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Treatment guide

Brow lamination, tinting and microblading explained

Brow treatments range from tinting and lamination — which sit outside England's proposed licensing scheme — to microblading, which inserts pigment with a needle and therefore falls inside it. The distinction matters: one is cosmetic, the other breaks the skin and is already regulated locally as a form of tattooing.

Last reviewed · How we research and check this

Depends

Is it regulated?

No licence is required to perform this in England today. Whether this is covered depends on what is actually done. Versions that break the skin fall inside the scheme; versions that do not, sit outside it.

Microblading and semi-permanent brow tattooing involve needle insertion, so they sit inside the licensing scheme's definition and are already subject to local-authority registration for skin piercing and tattooing in most areas. Brow lamination and tinting do not break the skin and sit outside both.

Basis: Section 180, Health and Care Act 2022 and the Government's consultation response of 7 August 2025, tracked in House of Commons Library briefing CBP-10331.

What the practitioner should hold

Tinting and lamination: Level 2/3 with product training. Microblading: specific semi-permanent makeup training plus local-authority registration of the practitioner and premises.

Insurance

Microblading needs specific semi-permanent makeup cover — general beauty policies usually exclude it.

What it costs

Guide price: we do not yet have enough member listings to publish a reliable range for brow treatments. We publish this figure only when there is real data behind it.

Questions to ask before you book

  1. Is this treatment permanent, semi-permanent or temporary?
  2. For microblading: are you registered with the council for skin piercing?
  3. Will you patch test the tint?
  4. How long will the result last, and what does the top-up cost?

Red flags

  • No patch test before tinting
  • Microblading offered without council registration
  • Needles or pigment not opened in front of you
  • No healing or aftercare plan for semi-permanent work

Common questions

Is microblading regulated in the UK?

Yes, more than most beauty treatments. Because it inserts pigment with a needle, it usually requires the practitioner and premises to be registered with the local authority under skin-piercing and tattooing rules, and it falls inside the scope of the cosmetic licensing scheme being introduced in England.

How long does brow lamination last?

Typically six to eight weeks. It is a chemical relaxing treatment on the hair, so it grows out; it does not damage the follicle when done correctly.

Do I need a patch test for brow tint?

Yes. Tint reactions around the eyes are unpleasant and avoidable. Reputable practitioners patch test at least 24–48 hours ahead.

Members offering brow treatments

By area

Where members currently offer brow treatments, with the local guide prices.

Related guides

Lash treatments Makeup

Sources

  1. Section 180, Health and Care Act 2022
  2. House of Commons Library briefing CBP-10331