

Time investment:

• 45-60 minutes per client

Profit potential:

• At $90 average and 8 clients/week = $720/week
• Product cost: ~$8-12 per service
• Profit margin: 85%+

Pros

✅ Low barrier to entry ✅ Quick training (often 1 day) ✅ High demand right now ✅ Repeat clients every 6-8 weeks ✅ Easy add-on to existing services ✅ No permanent results (lower risk)

Cons

❌ Results last only 6-8 weeks ❌ Requires ongoing marketing to stay top-of-mind ❌ Trend-dependent (could cool off) ❌ Can damage brows if done poorly

Best For

Lash artists, estheticians, or cosmetologists who want to add a service quickly with minimal investment.

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Option 2: Microblading

What It Is

Manual semi-permanent tattooing using a handheld blade to create hair-like strokes. Creates natural-looking, defined brows that last 1-3 years.

The Business Case

Startup costs:

• Training: $3,000-7,000
• Licensing (varies by state): $200-500
• Supplies/kit: $500-1,000
• Total: $3,700-8,500

Service pricing:

• Initial session: $400-800
• Touch-up (6-8 weeks): Included or $100-200
• Annual refresh: $200-400

Time investment:

• 2-3 hours per client (including consult)

Profit potential:

• At $500 average and 5 clients/week = $2,500/week
• Product cost: ~$25-40 per service
• Profit margin: 90%+

Pros

✅ Premium pricing ✅ High perceived value ✅ Clients come back for touch-ups ✅ Portfolio builds word-of-mouth ✅ Less competition than lamination ✅ Recession-resistant (people still want brows)

Cons

❌ Significant training investment ❌ Licensing requirements vary by state ❌ Longer appointment times ❌ Higher liability risk ❌ Unhappy clients are REALLY unhappy (permanent results) ❌ Physical demand on hands and eyes

Best For

Estheticians or artists ready to specialize, willing to invest in extensive training, and comfortable with the responsibility of permanent results.

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Option 3: Both (The Full Brow Menu)

The Layered Approach

Offer a complete brow menu with services at different price points:

Why This Works

Client journey:

1. They come in for a basic shape ($40)
2. They upgrade to lamination ($95)
3. They love their brows, ask about microblading
4. They book microblading ($550)
5. They return for annual touch-ups

Average lifetime value: $1,200-2,000+

The Catch

You need:

• Multiple skill sets
• Time for both types of training
• Space for different protocols
• Marketing for different audiences

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How to Decide

Choose Lamination First If:

• You want quick ROI
• Your budget is limited
• You're already doing lashes or facials
• You want to test demand in your market
• You prefer lower-stakes services

Choose Microblading First If:

• You're ready to specialize
• You can invest $5,000+ in training
• Your market has demand (check local search volume)
• You have steady hands and artistic eye
• You want premium positioning

Add Both Eventually If:

• You want to be the "brow destination"
• You've mastered one and want to expand
• Client demand is there for both
• You have capacity for longer appointments

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The Training Reality Check

Brow Lamination Training

Good training includes:

• Hands-on practice (not just videos)
• Understanding of hair structure
• Timing protocols for different hair types
• Aftercare guidance
• Troubleshooting common issues

Cost: $300-800 Duration: 1-2 days Where to find: Local beauty schools, brand-sponsored training, online + practice kit

Microblading Training

Good training includes:

• Extensive hands-on practice (latex, oranges, then models)
• Color theory
• Face mapping and symmetry
• Sanitation and bloodborne pathogen certification
• Business and legal requirements
• Ongoing support and mentorship

Cost: $3,000-7,000 Duration: 3-7 days (plus practice hours) Where to find: Accredited academies, master artist training programs

Red flags: Any training under $2,000 or promising mastery in 1 day.

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The Market Reality

Check Your Local Demand

Before investing, research:

1. Google Trends: Is "brow lamination near me" growing or flat?
2. Competition: How many people offer this in your area? What do they charge?
3. Client surveys: Ask your existing clients if they'd book
4. Social listening: Are local people posting about brow services?

Saturation Warning

Some markets are oversaturated with lamination. If 10 people within 5 miles offer it at $70, you'll struggle to charge $100.

Microblading has higher barriers to entry = less competition = easier to charge premium.

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Start Somewhere

The worst option is analysis paralysis.

If you're interested in brows:

1. Pick ONE service to start
2. Get properly trained
3. Practice until you're confident
4. Launch and market it
5. Add the next service when demand justifies it

Brows aren't going away. The trend may shift from lamination to something else, but people will always want great brows.

👉 Vinci 26 helps brow artists manage appointments, build client relationships, and grow their business—without platform fees eating into premium service revenue.

Build something that's truly yours.