Lab Brow Bar

The beige plague may still grip the beauty industry, but Lab Brow on Hamilton's Barton Street is bucking the trend. From their handy studio beside Rocket Coffee Roasters, the team provides bespoke brows and premium lash lifts in a space that's bright, energetic and anything but neutral.

Orange arched mirrors punctuate two-tone blush walls, while a powder-blue tiled counter complements the greenery throughout. Lab is more boutique than clinical, with none of the hushed formality of a spa. They've said goodbye to the usual drawn-out experience, instead opting for comfy chairs so you can keep your shoes on and coffee in hand (Rocket is next door, after all), chatting away as your Brow Artist works their magic.

Bespoke brow mapping sits at the heart of the studio’s offering. Rather than chasing trends, every brow is designed around the client's own features, be it groomed and sleek or fluffy and natural. Premium lash lifts and advanced brow lamination are next on the menu, all delivered chair-side with an efficiency that feels polished, not regimented.

It all began in the spare room of founder Penny Mahoney's home, fitted around two young children and a career in healthcare - a past life that explains the studio's particular blend of precision, science and care. That care shapes everything: brows that enhance what's there rather than overpower it, clients who leave feeling like the best version of themselves (never someone else), and, behind the scenes, meaningful careers for the young women who work here.

Judging by the award shelf, it's very much a formula perfected.