Eyebrows 101

Posted By: Randi Vasquez// Donna Vasquez Photography

Eyebrows can say a lot about a person. Having a fierce, thick eyebrow isn't as complicated as it may look. In fact, it is pretty easy. Let your brows be the subject of small talk at this year’s office party. Tis the season for perfect brows.

Step One: Brow maintenance is everything

Before you grab the tweezers and start going to town, brush your eyebrow hairs upward with a mascara style brush. With a pair of grooming scissors carefully trim the eyebrow hairs that are excessively long or growing in opposite directions. Now that your brows are trimmed, you can reach for the tweezers. I personally prefer a slanted tweezer over needle nose, but both work just fine. Start plucking the stray hairs around the tops, sides, and bottom of your brows. To avoid the thin 90’s eyebrow, switch back and forth from a magnifying mirror and a regular mirror while tweezing.

Step Two: Shape

Now that your brows are polished and tamed, you're ready for shaping. Shaping a brow is a science, but here are two steps that make it simple and easy.

1. Determine where to start your brows by placing your makeup brush at the center of your nostril. Point your brush upward and just above the central of your nostril is where your brow should begin.

2. Next, you need to determine where to end your brow. Your brows should be at a diagonal angle from the edge of your eyes.

Step Three: Color

Now that you've plotted your shape coordinates, it's time to fill in the lines. Blondes, choose a shade that matches your very darkest eyebrow hair; redheads, choose a lighter brown with red hues; brunettes, choose a color that is one shade lighter than your hair color. There are many different tools and utensils you can use to fill in your brows; however, I prefer to use dark eye shadows and this NYX Eyebrow Marker.

Start at the beginning of your brow using a small flat brush and a lighter shade, softly brush upward, and fill in the natural shape of your brow.

Work your way through the brow by adding a darker tone to the middle and arch of your brows.

Now, transition to a very small thin brush, pencil, or marker to draw out and fill in the end of your brows.

*For a more defined and bold look, use a brow marker to create strong architectural edges.

Step Four: Finishing Touches

Congratulations, you've created the perfect brow! Add shimmer shadow to the corners of your tear ducts and to the top of your brow bone to brighten up your eyes. You can also add a dash of brow wax to your masterpiece for a polished and glossy look. No wax? Just use Vaseline or chapstick.

Step Five: In Case of Emergencies

Don't throw in the towel just yet. If your shade is looking a little too dark, lightly dust your eyebrows with your facial powder and voila!

With just a little bit of practice and effort your brows will be the talk of the town. What's your favorite brow secret?

#beauty #charismachatt #eyebrows #makeup