Not that long ago, most people didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to their eyebrows, apart from removing stray hairs, whether at home or in a salon. We didn’t worry about achieving the perfect eyebrow shape or thickness, but that’s all changed.
Now, there’s an entire industry that revolves around those expressive arches, worth £20m in the UK in 2016, and it’s growing (sorry) at a rate of knots. Thanks to stars such as Cara Delevingne and Maisie Williams, bold statement brows have taken over from delicate pencilled-on lines.
That’s all well and good, but trying to achieve the full-but-not-bushy look can be tricky.
How to get the perfect eyebrow shape
We spoke to Benefit’s head make-up artist and brow expert, Lisa Potter-Dixon, and Fides Baldesberger, founder of tweezer makers Rubis, to get their top tips.
Here’s what Lisa Potter-Dixon had to say…
Which is best: plucking, waxing or threading?
“It really is personal preference. I prefer waxing and tweezing as it’s more precise. Threading can be amazing if you get the right person, but it’s so quick and taking one wrong hair can ruin your whole brow shape! At Benefit, we wax to remove the hair and tweeze to shape.”
What are the best ways to encourage growth?
“First things first, leave them alone for a least a few months.
“I know that’s tough, but it will be worth it! Use a brow conditioning primer morning and night to encourage healthier, fuller looking brows.
“Benefit’s BrowVo conditioning eyebrow primer (available on Amazon) is fab, as it’s full of keratin and soy proteins. These ingredients are used in the best hair care.
“If you want great brows, you need to look after them. Also, get them tinted. Even if you have very little hair, this will make your brows look thicker and fuller in a couple of minutes.”
What are the most flattering eyebrow shapes?
“We all have different shaped faces and the best way to get the perfect brows for you is to map them. All you need is a make-up brush and a brow powder to mark the points, and fill in the brows.
“There are three stages to mapping your brows correctly.
- Look straight ahead into a mirror. Hold a make-up brush at the dimple of your nose straight up to your brow. Mark with a line. Starting here will give a slimming effect to your nose and balance your eyes.
- Hold the brush from the edge of your nose through the pupil of your eye to find the arch point. This will give you an instant eye lift.
- Hold the brush from the edge of your nose through the outer corner of the eye to the brow. Ending here will give you an eye-opening effect.
“Once you’ve got the perfect shape, you can style them however you want. Most days I’ll rock a bold brow, but occasionally I’ll push up the front for a feathered brow look.”
What are the best methods for faking it?
“Having your brows serviced every four weeks will make your brows look thicker and more defined, even if you have the smallest amount of hair. Using a fibre gel, such as Benefit’s Gimme Brow, is the quickest way to get your brows back. This beauty mimics the appearance of real hair.
“My top tip for application is to go away from the hair first, and then back with the hair. Think of it like backcombing the hair on your head!
“This technique will add extra volume and make the most of the product. You can use a fibre gel alone or over the top of any other brow product.” It will also allow you to experiment with the perfect eyebrow shape before committing to changing your brows for good.
10 dos and don’ts for the perfect eyebrow shape
Next, Fides Baldesberger gives us her top 10 dos and don’ts that you should follow to ensure the perfect eyebrow shape and natural-looking eyebrows every time.
1. Do match your brow colour to your hair roots
“This is the most effective colour matching system to achieve a natural look and framing of your face.”
2. Do try a fibre brow gel
In addition to Benefit’s Gimme Brow, Baldesberger suggests Lord & Berry Must Have Tinted Brow Mascara (available on Amazon).”It is designed to hydrate, enhance and define your eyebrows whilst tinting. A great product for filling in brow gaps whilst still looking natural.”
3. Don’t go product-free
“Whilst the natural look is fully promoted, a little bit of love and attention before leaving the house will go a long way when it comes to your brows. Even if it’s a quick three-second sweep with the eyebrow brush.”
4. Do invest in a good brow pencil
“Know Cosmetics recently landed on our shores from the US and have launched the multi-functional No Bare Brows Universal 4 in 1 Brow Fix (available on Amazon). The double-ended pencil includes a universal brow colour and invisible taming wax.
“There is also a sharpener and brush within the lids for convenience. This is a make-up bag wonder ensuring brows are on fleek at all times!”
5. Don’t take inspiration from TOWIE
“Brows five shades darker than your hair colour is never a good look on anyone. Get your #browsperation from the catwalk NOT from The Only Way is Essex.”
6. Do always take a step back to admire your work
“When grooming your brows it’s important to keep taking steps back from the mirror to check your work is even. Bear in mind they shouldn’t be exactly identical, think sisters rather than twins!”
This is where you’ll really be able to identify whether that eyebrow shape is working for you. Spend some time experimenting and call in a friend for a second opinion on the perfect eyebrows.
7. Don’t bleach your brows
“No, no and no. No matter how blonde or fair you are, a bleached brow will always wash you out and take away all definition.”
8. Do go professional from time to time
“With all the great gadgets and grooming tools available on the market, most of us have taken to DIY brows at home. However, from time to time, it is worth paying a visit to your local salon or threading counter for a spruce-up. This means salon standard brows which you can then maintain a lot more easily.”
A professional will be able to easily identify your perfect eyebrow shape if you’ve been struggling, and you can use this as a basis for future shaping.
9. Don’t over pluck
“In-between visits pluck with Rubis Gold Classic Slant Tweezers (available on Amazon). It’s always useful to draw your desired brow shape on with a pencil or brow palette so you can use as a guide when plucking. Otherwise it is easy to get pluck-happy and end up with the constantly curious look.”
10. Do set your work
“Award-winning Transformulas EyeLifting Gel (available on Amazon) is a great skin tightener that also, when applied to brows, sets any product in place – leaving you groomed to perfection for the whole day.”
You should now feel confident in overhauling your eyebrows. From plucking to colouring, put to use our top tips and dos and don’ts for your perfect eyebrow shape.
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