HOW TO SCULPT PERFECT EYEBROWS

By Jessica Crilley Adolfsen

18 April 2016

Cosmetics and Makeup

Want to know the secret behind bold, beautiful, brows? We have all the tips and tricks on how anyone can achieve perfect brows.

Want to know my biggest beauty regret? Neglecting my brows for as long as I did! Sure, I plucked a few stray hairs and did my best to conceal any traces of a unibrow, but other than that, I never gave my brows a second thought. All that changed, however, when I sculpted my brows for the very first time. The two caterpillars sitting above my eyes, were transformed into gorgeous, runway worthy brows that could rival Brooke Shields’ (Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit). That said, defining your brows can do wonders for your face and should be an essential part of your beauty routine. Don’t believe me? Here’s why…

1. Full brows help create a more youthful appearance.

2. Defined brows enhance your eyes and can even, create the illusion of longer lashes!

3. Bold brows are slimming on the face.

BROW BASICS

We all know bad eyebrows when we see them, but what makes a good brow? The perfect brow begins in alignment with your nostril and/or tear duct and ends at a 45 degree angle from the corner of your eye. Your arch should align roughly with the edge of your pupil, however everyone’s natural arch is different, so keep that in mind.

STEP ONE

Clean your brows as well as the surrounding area, you can use a makeup remover wipe or just some soap and water. This step is crucial! Clean skin not only minimises the chance of breakouts, but also ensures that you’re getting the most from your products. You wouldn’t eat before washing your hands, so don’t apply makeup before cleaning your face!

STEP TWO

Once your brows are au natural apply some brow wax to your brows. Please note that brow wax is NOT the same a hair removal wax—trust me, you don’t want to make that mistake! The brow wax I’m talking about is similar to hair pomade, albeit lighter. It’s used to keep the hairs in place and create a more polished look. There’s no need to splurge on a brow wax, since there’s already some great waxes included in brow kits such as the Barry M Brow Kit and the W7 Brow Parlour Kit. W7 even offers a 3 in 1 Brow Pencil Definer that includes brow wax in pencil form. I personally use the wax in the W7 Brow Parlour Kit and have had some great results!

STEP THREE

The next step is brushing your brows. Take a brow comb and brush the hairs in an upward direction, then carefully, using the same brow comb sweep any stray hairs back into alignment with the rest of the brow. This technique helps prevent over plucking and creates a more full look. You may also use a small pair of scissors to clip any dangling hairs, but tread CAREFULLY! If you go all Edward Scissorhands, you gonna end up with a pair of patchy brows.

STEP FOUR

Since finding your natural arch is a MUST for perfect eyebrows, don’t leave it up to chance. Instead, I recommend using the W7 Brow Master Stencil Kit in order to create that beautifully defined look. The stencils in the W7 Brow Master Stencil Kit are pretty foolproof (I know, I’ve tested them). After you’ve followed the steps above, simply find the stencil that best fits your brow shape, hold it in place and fill in your desired brow colour (read more about that below). If you have trouble holding the stencil in place, you can also use some sellotape.

THIN BROWS VS. THICK BROWS

After you’ve tamed your brows, you’re gonna want to pick out a brow colour. For naturally thin or sparse brows, I recommend at brow pencil such as Yves Saint Laurent Yeux Eye Brow Pencil or W7 Brow Master 3 In 1 Brow Pencil Definer. Both pencils include a brush and offer great coverage. When using a pencil, remember less is more! The harder you press, the darker the coverage. So unless you want to look like you literally penciled your brows in, I suggest applying light, delicate strokes. Coveting a bolder look? M2 Beaute Eyebrow Renewing Serum is a bestseller and cult favourite amongst thinner browed gals. Test it yourself and see results in as little as 6-8 weeks!

If you have naturally thick brows like mine, opt for a powder or brow mascara like W7 Queen Of Brows. Using an angled brush, like the one included in both W7’s Brow Bar or Brow Parlour Kit, start at the arch of the brow and and lightly apply powder throughout. Avoid making a harsh outline of the brow. Instead, fill the inside first and work your way out. Ultimately, the colour should be darkest where the hair is the most concentrated. If you want an even more defined look, feel free to use a brow pencil on underside of your brow. Brush your brows a final time to ensure that the powder is evenly distributed.

CLEANING UP YOUR BROWS

After you’ve filled in your brows and removed the stencils, you should have a better idea of the shape of your brows. This makes it easy to zone in on any unwanted hairs and pluck them to oblivion! I used the mini tweezers in the W7 Brow Parlour Kit, but you’re welcome to use whichever hair remover method that works best for you.

FINAL TOUCHES

Last but not least, apply some highlighter below you arch to accentuate your newly perfect brows! Barry M.’s Brow Kit as well as W7’s Brow Bar and Brow Parlour kit include some great highlighters, so try them for yourself and see what you like. You can also use a highlighting concealer such as Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat.

DO’S & DON’TS

Before you go, here are the DO’s and DON’Ts of brows:

DO use a brow mascara when you’re on the go. Brow mascara is easy to use and helps tame your brows while simultaneously colouring them. If you’re still on the fence, try out W7’s Queen of Brows, it’s cheap and easy to use—the perfect starter brow mascara!

DON’T try to make your brows match perfectly. Just like the shape of your eyes, no two brows are alike. Try to create symmetry, but don’t expect carbon copies.

DO experiment with colour. You can chose a eyebrow colour that’s 1-2 shades darker or lighter than your natural colour, or even opt for a perfect match. See what you like best. Remember though, less is more!

DON’T use a magnifying mirror when doing your brows. Yes, I know it may be tempting to use one, but before you know it, you’ve taken off half your brow and there’s no going back. Just use a regular mirror, it will make it easier to create symmetry and help you avoid any tweezer induced apocalypses.