Eye Brows the Wise Way

Raising Eyebrows

Brows Frame Our Eyes and Give Them Impact.

Our arch-shaped eyebrows angle the rain or sweat around to the side of our faces - leaving our eyes fairly dry. By catching the water or sweat, our eyebrows not only allow us to see more clearly, but also keep salty sweat from burning or irritating our eyes.

And forget eyes, brows are also handy little windows to the soul - as one of our most expressive facial features, eyebrows can let you in on how someone's feeling without ever really asking them.

But "real" purposes aside, they really do wonders for your face - a good shape (a nice, but not too angular, arch with the hair growing right out to be at right angles with the outer corner of your eye) can frame your face, make your cheekbones more prominent and make you look fresher and younger.

“If eyebrows are shaped incorrectly it can affect the whole look of your face”, says eyebrow artist Carly Thompson.

Round Faces

Avoid thin eyebrows as this emphasises fullness. The same goes for those with strong jawlines – balance your face with fuller brows.

Oval or Heart Shaped Faces

Thinner eyebrow lines suit most oval or heart shaped face shapes.

How Do I Determine My Natural Brow Shape?

Hold a pencil straight upwards from the outside of your nostril. This should line up with the inner edge of your brow. Then hold it in-line with the outside of your pupil to determine your natural arch. The brow should naturally taper and end directly above the outside corner of the eye.

Tweezers

Choose the best tweezers you can afford. It’s best to use slanted tweezers with a broad surface which gives you a stronger hold on fine and short hairs. You can also purchase tweezers with an inbuilt light to aid visibility.

Plucking

Place a heated cloth on your eyebrows before plucking to open your pores. Always pluck in the direction of the hair and AVOID PICKING AT INGROWN HAIRS as they may become infected and can cause scaring.

Always wash tweezers thoroughly after use and use a bit of antiseptic to help sterilise them. Store them securely and try not to drop your tweezers as you may damage the shape which affects their performance..

TIPS AND TRICKS

•Pluck brows one at a time in natural light and use a magnifying mirror ( I use 10x magnification).

•Unless you are really confident, don’t attempt to reshape your brows at home. Leave this to a salon expert. You can maintain the shape at home by plucking regrowth beneath the brows.

•Gently brush brows in the natural direction of their growth with an eyebrow brush. A little gel or Vaseline will keep them neatly groomed.

•Regardless of your face shape, eyebrows should always be thicker in the centre and taper to a point at the outer edge.

•If you have over-plucked your brows and have gaps or need to fill the brows out, use a good brow liner and choose a colour one shade lighter than the natural colour of your brows.

•Apply sparingly and use short feathery strokes.