If the Eighties was the decade of blue eyeshadow, and Nineties the years of lip liner, then 2000 and beyond has undoubtedly been all about the brows.
Thanks to celebrities like Cara Delevingne, Zendaya and Selena Gomez and their bushy, brushed up and perfectly arched brows, we have all upped our game from the occasional pluck, to weekly maintenance threading and tinting, to big beauty investments like brow laminatingand microblading.
However, with beauty salons closed and the whole country staying home under the social distancing orders, our brow maintenance regimes have been put on hold until further notice. Rather than leave your brows to their own devices (unless, of course, you plan to grow your brows out for a serious reshape once salons reopen), we’ve tapped up the brow experts to share their ultimate step-by-step guide to shaping your eyebrows by yourself at home – including how to choose which shape is right for your face.
WHICH EYEBROW SHAPE IS RIGHT FOR ME?
According to Daxita Vaghela, London brow and lash expert, the best brow shape is based on the one you have been naturally blessed with. “The best brow shape for your face shape is the one your naturally have! Use your tweezers to follow the natural arch of your brow rather than trying to change your brow shape entirely as it’s very hard to achieve a completely different brow arch to the one your naturally have.” All you need is some tidying up to create a more defined look.
Vanita Parti, CEO & Founder of Blink Brow Bar, agrees and says, “brows will always look their most beautiful and help balance all facial features if they follow their natural shape. The right shape and definition will frame your face instantly, make your eyes appear larger and can take years off.”
SHOULD I PLUCK, WAX OR THREAD?
The overwhelming advice from the professionals is to leave the more complex forms of brow shaping, like threading and waxing, to them. The threading process can be complex and hard to grasp and therapists usually undergo a lot of training to be able to do it, and any mistakes or wrong steps can result in a lot of pain. Waxing, on the other hand, has the potential to go wrong very quickly, with some who dare attempt it left without any eyebrows whatsoever. “For maintaining your brows at home stick to using tweezers to pluck stray hairs from around the brows, keeping your natural shape as much as possible, and leave waxing and threading to the professionals,” says Daxita.
HOW DO I ACHIEVE A PRECISE ARCH?
The best way to get a sharp line and a symmetrical shape is to map out your brows with concealer beforehand. “Clearly define where your boundaries should be with a marker – I always recommend a concealer for easy clean up afterwards,” advises Vanita.
Another top tip is to make sure you’re plucking in the right place; “Pluck hairs from under the arch, end of the brow and in between the brows, never above the brow arch, as this can distort your brow shape completely,” warns Daxita. “It is always best to pluck a few hairs at a time and then move back away from the mirror to check you aren’t over-plucking and interfering with the natural brow structure.”
HOW CAN I MAKE DOING MY EYEBROWS LESS PAINFUL?
Plucking your eyebrows can be an eye-watering experience, but experts have a few tricks that guarantee to make the process slightly more bearable. Apply ice to the area to numb the nerves before you start, as well as afterwards. “After shaping your brows, ice can be rubbed over the area to reduce immediate redness, or witch hazel to reduce erythema and reduce the likelihood of spots,” says Daxita.
Still thinking of learning to thread? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to thread your own eyebrows, as well as the other beauty treatments you can do at home.