The perfect arch
Brooke Shields may have turned heads with her bushy brows back in the ’80s, but impeccable eyebrows have become big business in recent years. Eyebrows frame your face like a beautiful painting. If they’re shaped to compliment your eyes and face, you will always look well groomed.
You’ve got two choices when it comes to eyebrow grooming: wax or tweeze. While waxing can be less painful, it’s often difficult to do at home. Plus, tweezing gives you more control, since you pluck just one hair at a time. Below, tips for getting the perfect arch:
Tweeze whiz
* For starters, you need to use the right tool. Use a tweezer you are comfortable holding, and one that grabs hair securely. Here are some tips:
1 Before tweezing, apply ice to the brow to numb the nerve endings so there will be less pain.
2 To determine where to tweeze, use an eyebrow pencil to fill in the shape you want, then tweeze any hair outside the lines.
3 If you’re not sure where your brows should begin and end, place an eyeliner pencil along the side of your nose, then tweeze any hairs that extend inward past the pencil toward your other brow.
4 Next, angle the pencil outward toward the outside corner of your eye and tweeze any hairs that extend outside the pencil toward your ear.
5 If you have a low hairline and high, stray eyebrow hairs that merge into it, tweeze those away, too.
6 Finally, tweeze any stray hairs beneath the brow.
Match game
Now that you’ve cleaned up your brows, make sure they match. You should start with the arch — or highest point of the brow — which should peak over the outside corner of the iris, not the pupil. Adjust arches by tweezing out unwanted hairs and filling in gaps with an eyebrow pencil or powder.
If you have a round face, you can add angularity with well-arched, defined brows. If your face is more angular, go for a softer brow with a less dramatic arch. Either way, remember to go slowly. A lot of people harm their brows by over-tweezing. Try to refrain from that kind of determination and be more conservative. You don’t want to walk away with a surprised look.
Overly plucky?
If you do accidentally remove most of your brow, use a brow pencil to fill in the missing hairs and consider going to a professional for some tips
Powder or pencil
What’s the difference? A pencil gives a more defined, tailored brow, while powder gives a fluffy, more natural look. Pencils are recommended for persons who have very little brow, and powder applied with a brush to fill in the gaps. If you opt for a pencil, choose one that’s firm; a heavy, greasy pencil will only make your brow hairs clump together.
Hue review
Colour is critical when using artificial eyebrow enhancers. Unless you are seeking a dramatic effect, the colour of your brows should never be darker than the colour of your hair. The more natural the colour tone, the more real your brows will look.
Hair today
For more permanent hair removal, you may want to consider electrolysis. The process takes a series of treatments during a six- to 12-month period. It may sound like a long time but remember: you’ll be hair-free forever!
