Eyebrows are one of the most essential features that compliment your whole face. Eyebrows add strength and definition to your face and frame the eyes that’s why it’s essential to be beautifully groomed. By reshaping the eyebrows you can really change the way your face looks. Eyebrows can be maintained in many different ways today by tweezing, waxing, threading, using cosmetic products.
So what are the ways on how to maintain your eyebrows?
- How do you shape your eyebrows
- Where should the eyebrows start from
- How to trim eyebrows
- Threading and waxing
- Tweezing
- Tinting the eyebrows
- Filling in the eyebrows
- Setting the eyebrows
- Concealing
- How to grow your eyebrows naturally
I have put together a guide on various tips on ways to maintain your eyebrows…
How Do You Shape Your Eyebrows
When it comes to your eyebrows the most important factor you need to take into account is how your eyebrows are shaped after all the last thing that you want are eyebrows that are not even looking even or shaped correctly. Once you have shaped your eyebrows it’s then a case of cleaning up around that shaped eyebrow, below are some points that I have highlighted.
Once the lighting has been sorted it will help restructure the shape of the eyebrows. When shaping the eyebrows there are three main points to keep in mind points A, B, C
Point A: We need to create a frame so we know how to start the shape of the eyebrows, this is where point A will start from. Which will be the beginning of the of the eyebrows. From point A to B is where the eyebrows are the thickest.
Point B: The arch of the eyebrows. This is where the midpoint of the eyebrows is usually located and what determines the arch of the eyebrows so this would be point B
Point C: Is the tail of the eyebrows which should be the thinnest part of the eyebrows this would be from point B to C this would be the ends of the eyebrows.
Where Should The Eyebrows Start From
To locate where point A is we need to first brush out our natural brow hairs upwards with a spooli. Using a slim stick use a thin vertical stick against the face. With the straight stick connect the side of the bridge of the nose to the outside of the inner corner of the eye. By using the side of the bridge of the nose it will help create a more accurate marker especially for the various nose shapes out there.
To locate the B point of the eyebrows which would typically be where the arch of the brow would be. In order to locate the arch, look straight and use the bottom of the bridge of the nose with the outer edge of the pupil. In this case, the straight stick will be on a slight angle. The section in which the stick crosses is where the arch of the eyebrow will be located.
To locate the C point which is where the tail of the eyebrow will be. Join the bottom of the bridge of the nose with the outer corner of the eye. This is typically where the brow bone would be.
Once the three points are located I usually use a string to help connect the three points. This is where I can determine how thin or thick I want the eyebrows to be. This helps me create a frame. Anything outside of this frame will require hair removal and anything within this frame would require to be filled in with products if there are spaces and have gaps.
How to Trim Eyebrows
Once the appropriate frame is determined for the eyebrows the next step is to trim them. In order to trim your eyebrows, you will need either a comb or a spooli. Comb the hair upwards. Assuming you have the desired frame of the eyebrow shape still mapped out. Any hairs that are brushed upwards and out of the frame should be trimmed. Trimming the eyebrows within the frame will even out the eyebrows texture and give it more of a defined look.
It will help the brows look less bushy if that’s a look you’re trying to avoid. I personally like to use small stainless steel scissors that make it easy to trim eyebrow hairs. I usually stick to the straight pointed ones because it gives me that precision as to where to trim the hairs whereas larger scissors won’t give the same type of result.
Threading And Waxing
Threading is a process in which thread is twisted and is able to capture hairs into its twist and remove hairs from the roots. The process of threading removes hair sections at a time. Threading gives more precision during hair removal which allows the shaping and definition of eyebrows. I personally find that the hairs either don’t grow back over time or grow in really thin because of the removal of hair damages the roots which at times can stop the growth of the hair.
Is Threading Very Painful
When threading for the first time it can be painful. However, during hair removal, it’s important to stretch the skin in the section the hairs are removed. This will prevent grazing from the skin. When the hairs are slightly thicker it can be more painful another way to prevent pain is by using talc powder. The talc powder will act like an extra layer of skin which will help prevent any cuts.
I personally found that overtime threading becomes less painful due to the hair follicles weakening which helps the hairs come out of the skin easier.
Can Threading Stop Hair Growth
Threading overtime can reduce the growth of hairs. I personally found with my own experience that the hairs grow back a lot finer and eventually stops growing with continuous use. Over time the hairs will get damaged by the follicle due to how the hairs are removed this either damages the follicle completely which prevents growth or making the growth of the hairs thinner.
How Long Do Eyebrows Last After Threading
When it comes to threading depending on your hair growth the eyebrows will slowly grow in about two to three weeks. For myself, I find that it has always grown back in two weeks with a few ingrown hairs. However, if I wait for about three weeks most of the eyebrow hairs are grown back in full with very few ingrown hairs.
Is Threading Good For Your eyebrows
The benefits threading has is that it can remove hair in sections which allows more precision when shaping the brows. Another benefit is that it suits all skin types because it doesn’t require any chemicals. This is probably the most natural way of hair removal.
Pros and Cons of Threading
Pros:
- No chemicals are required
- Removes the thinnest hairs
- Suitable for sensitive skin types
- Not messy
- Hair growth becomes thinner overtime
Cons:
- Can graze the skin if the skin is not stretched and can be painful
Is It Better To Wax Or Thread Eyebrows
If your looking for a quicker way for hair removal waxing would be more beneficial. However, I have always found that waxing never really removed the finer hairs where threading is able to capture those hairs and remove them. I also found that waxing can be more damaging to the skin than threading because if the wax isn’t heated at a safe temperature for facial hair removal it can cause the skin to burn.
The growth time of hair will take about three to six weeks but this all depends on your own personal hair growth. For myself, it took approximately three weeks until I saw hair growth appear and by the fourth week. If your skin is more sensitive then threading would be a better option because it’s a more natural approach.
Waxing Eyebrows
Waxing the eyebrows can be less painful because of how quick it removes hairs. Working with wax usually requires quick results because it removes a lot of hairs at once. Hot wax usually requires the wax to be heated electrically to a certain temperature in order for it to be placed on the skin and removed.
If you work slowly with hot wax you defiantly won’t get any results when it comes to hair removal. When working with hot wax its also important to work quickly because the wax usually is warm and opens up the pores which help remove hairs quickly and easier by the roots, if you wait too long the wax can harden and end up ripping a layer of the skin.
When waxing the eyebrows it’s important to apply the wax in the direction of hair growth and hair should be pulled out the opposite direction. Another way to wax off facial hair is by using wax strips made for facial hair. This type of wax is less messy and doesn’t require heat. I personally think its safer than the hot wax. With most wax strips it requires your body heat in order for the wax to activate in order for the hair removal to occur. When waxing its important to stretch the skin just like threading in order for the skin not to tear.
How Long Does Eyebrow Waxing Last
This all depends on your own body and cycle of hair growth. Waxing can last anywhere from 2-6 weeks. For myself personally, I found that it lasts for about three and a half weeks.
What Do They Put On Your Eyebrows After Waxing
The powder that is used before waxing is either baby powder or a type of talc powder. The reason for this is because it absorbs any excess oils on the skin so that when waxing it helps remove hairs properly.
Do Your Eyebrows Grow Back After Waxing
When waxing the eyebrows I personally found that my hair grew back but thinner. However, over the course of a long period of time hair will stop growing in some parts because follicles get damaged during hair removal.
Pros and Cons of waxing:
Pros:
- Quick and fast process
- Hair takes longer to grow in
- Hair grows thinner overtime
- Less painful than threading
Cons:
- Higher risk of burns
- Messy
- Doesn’t remove the finest hairs
- Not suitable for sensitive skin types
- If you don’t work fast wax it can harden on the skin it can cause the skin to rip
Click on this article to learn how to prevent breakouts after threading and waxing.
Tweezing
Tweezing is another form of hair removal and maintaining eyebrows. If you decide to tweeze the eyebrows it requires individual hair removal. A good pair of tweezers can make the process of hair removal easier. There are two types of tweezers one being slanted which can remove bulks of hair at a time and then there is pointed tweezers which focus on removing individual hairs.
I personally like a pair of stainless steel tweezer that has a pointed end to work with. This allows me to have more control and precision with hair removal which can also help the eyebrows have a more defined look. It’s always important to remove hairs the direction of hair growth otherwise this can cause ingrown hairs.
Tweezing the eyebrows come in handy when it’s a challenge for waxing or threading to remove ingrown of smaller hairs. When using a tweezer to remove hairs it’s really important not to overpluck hairs because this can really mess up an eyebrow shape. It’s important to work within your stencil or frame of desired brow shape otherwise anything that is inside the frame can be ruined with overplucking the eyebrows.
How Often Should I Tweeze My Eyebrows
Depending on hair growth you can find yourself tweezing around the frame of the eyebrows every 2 to 3 days just to keep the brows nice and tidy.
How Do You Tweeze Eyebrows
It’s best to invest in pointed tweezers that are sharp which make it easier to remove individual hairs. This will also give you more precision. The best time to tweeze the eyebrows is after a shower because the follicles are more open and make hair removal easier. When tweezing the eyebrows always make sure you have the desired frame in mind especially if you’re the one tweezing your own eyebrows.
Make sure hair removal takes place within that frame otherwise you could end up overplucking causing an uneven eyebrow shape. It’s also important to remove hairs the direction of hair growth
Is It Safe To Pluck Eyebrows
Tweezing the eyebrows is a safe practice, it’s also wise to sanitize the area in which the hairs have been removed. This will help prevent any bacteria from entering the opened pores which can cause pimples or an infection. The best way to sanitize the skin is with witch hazel which acts like an antibacterial and will help soothe the swollen brow area.
Tinting The Eyebrows
What Does An Eyebrow Tint Do
Tinting the eyebrows can help define the brows by darkening lighter eyebrow colors. It can make the brows seems thicker and bolder. I personally found that getting it done in the salon is the best because of the semi-permanent dye used. It lasts about 4 weeks and can take away the step of constantly filling in eyebrows. To avoid allergic reactions to the dye make sure you ask to do a patch test 24hours prior to getting your eyebrows done from a salon.
Filling In The Eyebrows
How To Fill In Eyebrows With Powder
Maintaining and filling in the brows takes some patience when you first start off, I have put together a few steps that will help maintain the eyebrows on a daily basis.
Step 1: Using a spooli brush and brush the eyebrow hairs upwards. This will help you see the overall shape of the eyebrows.
Step 2: Prior to any hair removal it’s important to apply a powder that will act as a second layer of skin. This one step can prevent hair removal from being painful. Adding powder will act as another layer of skin.
Step 3: Remove any unwanted and stray hairs with tweezers. A simple way to do this is by aligning the beginning of the brows with the center of the nostril. The Arc should be located at an angle right above the eye. (using the A, B and C points explained earlier)
Step 4: Using the correct brow powder, use a thin angled brush to draw soft strokes on the inner edge of the eyebrow.
Step 5: Using a clean spooli brush the powder through in an upward angle until you have desired depth. Brushing the product also helps the product the eyebrows look more natural by reducing harsh lines.
Step 6: Apply more powder to the arch of the brows, then bring it down to the tail. Using a spooli bring the product down at an angle.
Step 7: Add highlighter or concealer for more definition under the brow and blend it out.
Step 8: Set with a clear Gel
What Color To Use To Fill In Black Eyebrows
This depends on the color of your eyebrows, for example, you may have dark brown hair which may appear almost black on your brows. In such cases, it’s wise to look at a brow filler that is black-brown. If your brows are black and the roots of your hair appear black then you could go with black powder or a shadow.
The best way to apply a black color to black brows would be by applying the product with light strokes to the brows. You want to mimic the hairs giving the illusion you have more eyebrow hairs which can give your natural eyebrows more definition. This would work well with all types of products such as pencils, powders, and gels.
When shaping the eyebrows it’s important to fill in the eyebrows within the shape of the brow. When filling the eyebrows it requires filling in within the frame of the eyebrows whereas filling outside the frame would require hair removal.
Filling the eyebrows helps makes the eyebrows look more even and can make them look bolder and more dramatic. Filling the eyebrows can solve the problem for any eyebrows that are sparse and have a lot of gaps and patches within the eyebrows.
How Do I Choose An Eyebrow Color
When it comes to selecting the color of your brows always look at the part of your brows that has the most thickness. Find a color that is closest to the thicker section of the brow. If you’re looking to achieve a more natural look stick to that same color and if you want to make your brows look more intense you can show one shade or two shades darker.
I personally found that IT Cosmetics brow pencil seems to work well universally for most eyebrow colors. If you have lighter eyebrows more towards a dirty blond color this eyebrow pencil would work well with more gentle strokes. If you have darker brows this pencil would work well with harder pressure to give a more darker color to the brows.
It’s also a product that is dual and has a spooli on the other end of the pencil. Therefore, once the eyebrows are drawn in you can go in and comb the hairs in with the spooli and the hairs you drew in to blend in as one.
Setting The Eyebrows
What Does Eyebrow Gel Do
Eyebrow gel is usually the last step when setting the eyebrows. It keeps the hairs in place. Brow gel can also seal in the product like our brow pencil and powdered brow products. I personally found that brow gel keeps the eyebrows neat and tidy all day and allows the product to stay in place all day.
What Is Tinted Eyebrow Gel
Another product that can be considered is tinted brow gel. This is a two in one type of product, I found that this type of product darkens any lighter brows. It gives the benefit of defining the brows and setting them at the same time. Instead of there being a two-step process with brow powders and brow gel a product such as a tinted brow gel eliminates two products.
A lot of these products have a formulation that promises to leave no residue behind, this means that the product is most likely long lasting and blends in with the natural brows. The formulation works smoothly whereas if you apply brow product and place a gel on top of it the consistency can change.
Concealing
How To Shape Your Brows With Concealer
The concealer has many purposes such as hiding uneven pigmentation, spots, and dark circles. Concealers can also make the eyebrows look more highlighted and defined. A lighter concealer which is two shades lighter than your normal skin tone can brighten the eye area and under the brows.
If you don’t like highlighting the eyebrow with a shimmer shade a more natural approach would be with a concealer. Always apply the concealer under the brow and follow the line of your natural brow, and then blend the concealer out. This one trick will instantly brighten the brow area and hide any stubborn ingrown hairs that are harder to remove and that may darken the under the brow area.
How Do You Apply Eyebrow Highlighter
A highlighter is supposed to be used where the natural light would hit the face. This brings forward the features that are used to bring the eyebrows forward to make it stand out. The main area where the highlighter should be placed is under the brow which will help accentuate the brow bone and will help draw attention to the brows.
There are three main formulations when it comes to highlighters which is cream, powder, and liquid. A cream highlight would have more moisture in it to help hydrate the skin giving it natural luminosity. A powder highlighter can be used wet or dry. If a powder highlight is used dry it can be buildable and if it’s used wet it can have more intensity. Lastly, a liquid highlight can also be buildable and usually has the most intensity.
How To Grow Your Eyebrows Naturally
When it comes to growing the brows it can be expensive as there are many hair growing serums out on the market. Growing hair back on the brows is possible with the right ingredients. I prefer to always try the natural approach to avoid any harsh chemicals.
Hair loss on the eyebrows usually occurs because the hair follicles have damaged over time of hair removal or because you may be lacking certain nutrients which help stimulate hair growth. The following ingredients are worth trying to help grow the eyebrows.
Organic Coconut Oil: Is a natural moisturizer that can help condition the brow hairs. It makes the hair softer and thicker with continuous use. It helps grow hair faster due to the natural fatty acids it carries.
Cold pressed Castor Oil: Is very thick in consistency. A little goes a long way. It’s high in nutrients which can help stimulate the follicles which encourage hair growth. Over a few weeks hair will start to grow thicker.
Almond Oil: Almond oil is high in vitamin E which is usually good for the skin. It can hydrate the skin and also helps make hair grow in thicker.
All these natural oils will help hydrate the skin and help thicken hair growth naturally.
DIY Lash serum: Using a small container which is about 15 ml place all the natural oils to create your own natural hair growth serum.
½ a spoon of coconut oil
½ spoon of almond oil
½ of castor oil
Mix the three ingredients together and apply the product on clean eyebrows with a Q-tip (dip the Q-tip into the serum and evenly apply all over the eyebrows)
Do this step at night for about two to three weeks every day and there should be hair growth on the eyebrows. This should help stimulate the follicle to encourage hair growth and get rid of any gaps in the brows. This same formulation can also be used on the eyelashes to help grow eyelashes.