Beautiful brows

Despite their different methods, the brow artists we talked to agree that eyebrows frame the eyes — the windows to the soul. And today’s popular options for beautiful brows — waxing, tweezing and threading — are all effective and really a matter of personal preference.

What you should know about waxing

“Eyebrows can make or break the face,” says Jill Jaman of Bella Cara in Beverly Hills. “I consult with clients. From there, I go into shaping. I try to enhance what you have on your own to the best it can be.”

• Before your brow shaping begins, tell your artist what affects your skin and the products you’re currently using. Would you like your brows waxed or tweezed? Sensitive skin fares better with tweezing. Are you using any form of Retin-A or a product with alpha hydroxy acids? If so, avoid waxing. Jaman explains, “If you’re already exfoliated, which sloughs off the top dead layer, the warm wax pulls skin off again.”

• If you’ve just had Botox near the brows, avoid waxing. Botox lifts the forehead skin, and it may make eyebrows uneven. The result may be an exaggerated arched look.

• All brows should not be shaped the same. “Some eyebrows are wrong for a face or are not enhancing. I see an invisible line and know how the brows should be. So I go with what works on the person rather than the in-crowd look or latest fashion trend,” Jaman says.

• If you have a growth gap, try special brow makeup to fill them in. Brows grow in different textures and rates.

• Using scissors to trim the brows helps create a well-manicured look.

• Get brows waxed or tweezed once a month to keep them polished.

In-between brow care

Below are some dos and don’ts to keep in mind when you’re in-between your waxing sessions.

• Don’t be a tweeze-aholic. Some people tweeze their eyebrows daily. But according to Jaman, brows are usually tweezed too far apart in the middle, and the hair doesn’t grow back the same. In fact, she says that it might not grow back at all.

• Don’t tweeze the extra hair at the brows’ end. Says Jaman, “it’s finer and doesn’t grow back as fast. If you tweeze that off, your eyebrows go straight up. We call these ‘brow commas.’ If there’s nothing where the arch goes down to hold the shape, you disrupt the brow frame and look odd.”

• Do use this rule of thumb when tweezing: Put your thumb against the bridge of your nose, push tight and let it go. You can tweeze where it’s white.

• Do wait until your brow hairs grow in for shaping. Jaman’s motto: “If in doubt, wait it out.”

The Art of Threading®

According to Sumita Batra and Suman Patel of Ziba Beauty, the legendary queen Cleopatra reputedly had her servants use threading to remove hair from her entire body. Now, China, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Iran and India practice this popular brow-shaping method.

“We are doing our part in introducing Eastern joys to the modern world and expanding the ancient tradition here in the west,” say Batra and Patel. They joke, “If Mona Lisa had eyebrows that showed, her smile would stand out even more!”

What you should know about threading

• Threading is a non-invasive hair removal technique that shapes eyebrows. Holding the knotted end of a special cotton thread, an artist gently twists the thread and runs it along the brow area needing hair removal. She quickly grabs and removes excess hairs from the follicles.

• Experts make sure the brows fit the face. They analyze the structure of each person’s face, assess the condition of the brows and select the best shape for symmetry.

• Arched brows enhance a round face, while curved brows work against it.

• Threading is safe for anyone. Even if you’re using a retinoid formula or have a skin condition like rosacea, threading works well.

• Regarding pain level, “If you can take tweezing, this is right around the corner,” say Batra and Patel.

• After threading, brows might need the final touch of brushes, scissors and specialized products. To tame brows, they “recommend a wax pencil with natural ingredients that helps set the brows and keeps hair in place.”

• You don’t need to wait for brow hairs to grow back for shaping. Threads can grip and remove short hairs.

• Have brows threaded every two to three weeks for best results. But avoid daily tweezing. If brows are over-tweezed, “We tell a customer to grow the hair a bit and come back for a customized look.”

• Choose an experienced brow artist from a sanitary and reputable salon.

There are a variety of methods for shaping your brows, and each technique has its own advantages. Do your research to find the technique that’s right for you.

See also:

Eyebrow Grooming Made Easy

5 Basic Rules in Skincare & Beauty That Are Meant to Be Broken

Top 10 Travel-Friendly Skin & Strand Care Kits

The Minimalist’s Makeup Routine