When it comes to getting perfect perfect brows,
we're faced with different options — the most common of which are
tweezing, waxing, and threading. Each comes with its own set of pros and
cons. We reached out to some amazing eyebrow experts to give us the
rundown of each eyebrow method so you can figure out what's best for
you.
How to Tweeze Eyebrows
- Grip the tweezers between your thumb and index finger.
- Center the hair between the tips of the tweezers, as close as possible to the skin.
- Press down tightly and pull out quickly in the direction of hair growth.
- Repeat until all stray hairs are gone.
Tweezing Pros
Tweezing is great because it's incredibly DIY. Beverly Hills brow guru Anastasia Soare, who's perfected the arches of Hailee Steinfeld and Selena Gomez,
insists the technique offers major precision. "You can pencil your
eyebrows in their desired shape," she says, "and then tweeze around
that, using it as a guideline." If you're just plucking in between and
around the brows, you're allowing your hair to grow for a more imperfect, Cara-like finish. And FYI, a good pair of tweezers is a solid investment.
Tweezing Cons
"If
you tweeze incorrectly, it's not like a bad haircut, says Anastasia.
"Sometimes the eyebrow doesn't grow back." Her word to the wise? "Be
conservative! And say no to magnifying mirrors. You get too close and
can start to over-tweeze."
How to Wax Eyebrows
- Heat up eyebrow wax in microwave or wax warmer.
- Use a clean stick to lightly coat a small area of skin (think a 1/4") with wax. (Make sure it's not too hot!)
- Smooth a fabric strip over the wax.
- Quickly pull off the strip in the direction of hair growth.
- Repeat until all stray hairs are gone.
- Rub vitamin E oil over skin to reduce swelling and redness.
Eyebrow Waxing Pros
"Above all other techniques, waxing tends to have the longest period in between regrowth," says Natalia Romanenko of New York's Strip Ministry of Waxing.
"So if you have thicker, coarser hair that grows back quickly, waxing
is the best option for shaping. It also encourages thinner, softer
regrowth."
Eyebrow Waxing Cons
The most
common — and obvious — complaint about waxing is the temporary red
halo it can create around the treated area after the service. "Waxing
tugs at the skin, so it's not always recommended for sensitive types,"
Natalia says. (Try an application of Kristie Streicher's Afore Oil
a couple of hours before your wax to reduce inflammation.) Another
potential downside of waxing (depending on your taste!) is that it
leaves sharp, clean lines, which make brows look very defined.
How to Thread Eyebrows
- Use manicure scissors to trim any eyebrow strands that are longer than you'd like.
- Use a brow comb to brush the brows into the desired shape.
- Cut off a piece of cotton thread that measures about 14" in length.
- Knot the thread so it is one complete loop, then twist it four or more times and form a figure eight.
- Hold each side taut between your thumb and pointer finger.
- Center the twisted center over the hair you want to remove.
- Open and close the fingers to create a twisting motion that will pull out hairs.
- Repeat until you've created the perfect eyebrow shape!
Eyebrow Threading Pros
"Threading allows for a detailed definition of the brow shape," says Tiffany Reicosky of New York beauty destination Browhaus.
"It creates a more natural finish because you're working closely with
individual hairs. It also allows technicians to move with more speed
than with tweezing." If you're looking to add an arch or let your brows
grow wild for a bit, threading can be a fast way to amp up your shape.
Eyebrow Threading Cons
While threading can
offer an undone effect similar to tweezing, the super-speedy nature of
the service is often cause for reckless hair removal. Tiffany uses a
thread-and-tweeze technique, threading the natural brow line and
tweezing any stray hairs afterward. Be sure to call your threading salon
ahead of time and inquire about their practice before making your
appointment.
5 Things to Remember about Doing Your Eyebrows
If
you're not a celebrity, you probably can't bankroll bi-weekly brow
appointments. You're often left with no choice but to take matters into
your own hands, but unless you're a highly trained expert, that's where
the trouble can begin.
Sebastian Latiolais, resident brow guru and celebrity makeup artist at NYC's Gotham Beauty Lounge,
has seen his fair share of at-home brow maintenance gone awry. And now,
he's setting the record straight on the real dos and don'ts of
between-appointment upkeep. Read on for the full scoop.
1. Give Your Brows Time to Grow Out Between Appointments
Sure,
scheduling an appointment with a pro may seem like the easiest fix for
scraggly brows, but unless it's been at least a couple weeks since your
last grooming sesh, you're actually doing more harm than good. "The
standard amount of time for brow maintenance is three to four weeks,"
says Sebastian. More often than that, and the hairs won't be long enough
for your brow expert to do their thing. If you're the owner of
fast-growing hair, however, there's a little bit of wiggle room in this
rule: "Timing may fluctuate depending on the individual," adds
Sebastian.
2. Vet Your Aesthetician
If you're
going to an eyebrow groomer for the first time, make sure to vet them by
reading reviews and, ideally, seeing pictures of their work. You want
to feel confident with whomever you're trusting with your precious
eyebrows! "Seeing a brow artist for the first time can be very
intimidating," says Sebastian. "Most importantly, read reviews. Also,
bring them a picture of your goals to better help craft your desired
look." If you're gunning for a new shape entirely, according to
Sebastian, it's important to make sure you don't touch your brows for
about four weeks prior. Hey, pro's orders.
3. Don't Over-Tweeze
If
you've ever intended to take care of just one stray hair but minutes
later, found yourself sporting an entirely new shape, you're guilty of
the No. 1 between-appointment brow blunder: over-tweezing. "When I start
working with a client, it's typical that their brows are too thin and
uneven [due to over-tweezing]," says Sebastian. "It's important to
become aware of this habit and to stop, because before you know it, your
brows will be gone." Yep, you heard right. Too much tweezing can
actually do permanent damage to your eyebrow hairs. Pluck 'em too often,
and they simply won't grow back.
It's totally fine to
pick up your tweezers every once in a while for touch ups-as long as
you're careful. "Be sure to leave the actual shape alone," says Sebastian. His tip? Stay three to four rows of hair away from the brow itself to keep things looking natural.
4. Use Makeup to Create Your Ideal Eyebrow Shape
A
little powder and pencil can go a long way during the days before an
appointment. Instead of tweezing (that's your eyebrow expert's job,
after all!), make use of products designed to enhance the shape of your
brow. Sebastian favors Kevyn Aucoin The Precision Brow Pencil. "For a natural look, feather by using short strokes in the natural direction of your hair growth," Sebastian says.
5. Care for Your Eyebrows as You Would for Your Hair
If
you're serious about your brows, you'll treat them with the same TLC as
you do your hair. If you're trying to grow them out (or are just
committed to keeping them extra healthy!), consider applying a topical
conditioner like Ardell Brow & Lash Accelerator Treatment Gel.
As with the hair on your head, Sebastian says there can be a link
between stress and eyebrow health. "Aside from over-tweezing, stress is
another reason why brows tend to thin out," says Sebastian.
