hether thick or thin, arched or angled, we all crave perfectly shaped, even eyebrows. A well-shaped brow, like expertly applied makeup, makes you look great without commanding all the attention. Brows shouldn’t be overstyled, but should appear as a groomed version of their natural shape.

The Basics of Brow Shaping

Tweezing Vs. Waxing

If you have ever been brave (or foolish) enough to try taming your own brows, you know that creating a natural look takes a lot of skill and work. Brow shaping primarily involves removing hairs to create the desired effect. While there are many methods of eliminating stray brow hairs, I prefer tweezing. Another popular alternative is waxing.

	Sometimes shaping brows is not about taking away, but about adding.

While wax is great for cleaning up above the brow line and on your eyelid, it should never be used to create an actual shape. Regardless of the skill of the stylist, wax oozes outward from the point of application and can lead to greater hair removal than intended.

Eyebrow Shaping Tips

Here are a few foolproof tips to help you shape a perfect brow:

• Create a template by tracing the desired shape on or around the brow with a white or flesh toned makeup pencil. Once you have the correct shape, remove any hairs outside of the line.
  
• Tweeze the hair in the direction it grows. This method leads to fewer broken hair follicles. Broken hair follicles are more likely to produce ingrown hairs.
  
• Remove Hair in Rows. Hair grows in rows and should be removed that way. If you tweeze out one row at a time, it is easier to avoid creating awkward gaps in your brow.
  
• Conceal Hairs. If you are unsure about whether to keep or remove a hair, use the tweezers to hide or move the hair so you can see what your brow will look like once it is removed. Each hair counts.

Trimming Eyebrows

The last step to shaping brows is trimming. Not every brow needs to be trimmed, but if you do decide to trim your brows, it is important to note that longer hairs can create a thickness that contributes to the shape of the brow. If you trim these hairs too short, you will create a gap in the shape. Work slowly and trim a little at a time to avoid costly mistakes.

Filling in Eyebrows

Sometimes shaping brows is not about taking away, but about adding. If your brows have been stripped almost bare and you can’t get them to grow back evenly, you’re not alone. While no one’s brows are completely even—your brows are sisters, not twins—you can create an even shape by filling in the gaps with a brow pencil or powder. Select a color that is just slightly lighter than your hair. This will create depth, and prevent your brows from looking unnatural when filled in.

The application technique is crucial to the success of the look. Use a sharpened pencil or a stiff, angled brush for precise application. Draw or brush on short dashes of color to create the illusion of small hairs in places where you need to add to the shape to create a balanced look.

Brow Maintenance

Each person’s brows grow at a different pace. It’s time for a touch up when you look in the mirror and you can’t quite put your finger on what looks off. This is the time to get out the tweezers.