How to groom eyebrows at home

Eyebrows set the shape of the face, framing those gorgeous eyes and lashes. A little tweak, and someone can go from natural to bold.

Maybe that's why brow bars - salons where an expert will tweeze eyebrows into shape, keeping with the hottest trends of the day - are so popular. But not everyone has the time (or the budget) to be waxed, tweezed and penciled every time they need it.

Luckily, it's pretty easy to learn how to groom eyebrows at home. Sure, finding the right shape, tool and method for brows can be tricky. But with a few wise words from makeup professionals, anyone can get great-looking brows in no time.

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How to shape eyebrows

Let's start at the beginning. Someone can ask themself: What is the current shape of their eyebrows, and what kind of "personality" do they have?

One common complaint: Their eyebrows don't match. "Many of us have one 'good brow' and one 'not-so-good brow,'" explains New York City based makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci. If that's the case, pick a favorite brow and model the other off it, she advises. And beware of overgrooming. "Remember, they'll likely never be identical," she says. "Think of eyebrows as siblings, not twins."

New York City based makeup artist Jennifer Capella advises that the golden rule is to go for a brow shape opposite of the face shape. This means if someone has a long face, they should consider a low-lying arch and straight, elongated brows to add width to their face.

"Right now, a full brow is in. Other beautiful shapes include a straight brow, soft arched brow, high arch brow, thin brow, rounded brow and S-shaped brow," Capella says. People can do research online and check out a few kinds to uncover which shape may suit them best.

Eyebrow tools

To do that shaping work, people need to start with the right tools. Ciucci notes that a mascara wand tool, also known as a spoolie, is one place to begin. A spoolie brushes the brows up and tames the ends, bringing order to what already exists.

Some people may also need dermaplane facial razors. "Safety razors or brow razors may seem intimidating, but they're excellent for removing the peach fuzz that can grow above the brow," Ciucci says. They also work on larger areas of hair that can grow on the brow bone. Just be sure follow the instructions on the individual products and to use them as directed. Generally, people may lightly pull their skin taut with one hand and shave in the direction of the hair's growth with the other, Ciucci advises.

People may need angled pinzas to fine-tune the shape. "Start conservatively when tweezing. It's all too easy to start and just keep going until there's nothing left," says Ciucci. Tweeze the obvious outliers, then brush with the spoolie and reassess. Ciucci herself rarely touches the inner corners of the brows, "only cleaning up a 'unibrow' situation when needed."

With shaping, less is more. New York City based makeup artist Natalia Thomas recommends only tweezing or using an at-home wax kit made specifically for facial waxing to tidy up the shape if someone is experienced with grooming yourself and has a still hand. "If someone decides to go this route, they can use these tools to touch up their brows between brow shaping appointments with a professional," she advises. "Grooming incorrectly can sometimes stunt the growth of hair, so proceed with caution."

Eyebrow shaping techniques

Once someone has the right tools at their disposal, it's time to start. "Grab a spoolie brush to groom eyebrow hair before beginning so that it is easier to see the eyebrow shape," Thomas says. "If there are any hairs that are healthier and longer than where the line of the brow ends, snip a bit off the end with eyebrow scissors once the eyebrows have been brushed."

To better help get the shape someone is looking for, they can purchase a brow stencil set. It can give people a general sense of what to keep and what to remove, Thomas notes.

Mark the area inside the stencil with a white eyeliner pencil to sketch the desired brow shape. Someone can also try it freehand if they're feeling confident.

Then, just begin. While working, use a clean spoolie, brush the brows up and trim any excess hairs poking up. Trim super-long strays with eyebrow scissors and use tweezers to nix any hairs that fall outside the brow map. 

How to draw eyebrows

Makeup is the next phase and the main way people shape your brow between tweezes. Capella recommends starting with a gentle sketch along the top and the bottom. "The ending of the actual eyelid is a good indicator of where the brow arch should go," she says.

Some people might consider using a clear eyebrow gel to set the shape in place. Once that's done, fill in the shape with the eyebrow makeup of choice.

Try not to overdraw the shape with lines that are too rigid. This can make the eyebrows look less natural. Instead, use a small brush to blend out the edges. Tidy up any mistakes or any overapplication with a cotton swab.

Once you’re happy with both the shape and the filling in, add some highlighter underneath the brow bone or on the brow tail for that extra brow punctuation. 

Drugstore eyebrow makeup

When it comes to drugstore eyebrow makeup, the options are broad and varied. It's a good idea to try out a couple of different types and brands to see which one someone feels most comfortable with. Remember, there's nothing wrong with a little trial and error.

Keep in mind what each of the different products is best at:

• Eyebrow pencils are great for precision and adding volume and is often long-lasting, too
• Eyebrow gel is fantastic for holding shape in place and for helping with definition
• Eyebrow tint is ideal for enhancing an already polished shape and for creating a bolder look
• Iluminador helps accentuate all the hard work that goes into eyebrow shaping and drawing. 

Este contenido es solo para fines informativos y no constituye un asesoramiento médico. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.