Your eyebrows may exist to keep dust and small debris out of our eye sockets, but they also impact the way we look too. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for how to get the best eyebrows of your life with as little maintenance as possible — and I think I found the answer.
In this article, you’re going to find:
- 3 steps to getting the best eyebrows of your life.
- The best eyebrows for every face shape.
- 6 different ways to shape and maintain your eyebrows.
- How to grow back your eyebrows in 7 easy steps.
- Celebrity inspiration for the ultimate eyebrow goals.
3 Steps to Perfect Eyebrows for Beginners
1. Choose an eyebrow shape to suit your facial features.
Your face shape and features will greatly impact the eyebrows that best suit you. For example, a thicker, more dense brow with minimal arch may suit Australian Youtuber Shani Grimmond, but make someone else look quite severe.
Unfortunately, unless you have never touched a hair in your eyebrows, you’re most likely going to need to grow them out before you can shape them, which you’ll find some tips further down this article.
The Best Eyebrows for Every Face Shape
Round-Shaped Face
If you have a round-shaped face, you’ll be very used to the battle of ensuring your eyebrows help elongate and add angles to your face, rather than make it look even more round. The trick to mastering the perfect eyebrows for a round face is to opt for a more angular shape with a higher arch. You’ll want to avoid flatter arches as they tend to make your forehead look shorter than it is.
However, thanks to your rounder-face, you’ll be able to pull off either thicker, bolder brows or a thinner look. Whichever you go for, maintain your eyebrows to be a little further apart to help widen your forehead.
4 Celebrities with round faces: Emma Stone, Miranda Kerr, Mila Kunis and Kirsten Dunst.
Diamond-Shaped Face
Your diamond-shaped face gives you the sought-after naturally high cheekbones and chiseled jawline, but it also means the wrong eyebrows can make you look quite severe (RBF, anyone?). To help create a softer look, the best eyebrows for an angular face tend to be rounded with a sharper arch.
If you have a diamond-shaped face with a wider forehead, you may find thicker, shorter eyebrows help balance out your features.
4 Celebrities with a diamond-shaped face: Megan Fox, Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson.
Heart-Shaped Face
For those who hate the ‘cute’ face comments, you may want to try shortening your eyebrows and growing them closer together to help bring attention to the center of your face. You may also find softer, rounder arches also help to compliment your features, but may not help with the ‘cute’ factor.
4 Celebrities with a heart-shaped face: Selena Gomez, Reece Witherspoon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Chloe Moretz.
Long faces
Long faces may be one of the most common to have, but you’ll often see those with one sporting fringes. Why? ‘Cause eyebrows for long faces can be tricky!
To help create some balance and create the appearance of a wider forehead, try to keep your brows as long as possible. If you find longer brows make your face look like it’s dragging down, try to position your arch higher than the front of the brow. This will help lift the face.
3 Celebrities with a long facer: Sarah Jessica Parker, Blake Lively and Adam Levine.
2. Correct the colour.
Have you ever looked at someone and thought something about their face isn’t quite right, but you can’t put your finger on it? They could very likely have an uncomplimentary eyebrow colour. It’s a very common problem if you dye or colour your hair.
The easiest way to know your ideal eyebrow colour is to use your hair as an indicator. Eyebrow specialists recommend having a taupe-shade two shades darker than your hair if you’re blond, while opting for 2 shades lighter if you’re brunette. If you’re dying your hair a natural red, you will want to go with a red-toned lighter brown. Unless your eyebrows are naturally black and you have black hair, avoid going this dark as it can look unnatural.
3. Filling them in.
Even if you have no eyebrows at all, drawing them on or filling in what you have can instantly make you look more polished. Here are a few tricks for filling in your brows:
- Avoid a solid block of colour all the way from front to tip as it will make your eyebrows appear very severe and harsh.
- Brush your brow hairs in their natural direction with a spooly to make them appear fuller. You can always set the hairs with a brow gel to keep them in place.
- When filling in your brows with a powder, gel or pencil, use a very well sharpened point or fine tip and use a flicking motion to create hair-like strokes.
- If extending the tail of your brow, try now to let the tip extend below the front of your brow as it can make your face appear to be dragged down.
6 Ways to Shape Your Eyebrows
1. Eyebrow threading.
The method of eyebrow threading is believed to have been in use for more than 6,000 years, originating in Eastern culture. It was often associated with entering womanhood before marriage or to showcase female virility.
Today, eyebrow threading is a popular hair removal method throughout the world, including Australia. It involves using a long piece of thread twisted multiple times in an x-shape, and using the fingers to create a pulley system. The twisted part of the thread is then placed along the row of eyebrow hairs wished to be removed, using the pulley motion to pull the hairs from the root. It’s a little tricky to explain, so watch the video below if you’re intrigued.
As someone who received regular eyebrow threading in the past, it can pinch a little if you don’t hold the skin taught enough while they’re threading. However, the outcome was always flawless, but like everything, you do need to go to a reputable threading specialist with good hygiene practices.
2. Eyebrow waxing.
The concept of eyebrow threading is easy — wax is heated in a pot and applied to the desired hair-removal area. Once it’s set, the wax is then pulled away to rip away the hairs. There is more to it, of course, and we highly recommend only seeing a beautician and not trying this yourself at home
Does eyebrow waxing hurt? Depending on your pain tolerance, yes, it can hurt, but most beauticians apply a soothing gel or balm immediately after to help with any pain and redness. As the hairs are essentially removed with the root, the hair does take a couple of weeks to begin to grow back.
3. Eyebrow plucking.
Everyone has over-plucked their eyebrows at least once, right? For those who maybe do not know, to pluck your eyebrows, you use a tool called tweezers to grip an individual eyebrow hair and pull to remove. Again, it can hurt if you clip your skin, pull from too far from the root and don’t pull the skin taught enough before pulling.
Plucking your eyebrows is good for maintaining your eyebrows and keeping them looking neat in-between waxing or threading appointments. If you do tweeze your own eyebrows, ensure your tool isn’t blunt as it can make all the difference.
4. Microblading/eyebrow tattoo.
Microblading, also known as semi-permanent eyebrow tattoos, is the process of using a small blade to create tiny hair-like superficial cuts, which purpose-created ink is then deposited into. I’m sure we don’t have to say this, but please do not try this at home in any way, shape or form.
Before the actual microblading is performed, the licensed technician will numb the area and apply an outline to ensure you’re happy with the intended shape of the eyebrows. Many say the process is not painful, but is similar to that of waxing or threading.
On completion, your eyebrows will appear quite dark, but will fade over time, lasting anywhere from 1 to 3 years, depending on your metabolism and maintenance. The cost does greatly vary, but please base your decision on a reputable technician, not a cheap one.
Unlike other methods of eyebrow maintenance, you do not need any eyebrow hairs to receive microblading. Yes, you can have not a single eyebrow hair on your head and walk out looking like you have naturally flawless brows!
5. Eyebrow lamination.
Eyebrow lamination is one of the newer, but increasingly popular, methods of brow maintenance. It involves a lifting solution being applied to your eyebrows and your hairs being brushed upwards to create a full, but tamed, look.
The process takes around 40 to 60 minutes, is pain-free and the end result lasts anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks, depending on how you care for them post-lamination.
6. Eyebrow tinting.
Eyebrow tinting is commonly paired with a waxing or threading treatment. It involves a semi-permanent dye being applied to the eyebrow area in the desired shape and left to sit. The excess dye is then removed, leaving behind the appearance of having filled in your brows.
If you prefer very perfect-looking brows, tinting is for you. For those looking for more natural, I-woke-up-like-this brows, you may want to opt for one of the methods above.
7 Steps to Growing Back Your Eyebrows
How long does it take to grow back eyebrows? It depends on you and your eyebrow growth, but it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years. These 7 steps may help you get the best eyebrows of your life a little faster.
1. Stop removing any eyebrow hairs.
Put down the tweezers. Cool your wax. Snap your thread. It may sound obvious, but if you want your eyebrows to grow back, you need to not remove another hair for the foreseeable future.
How long you avoid tweezing, waxing and threading your brows will depend on a few different factors, including:
- The condition of your eyebrows.
- Where the hair needs to regrow.
- The end look you’re after.
- How fast your eyebrow hairs grow back.
- Your eyebrow maintenance routine.
A good eyebrow technician will be able to tell you roughly how long you should grow out your brows. In the meantime, you can style your brows by filling them in or your preferred method to help you get through the difficult times ahead.
2. Avoid harsh chemicals, cleansers and exfoliants.
While eyebrow exfoliation is a trend, you want to ensure you’re never rubbing exfoliants or harsh products directly into your eyebrow hairs. The rubbing and products could remove hairs unnecessarily, cause skin irritation or even an infection, in serious cases.
Allure revealed if you do wish to partake in eyebrow exfoliation, to focus on the skin around your eyebrows. Even then, you need to use products gentle for the skin and for the purpose of exfoliating for your skin type.
3. Do not rub your eyebrows.
Like exfoliating, rubbing your eyebrows can lead to brow hair loss. The exception to this is if you are massaging your brows to encourage blood flow to the area, which is said to help increase brow regrowth. However, you shouldn’t do this dry, opting for an oil to allow you to massage the skin.
At all other times, it’s best to avoid rubbing your eyebrows, such as if rubbing your eyes (which you should also probably avoid too). You may also need to note how you wake up to see if your eyebrows are rubbing against your pillowcase.
4. Gently brush your eyebrows morning and night.
For some, even massaging your eyebrows may be something you should avoid. However, you can still encourage increased blood flow to the area by using a spooly to brush your eyebrows morning and night.
When brushing your eyebrows, go with the direction of growth so not to pull at the hair from the base, helping prevent loss.
5. Eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Our bodies naturally distribute nutrients in the order of most important to least essential to our survival. This means, when there are not enough nutrients to go around, the less vital parts of us (like our hair) will not receive as many nutrients as they need. As a result, we may notice signs, like when our hair is slow to grow or is dull.
So, if you’re noticing your eyebrows are slow to grow back, it may be time for a chat with your local doctor.
6. Consider using an eyebrow growth serum.
Do eyebrow growth serums actually work, you ask? Well, when The Zoe Report interviewed cosmetic chemist Perry Romanowski, they learned the only ingredient proven for general hair growth is minoxidil, which is a key ingredient in a popular men’s hair loss regrowth product.
Minoxidil is available in Australia as an over-the-counter product from pharmacies, but as this is a regular hair regrowth formula, you should consult your doctor prior to use. Consumer reports suggest only 4% of men who used the product as a hair regrowth aid found it very effective, with 43% saying it was not effective at all.
Romanowski also said the active ingredient bimatoprost, while not recommended, can help regrow eyebrows, but is illegal in Australia due to the risks involved.
7. Consult an eyebrow technician.
When you’re designing a home, you see a home designer, right? While your eyebrows aren’t as life-or-death as the structural integrity of a home, their condition can impact your happiness.
All we’re saying is, if you want perfect eyebrows, talk to a professional.
6 Celebrity Eyebrows for Inspiration
1. Zendaya
Thick, but not too thick. A gentle, sloping arch directly above where the corners of her lips meet. Zendaya’s eyebrows are a work of art.
However, photos of a pre-teen Zendaya show her eyebrows have always been quite thick and as far as we can see, she has never been the victim of over-plucking. She has definitely been taught how to accentuate her brows so they appear clean-edged and lush, but they are a natural blessing, for the most part.
2. Dave Franco
Dave Franco’s eyebrows are the perfect example of the perfect eyebrow not necessarily needing to be flawlessly groomed. For Dave, his little-bit wild eyebrows provide his face with character, even helping make him seem more mature in his younger years.
In fact, if you ever feel like you recognise Dave from somewhere, his eyebrows could be to blame for misleading you. There is a notoriously funny scene in Bad Neighbours where Dave Franco’s character, Pete, dresses up as Robert De Niro for a costume party. The likeness is rather uncanny, and we have to say, it’s all because of the bold brows.
3. Audrey Hepburn
Is there anything Audrey Hepburn didn’t do with style, eyebrows included? Her strong, bold brows draw the eye to her stunning large eyes, even with a bold red lip being sported.
An article by Beauty Banter reveals to achieve Hepburnesque brows, you’ll want to avoid plucking and let your natural fullness grow. They then advise you visit a professional eyebrow specialist to shape your brows to suit your face, which, as mentioned, Audrey’s look may not suit your face shape and features.
4. Jason Momoa
Jason Mamoa’s eyebrows are another case of not theoretically perfect, but perfect for his face. If you’ve seen Momoa in any television show or movie, you’d know he has an infectious personality, and his eyebrows add to his overall persona.
However, Momoa’s eyebrows also sport something quite unique — a scar. Momoa told Access Hollywood in 2011 this scar was due to being confronted by a man believed to have been involved in a gang initiation.
“A guy smashed a pint glass in my face,” he said. “I got a little over 140 stitches in my face.”
We have to ask ourselves, would Karl Drogo have looked quite the part without the scar?
5. Lucy Hale
Lucy Hale may be known now for your lusciously thick eyebrows, but it wasn’t always the case. In an Instagram story, Hale shared a photo of herself and two friends at the Teen Choice Awards more than a decade ago, where her eyebrows are nothing but well-defined lines on her face.
Today, Hale has let her born-with-it brows reign supreme, keeping them maintained for a clean, yet natural look.
6. Sarah Hyland
In 2015, Sarah Hyland’s brows were rated number 5 of 9 in celebrities with the unfortunate brows by Stylecaster, but we have to disagree. While bold, Hyland’s eyebrows break the mold of what a typical perfect eyebrow for a celebrity should look like.
To complement her thick brows, Hyland can often be seen brushing the hairs up for further fullness. She also appears to fill them in on the odd occasion for a sharp, clean and eye-catching look.
Book an eyebrow appointment at your nearest beauty salon on localsearch.com.au!