It’s been said time and again how the shape of one’s eyebrows can enhance a face’s overall look, the same way the perfect drapes do to a window. I once knew an aspiring model who had the features and the body suited for the ramp and print ads, but honestly, her sparse eyebrows just made her look like a fish. She shunned eyebrow pencils, claiming they’re “for older people”. I am unsure as to what happened to her, but I do hope her modeling career has gone swimmingly well since I saw her last.
So fret not, because if you have a problem with your eyebrows, chances are there’s a simple remedy for it. Are they too bushy? Do they have bald spots? Do they insist on growing the wrong way? Just a bit of patience and the proper instruments can make those wayward facial hairs as tame as purring kittens, instead of the unruly lions wreaking havoc above your eyes like they are now. First off, you’ll need the tools of the trade: a mirror, good lighting, a sturdy pair of quality tweezers, a tube of eyebrow gel, an eyebrow pencil in a color that is a few shades lighter than your eyebrow hair color, some eyebrow powder of the same color, and an eyebrow brush.
I find that “setting up shop” in natural light, such as near a window, works best for me whenever I groom my hair. But really, a good strong light source that doesn’t cast shadows would be good indoors, as well. Now, take a good, long look at your eyebrows. If they are scattered and bushy and seem to have hair growing beyond the brow shape, this is where the eyebrow brush and tweezers will come in handy. Thankfully, you’re working with more instead of less, so groom the hair first with the eyebrow brush, pluck the stray hair, and stick to the basic shape of your eyebrows. Afterwards, coat lightly with eyebrow gel to keep the hair in place. Don’t forget to tweeze the hairs that grow between the two brows, if you have them.
If you’ve over-plucked or have gaps within the hair of your brows, they would need to be shaded. You can use your eyebrow pencil for this, using upward strokes in the bald or sparse areas. You have to make sure, however, that the shade you choose isn’t darker than your actual hair color. This will result in harsher-looking and severe features, and unless you want the Morticia Addams vibe going, then I suggest you opt for a lighter shade. Also, be gentle with the pencil because heavy strokes will be obvious in natural light.
For eyebrows that are thin and barely-there, you might just need the aid of an eyebrow stencil. There are affordable ones available in any beauty bar, so make sure you choose which one flatters your facial features best. Remember that basic eyebrow shapes can dictate how you look: curved and arch ones make you look too surprised and comical, those that slant in an angle toward your nose might make you look perpetually pissed off, and those that droop in parentheses near the corners of your eyes might make people think you’re about to cry. Best to stick to a classic shape, and then carefully apply the stencil to your eyebrow area. Make sure you still follow the basic positioning of your own natural eyebrows, though, no matter how ghostly they may appear. Fill in the areas with an eyebrow pencil, and lightly dust the whole area with eyebrow powder. Voila! Instant facelift in a matter of minutes.