Did you know that your eyebrows can change the entire way your face looks? Whether you’re happy, sad, confused or angry, your brows will usually convey your mood first.
In order to keep this major facial feature looking its best, many girls (and well-groomed guys!) opt to use techniques to maintain and shape the brow area. If this seems like a daunting task to you, I promise it’s not. Below, I’ll give you three easy tips for getting perfect eyebrows:
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1. Figure out which method works for you.
There are three common methods for eyebrow maintenance. I’ve tried all three, so I thought I’d share my opinion on each in order to help you choose the right method for your own eyebrows. If you want to learn more about each one, as well as some pros and cons, read on:
Waxing
This is one of the most common methods of hair removal. If you’re going to get your eyebrows waxed, make sure you go to a licensed esthetician or cosmetologist who is specifically trained in waxing or hair removal. This assures that you will be getting the best possible service with someone who knows how to work with your natural brow shape.
Waxing is the fastest method of hair removal and can keep hair from growing back for two to six weeks. I personally don’t find waxing painful, but I know that it can be for some. Another thing to keep in mind with this method is that wax can easily irritate sensitive skin and, if kept too hot, can also potentially burn your skin. Cost is also a factor to consider and can vary depending on where you live.
Pros: Ease, Long-lasting
Cons: Cost, Pain, Skin Irritation
Threading
Threading is a method of hair removal that originated in India, where– as the name suggests– a thin cotton thread is used to remove hair. The process is similar to tweezing, except multiple hairs can be removed at one time. If you’re curious, you can check out a video about threading here. This is another method where you need to find someone who is a specifically trained practitioner.
This is the most precise method of hair removal and will not irritate your skin. I did find threading to be slightly more painful than waxing, but it was worth it because my brows looked so great! Again, cost is a factor to consider and unlike waxing, threading is not as widely available across the country.
Pros: Precision, Great for sensitive skin, Long-lasting
Cons: Cost, Pain, Unavailability
Tweezing
Tweezing is a great choice if you’re looking to save money, but it may take some practice to become a pro. Plucking is virtually painless, albeit a bit time consuming, as you have to maintain the brows every few days. If you’re going to tweeze, I recommend investing some money in a great pair of tweezers like Tweezerman. They may seem expensive, but high-quality tweezers are more precise, which will give you a cleaner brow in less time.
Pros: Inexpensive, Painless
Cons: Time consuming, High maintenance
2. Find your eyebrow shape.
After you’ve figured out your preferred method for eyebrow maintenance, now it’s time to find your natural eyebrow shape. This chart shows the five basic eyebrow shapes most people have naturally:
Once you find your eyebrow shape, use it as a guide for maintaining your eyebrows. The first step to having great brows is to follow your natural shape when you get your eyebrows groomed. Don’t try and change your shape (i.e. flat to angled) because then your eyebrows can look strange and out of place.
The next step is to find your natural arch, with the help of the diagram below:
B corresponds to where your natural arch is, while A and C refer to where your eyebrow should begin and end. Following this diagram is essential for well-maintained and natural brows.
If you decided to use waxing or threading, just tell the practitioner to follow your natural shape and arch— they’ll know what to do. However, if you want to pluck your eyebrows yourself, check out this video by one of our favorite makeup gurus, Michelle Phan, on tweezing to achieve natural-looking brows:
3. Keep it natural!
As I mentioned earlier, the key to having great eyebrows is to work with what you naturally have. That means following your basic shape and natural arch. Of course, accidents do happen, and if your eyebrows get too thin or over-plucked, don’t underestimate the power of a great brow pencil or powder. They are also great products to own if you have naturally sparse or light-colored brows.
Just remember, eyebrow trends may come and go, but looking well-groomed, natural and polished is always in style.
What do you think?
How do you groom your eyebrows? What methods have you tried? Do you have any great tips that you would like to share? Be sure to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!
Threading started in county jails and juvenile halls way before middle eastern women started opening up shops in malls. I can remember girls sitting in rows in the bathroom waiting for their turn to get their eyebrows and face done before court or visiting. I never thought it would become as popular as it is now, we always just thought of it as a ghetto way of hair removal when you have no other options.
I tried Threading and I couldn’t take it. I want to try waxing, but ultimately I think plucking and tweezing is the best option. Its inexpensive, and there are a lot of kits and different tweezers you can purchase from a lot of different places. (Target, Wal-Mart, Macy’s, etc.)
I love getting my eyebrows waxed… I just lay there and someone does the job quickly and well. Never had a bad waxing job done and been to three different stylists.
I guess it just depends on the person, but I find threading not only uncomfortable, but like a fire on my face, especially on my upper lip. Tweezers are ok, but sometimes I bleed when I pluck the hairs between eye and brow out. Youch!
Great article though, and I loved that video … using a white pencil? Genius… why did I never think of that?
Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!! i cant believe i was able to give myself nice eyebrows! i always relied on my sister to help me, but now i dont have to, the video clip was great help and im so proud od myself, thanks again!! Now they a more suited to my face, then the shape my sis was giving me which was suited to her face but for me made everything point towards my nose which is my worst feature, now they are nice and my nose isnt highlighted meaning i can higlight my eyes which are my best feature.
THANKS AGAIN!!
I have had so much trouble with my eyebrows! I’ll explain: They are thick and really bushy. Every time I went to wax them they would either wax them thin or make a new shape out of them; so I decided to thread them. At first I loved it, but later realized that I needed to learn how to do them myself (because they grow out super fast). I tried this method and now I have a more natural and well-suited eyebrow. I can manage them whenever I need to. All I have to do is measure, trim, and tweeze. Now I love how my eyebrows frame my face! I would totally recommend it!
Sammy, i’m not “trying to scare anybody” out of trying threading. i went to beauty school. i’ve been working in the industry, and in salons while i’m working on my degree.
Yes waxing is dangerous if done by someone who does not know what they are doing. The main injuries would be from wax being overheated and burning clients.
I just wanted to warn people that threading has risks too. If the thread is moved to slowly, it will grab skin instead of hair. I have seen scars from this type of injury.
Threading, if done correctly does turn out great. The problem is that the beauty industry does not regulate threadding. It is not taught in beauty school. There are not continuing education classes for professionals to learn threadding. However waxing is taught in depth, and there are hundreds of advanced and continuing waxing classes.
Threadding is risky because there is a lack of knowledge with professionals. Many people who do provide threading services learned from family or friends, and may not even have a backround education in cosmetology.
Great tips! I’m obsessed with my eyebrow pencil. Most people say they wouldn’t leave the house with applying mascara, but I wouldn’t leave the house with using my eyebrow pencil.