If the eyes are the window to the soul, then eyebrows are the window frame that will make those peepers pop!
If you’re looking for ways to better define your brows, fill in sparse brows or just want to change up your brow game, here are 10 eyebrow tips to consider.
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1. Create The Right Brow Shape
Unless you were born with perfectly shaped brows, you will most likely need to do some brow shaping to achieve the look you want. To slow down re-growth and reduce stubble, eyebrow hair should be removed from the root, either by threading, plucking or waxing (lasering brows is a no no!).
I shaped my own brows using tweezers years ago, but I highly recommend going to a professional who can determine what the best brow shape is for you based on your face and current brow situation.
If you are an over-plucker, hide the tweezers and let your brows grow out thoroughly before having them shaped. For super sparse brows that don’t grow back, you may want to consider microblading (tip #6 in this post).
Be sure to do your research and look up reviews and/or get referrals before having someone touch your brows!
Ask to review pictures of their previous work on actual clients and get them to draw out what they plan to do to your brows before they remove any hair so you can decide if you like the shape.
Once you’ve achieved your preferred brow shape, be sure to maintain any stray hairs that grow back regularly – either yourself or by having your brows professionally maintained.
2. Trim Your Brows
Trimming your brows regularly is a great way to keep unruly brows in line. Brow trimming can also make applying brow pencils and pomades easier, because it can cut out any excess thickness or unwanted hairs that can get in the way.
Every couple of weeks, I like to clip my brows to clean up my brow shape. I do this in a couple steps:
1 -I brush my brow hairs upwards with a spoolie brush and then use tapered nail scissors to cut along the top edge of my brows to get any hairs that extend too far above the brow line, following the shape of the brow.
2- (optional step for thicker brows) To thin-out the thicker parts of my brows, I use my spoolie brush and brush the hairs downward and then use my nail scissors to clip any hairs that fall below the underside of the brow, following the shape. This extra trim has really helped thin out my brows in the middle where they grow like thick weeds.
Below is a video clip of how to trim your brows!
3. Shape Or Fill Brows Using A Pencil or Pomade
If you have parts of your brows that are a little sparse or sections of your brows that need a bit more shaping, consider using a brow pencil or a brow pomade to fill in the gaps.
Brow pencils are a great way to fill brows quickly and are fairly easy to use; I recommend using a brow pencil with a fine tip so you have more control over how and where the pencil applies.
Fine-tip brow pencils (like the L’Oreal Brow Stylist Definer pencil, which I love!) are also great for creating thin, hair-like strokes that can look more natural.
Brow pomades are another great eyebrow defining option and can sometimes be easier to use than a brow pencil. I enjoy using the Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Dip Brow Pomade.
To apply a brow pomade, you will need a sharp, angled eyebrow brush (I use the Anastasia Beverly Hills #7B brow brush).
Similar to a brow pencil, pomades can be used to fill in sparse brows or applied using light strokes to simulate the look of individual hairs.
Below, you can see both a brow pencil and a brow pomade in action by the queen of brows herself, Miss Desi Perkins:
4. Use A Concealer For An Extra-Defined Brow
If you’re looking for that super-sharp, “brows on fleek” look commonly seen on Instagram, consider using a concealer to clean things up.
Apply a touch of concealer onto the end of a small, flat concealer brush and run the brush underneath and above the brows along the edges to clean up any rough bits and create a perfectly smooth brow line.
You can see this concealer technique in action below:
5. Apply A Brow Gel
Brow gels are a great finishing touch, as they work to hold unruly brow hairs in place.
Some of these gels are tinted to give brows an extra hit of colour, while others can actually make brow hairs appear thicker (like Glossier’s Boy Brow).
If you already have well-shaped, full brows, consider skipping the filling/defining step and simply apply a brow gel to enhance your natural brow shape and texture.
RELATED READING: Glossier Haul ft. Brow Flick, Boy Brow + Cloud Paint
6. Microblading
Microblading is a great semi-permanent option for anyone looking to further define their brows or fill in sparse areas that refuse to grow back. Microblading is a process whereby a skilled professional defines and fills eyebrows by tattooing the area, creating individual hairs onto the brow area to create the perfectly filled eyebrow.
While this may sound terrifying, when done by a skilled hand, microbladed brows can totally transform your brow shape and give your perfect, natural looking brows. Since microbladed eyebrows are tattooed on, you don’t have to worry about washing your brows off each night and having to re-do them each morning – bonus!
Microbladed brows tend to fade over a period of 1-2 years, so maintenance is necessary if you want to maintain this look.
Be sure to find a qualified professional to perform the microblading and take the time to review their work and obtain references!
You can see a sample of microbladed brows before and after below:
7. Brow Lamination
No, this does not involve encasing your brows in plastic!
Brow lamination is the newest trend in brow styling and it involves using a chemical solution to help your brows stay straight up for fuller looking brows – kind of like a perm for your brows.
Basically, your brows are brushed upwards and then a chemical solution is applied on top. A piece of thin, Saran wrap plastic is then placed on top of your brows to hold the hairs upright while the solution works its magic.
When it’s done, you have brows that reach for the sky!
Here is a before and after pic of the difference brow lamination can make (before pic is on the bottom):
8. Brow Tinting
Brow tints are dyes that you apply to your brows to temporarily tint (dye) them a different colour.
Brow tinting is super easy and a great way to enhance the colour of your brows or change things up a bit on a temporary basis.
Be sure to use a proper brow tint to dye your brows!
DO NOT USE BOXED HAIR DYE to tint your brows – ever! Boxed hair dyes are not safe for use near the eyes and can cause blindness.
9. Shape + Hold Brows With Bar Soap
A really fun way to get your brows to stay up straight, without lamination, is by dipping a spoolie brush into a bar of soap – yes, soap – to lock in that lift. Many brands also sell soap brow kits as well, like this one from Revolution Beauty.
What the hell am I talking about? You can see this soap bar brow hack in action here:
10. Condition Your Brows
Applying lubricants like castor oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil or Vaseline create a moisture barrier on the skin to keep it moist, which helps promote brow hair growth.
Apply your oil of choice to your brows before heading to bed and leave it on overnight. Products with minoxidil (such as Rogaine) as a main ingredient also promote hair growth.
How do you get beautiful brows?
