I find myself again sitting on a train and staring across at someone opposite with what can only be described as two slugs sitting on their forehead. I KNOW I shouldn’t stare, and I don’t mean to be offensive, but this is such a solvable problem… So, let’s have a chat about how to fix our eyebrows.
Everyone’s eyebrows are completely different, and I think that is what makes learning how to do your own eyebrow’s so difficult. Lips are lips most of the time, and the colour and shape may change, but lipstick application doesn’t change all that much between people. But eyebrows are just so varied – shape, size, colour, angle, thickness/sparseness, location even! Likewise, people take care of their eyebrows so differently – tweezing, waxing, threading, laser, and some do nothing at all(?!). However, in general, I think there are a few rules that generally can help someone along with their eyebrows.
Eyebrows are siblings, NOT twins!
I am sure you have heard this before, but it never becomes less true. Yes of course they’ve got to be siblings that somewhat resemble one another, but don’t spend all your time worrying that they’re not perfectly alike. When you’re next on a train and feel like being rude (I’m glad I’m inspiring you) have a glance at people’s eyebrows and you’ll notice they aren’t exactly alike. People spend so long trying to make them perfectly symmetrical, but they in fact just end up adding more and more product.
Start with thin, quick strokes before you start colouring in
Don’t just go ham with a powder or pencil and start colouring in every gap in your brows. Even if you’ve got really thick brows and use a powder, not a pencil, to fill them in, start with small, thin strokes that attempt to replicate hairs. There are some amazing products (I’ll give some recommendations below) which do a really good job at replicating hairs, and that are really easy to work with. Start slow and build up lots of small little flicks of pigment that gently fill in your brows.
Small gaps are okay!
Whilst you are staring at the person opposite you to see if they’ve got symmetrical brows, note that they probably have some sparse looking areas in their brows. I’m not suggesting you don’t fill in large gaps in your brows, but equally it’s okay to have moments where your brows aren’t so perfectly filled in. Also, the front of your brow is more sparse than the middle, so it’s worth letting yourself have a few moments of space when filling the front in.
Find the right shade
This seems like a simple one, but honestly it is really worth checking that you’ve got the right shade. Brow pencils, and powders in particular I find, have so many different undertones that even if you have the right shade, you may be working with an undertone that is too grey or too warm for your hair. Especially those of you with strawberry blonde hair, it is very easy to accidentally use a colour that is a touch too orange for you.
Brush your brows
Brushing your brows upwards, with a brow gel if you’d like, is a really easy way to give them shape and make them appear fuller. They’ll also frame your face better too! If you’re feeling adventurous, Lisa Eldridge (the legend herself) actually brushes brows down before she fills them in, saying that she finds it to be the best way to actually see the gaps in the brow before filling them in.
Live your own personal life
Finally, and most importantly, live your own personal life! If you don’t want to follow any of these tips, that’s fair enough. Some people like slugs, some people want extremely symmetrical brows, and some just downright don’t care either way. Hunny you do you, because it’s makeup and at the end of the day, you can always just wipe it off.
Here are some good products to help you on your way –
Lancôme – Brow Define Pencil
Glossier – Brow Flick
Stila – Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour
Kimiko – Super Fine Eyebrow Pencil
(For Pro’s – Kryolan Eyebrow & Eyeshadow 5 Colour Powder Palette)
“I had a lot of dates but I decided to stay home and dye my eyebrows” – Andy Warhol
Shivaike Shah 