I may or may not have a corona-brow right now. But allow me to explain. My brows can be rather unruly. One day, the new growth can be too fine to grip and the very next day coarse and curly, making it difficult to tweeze without feeling unnecessary pain or losing my place. That's why I'm #TeamThread, hunny. But, unfortunately, that's not gonna happen anytime soon. Not during this pandemic. However, it's a good time to look at some other options.
Early last year, I grew fascinated with microblading but not with those microblading prices! Or the actual process, for that matter. I just liked the end result. What would've been ideal is a procedure that didn't involve cutting and bleeding but still left my brows looking tame, fierce and effortless at the same time. That's where brow lamination comes in.
Brow lamination is an innovative technique that's said to have originated in Russia, has grown popular in England and is now gaining traction here in the United States with a few brow artists actually offering online lamination courses. Curious to know a bit more about the brow lamination process? I've done some research for you.
What You Should Know About Brow Lamination
What is brow lamination?
The short answer is that brow lamination is a relaxer, like the creamy crack, for your eyebrows. It's similar to the "soap brow" look where you comb your brows upward with the help of bar soap, only brow lamination just lasts longer.
Brow lamination is also a less expensive, less invasive alternative for both barely-there and bushy brows than microblading and ombre. The major difference between brow lamination and the other processes is that it's temporary and there are no needles or other sharp tools involved to fill and design the brow.
With ombre powder, a small tattoo machine is used to insert pigment into the upper layers of the skin. It lasts an average of 24 months. Microblading uses a tool with tiny needles to make small cuts in the brow area that mimic strands of hair. Microblading lasts about 18 months.
Brow lamination uses a chemical lifting cream to "relax" the hair enough to change its shape and direction, a neutralizer, and then some oil, again just like a relaxer. It gets its name maybe partially by the plastic used to secure the brows vertically in place and partially for the glossy look the brows have afterward. The process takes less than an hour and lasts 6 to 12 weeks.
What should I do for brow lamination pre-care?
For brow lamination pre-care, you definitely don't want to use any exfoliants, retinoids, AHAs or anything like that before your brow lamination appointment. You also don't want to wax, thread or tweeze at least a week before your appointment.
What are the cons of eyebrow lamination?
Let's be honest here. We're talking about applying harsh chemicals and an adhesive to our eye area, that paper-thin skin we're instructed to avoid when we use facial scrubs or minimize tugging when we apply eye shadow. The same experts who frown upon eyebrow tints and dyes rightfully warn against brow lamination. For one, if the chemical somehow gets in our eyes, it can cause blindness or other serious, irreversible eye injuries. Additionally, since that skin is so delicate, it increases the risk of irritation and inflammation, especially for those who already have sensitive skin. And finally, just as we can over-process our kinks and coils with a relaxer, we can experience dryness and even breakage of our eyebrow hairs with lamination.
What do I do for brow lamination aftercare?
As a part of brow lamination aftercare, you should maintain your new brows with extreme care, at least the first few days. You'll need to exercise caution when washing your face because your fresh brows will need to remain dry. Afterward, you'll need to keep your brows regularly oiled and moisturized just as you would a freshly relaxed 'do.
You may resume makeup and exfoliating products about 72 hours after your treatment. Also note, you may need to tweeze a bit before your next treatment.
How much does brow lamination cost?
The price can range from $60 to $150.
Where can I get brow lamination done?
Ideally, you'd get your brows laminated at your local salon, provided they do facial services and have added brow lamination to their list of offerings. But currently, most salons just offer microblading. In fact, I did a quick Google search near me in Atlanta and found only one brow artist who does brow lamination. Bonus:She's a Black artist, though! But as with any new service that affects any part of our bodies, inside or out, we should always do our due diligence and schedule a consultation first.
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Featured image by Shutterstock.
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Some women have their whole wedding planned out, from the bridal gown and venue to the bridal party and playlist. However, KJ was not one of those people. “I didn’t foresee a wedding in my future,” she reveals. “I was just gonna be the boss chick, rich auntie. I didn’t force love in my life until recently. I never had an idea of what a dream wedding would look like, it was easier for me to elope.”
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
And to many people’s surprise, that was their original plan – until Skyh brought up a valid concern. He was raised by his grandmother and thought she should be at the wedding, and naturally, that led to KJ wanting her grandmother to be there as well – then her mom – and later her sister – and, you’ve gotta invite the besties too, right? From there, the guest list continued to blossom. Much like the updo and pop of color bold red lip, she wore on her special day, which was initially on her Pinterest board as a soft glam look with her hair hanging on her shoulders, KJ is okay with changing her plan if it brings her and her loved ones happiness.
So let’s get into the wedding, which took place in Malibu, CA. The first thing you should know about the celebrity couple is that they’re non-traditional. They know, and they don’t care. So, in true unconventional fashion, they shared the morning of the wedding together.
“I woke up with Skyh, we walked our dog, had black coffee, and said good morning to the people who stayed at the venue with us,” she says.
Now, it was time for hair and makeup. While she was getting glammed up, she had Black-owned McBride Sisters wine and champagne (which ties into The Black Experience theme) on deck with her mom and friends, had her besties help rework her vows, retried on every outfit (sis is very Type-A), took photos, and ended the early-celebration with prayer and meditation. It seems very non-Bridezilla, I said.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company,” she explains. “The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
Things moved quickly, and before she knew it, it was time to line up to walk down the aisle.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company. The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
KJ Smith and her bridal party
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
Since everything started with their grandmothers, the couple wanted to ensure they honored them and planned to keep an element of their wedding traditional. Although we’ve all seen the reception videos and photos online, you may have noticed visuals from the wedding itself are harder to find.
“We planned for it to be traditional, but we’re not like that, so we tried to create those moments. We jumped the broom and had a salt ceremony (where the bride and groom individually pour salt into a glass container, symbolizing their lives becoming one.) But honestly, still, nothing was traditional about it.”
She goes on to explain that her mom caught the holy ghost coming down the aisle, her glam team was on deck, and she became so nervous with excitement that she had an anxiety attack – something she struggled with for years, she explains tearfully. Her friends had to literally cheer her down the aisle because of how overwhelmed she felt until she eventually calmed down.
“Skyh was standing there with his hand on his heart; we have our own little language, and I could feel the support,” she shares.
It was surprising to hear all these emotional moments happened before the party we saw online. That is until she once again got into the backstory.
“As a Black woman actress, for so long, it was popular to be mysterious and secretive, but that’s not who I am or what I like. Plus, we both wanted to create an experience for everyone there. We are the people who always host family and friends,” she says. “Like for me, the first order of business was getting sandals for the women so they can dance all night long. We had oxtail, D'ussé, and a coffee and sativa lounge – which is part of Skyh and I’s lifestyle and routine. We wanted to bring them into our world.”
Skyh Black (L) and KJ Smith (R)
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
She went on to discuss the dance routine she did for her husband at the reception, which has taken over the internet. Apparently, that’s another thing that didn’t go according to plan. According to KJ, she had promised a performance at their joint bachelor/ bachelorette party, but her outfit got stolen from her car. So, Skyh ended up performing for her – complete with a strip tease. Still, she never forgot her promise to dance for him.
So, she hired her friend as a choreographer, learned the routine, made friends and family watch it endless times, and attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance show a few days before for a confidence boost. It ended up being a show to remember. But that wasn’t all the night offered. Lil Mo performed, and the guests received special goody bags featuring their favorite Black-owned products like journals, hair care, and more.
“We made sure everyone was taken care of all night. That kind of stuff makes us happy. I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives,” she says.
But naturally, the internet is going to internet, and while there were countless people praising the event and applauding the newlyweds, some thought it was too over the top. I was curious to know her thoughts on some of the criticism.
“It’s cool. We did what we wanted to do. I’ve decided to share my world with people. Just how I went on social media platforms and found inspiration, I want people to do the same,” she explains. “I don’t think it's fair to my supporters not to give that out. There’s so much I wanna share with brides, specifically Black brides. I love that people are adding it to their Pinterest boards."
"I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives."
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
“I’m happy with it because we did what we wanted to do. They can do what they wanna do. Don’t be cruel, though, because you will get blocked,” she said, laughing.
The more I spoke with her, the more her sense of freedom shined through. People are always going to have their opinions, but at the end of the day, it’s you who has to live your life, and it seems like the couple realizes that and embraces that power. She also stressed the importance of not living for others and the lessons life has taught her.
“I’ve been to countless weddings, and I’ve been in countless weddings. I’m a generally older bride. So when women in my demographic get married, and you and your husband are busy working people like us, you deserve to have the one you want to have,” she shares.
“This is what we wanted to do. Our loved ones love and support us. We did so much to honor them, but we also wanted to start our own tradition, legacy, and creation. I'm not going to be pulled back into ideas of the past when I’m trying to create a future with my partner. “
If you’d like to see more of the couple, you probably won’t have to wait long. Although no content is planned yet, she admits to being an oversharer. “Me being open and transparent about my experiences lets people know it’s okay to have flaws; it makes you human, and for many years, I didn’t believe that was okay. I had pressure to be perfect, and I’d crumble every time,” she explains to xoNecole.
Now, she owns her flaws and uses them as a superpower to connect with her community and feel and express her love.
“Some people give us [Skyh and KJ] a hard time because they say we just seem too perfect. I’m like, why is that a bad thing? I love the people I love. From my man to my mama, to my friends - unabashedly. We move through time and space how we want to move. If we did it another way, we’d let ourselves and our union down.”
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Feature image by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
