How To Shape The Perfect Eyebrows

Perfectly groomed eyebrows do wonders to enhance a face – they balance features, frame your eyes and signal to the world that you’re polished and poised. But when it comes to eyebrow maintenance, there’s a very fine line between the perfect shape and that oh-so-easy, over-plucked look. Sometimes, a few seconds of well-intentioned, zealous tweezing can lead to a few agonising months of re-growth.

If you decide to employ the shaping skills of a professional, there are a number of options you can try: tweezing, waxing, threading and even laser treatment are just some of the hair removal methods on the market today.

If a budget home beauty regime is more your style, or you simply like having control over your own brows, there are a number of rules to follow to ensure you don’t end up looking ‘surprised’ for most of spring.

Here’s how to get the best shape for your brows no matter which option you choose:

1. Know what suits your face shape

Every person has a different facial shape, and the particular lines and angles of that face will determine what type of brow shape works best.

As a general rule, if you have:

• An oval face: Luckily, you can enjoy almost any shape – thick, thin, straight, arched or naturally curved - take your pick.
• A square or oblong face: Medium to high arches and gently tapered ends add circular, lengthening lines to your face, balancing a stronger jawline.
• A round face: Full, long, gently arched and immaculately squared should be the shape you’re looking for.

2. Neaten up

For an extra polished look, eyebrow expert Ramy Gafni recommends brushing your eyebrows upwards using a brow comb. Then, using a small set of scissors (there are brow-specific pairs on the market), gently and carefully cut the ends of any longer hairs. Do the same moving downwards.

3. Know the beginning, the middle and the end

The beginning: To determine where your eyebrows should ideally start, place any straight-lined object (your tweezers or a pencil will work perfectly) vertically along the outer edge of your nose. Where the line hits your brows, approximately an inch above the inner corner of your eye, is your starting point.

TIP: Double check that the bridge of your nose sits squarely in the middle of these two starting points before you start plucking.

The middle: The mid to end point of your brow is also known as the highest point of your natural arch. Measuring with the straight object, ensure your arch sits parallel to the outside corner of your iris.

The end: Angle the straight object once more, this time diagonally from your nostril to the outside corner of your eye. Continue the line up to what should ideally be the end point of your eyebrows.

4. Through thick or thin, with an eyebrow stencil

According to your face shape and naturally, your personal preference, you will be working with a thicker or thinner brow. Some of us are blessed with a set of full, thick lines to shape and style as we please. If this is you, then tweeze away according to the tips above or alternatively, use an eyebrow stencil that suits your natural brow shape as a guide.

If your eyebrows are on the thinner side, apply the eyebrow stencil, press it down firmly (ensuring most of your natural brow hair is inside the stencil) and ‘fill’ with a coloured pencil or powder.

5. Choose the perfect process

Many of us leave our arch shaping to the deft hands of the professionals. However, it can be confusing to decide what type of method you’d like them to use: tweezing, waxing, threading or laser?

As a general rule, tweezing is best for light maintenance (for example, cleaning up a few strays or lightly re-shaping an arch), where waxing is reserved for the dark and wiry brows that grow back thick, quick and strong.

Threading (or epilation) has emerged in recent years as a great alternative to waxing. A thin cotton thread is doubled, twisted, and rolled over areas of unwanted hair at the follicle level. Threading is great to remove short lines of hair and provides precise control.

You can do away with plucking, threading and waxing all together if you choose to follow the route of eyebrow laser shaping. According to Westside Laser Dermatology in Brisbane, treatment takes less than 5 minutes, but your hair and skin type will determine the overall number of treatments you will require (usually 4-6).

RELATED BEAUTY NEWS:
Age-defying makeup and hair tricks
The best brows for your face shape