How to Grow in & Shape Eyebrows

Well-shaped eyebrows soften facial features and enhance the eyes.

Well-shaped eyebrows change the appearance of the whole face, make it look open and feminine. Some women have full, bushy brows that make their facial features more masculine. Slightly changing the shape of the brows by tweezing them will soften the features of your face and enhance your eyes. However, over-tweezing creates an unnatural look and will take time to grow in. Minor mistakes can be corrected with a brow pencil and shadow until the eyebrows grow in.

Things You'll Need

• Magnifying mirror
• Eyebrow pencil
• Brow brush
• Tweezers
• Small scissors
• Brow shadow and brush

Instructions

Finding a Natural Shape

1. Locate where the beginning, the arch and end of your eyebrows should be. The beginning of the eyebrow should align with the side of your nostril. If you place a pencil vertically at your nostril, it should align with your eyebrow.

2. Look straight in the mirror, place the end of the pencil at the side of your nostril, angle it so that the side of it is along with the colored part of your eye -- the iris. The top of the pencil will fall right where your natural arch should be.

3. Hold the end of the pencil at the nostril and angle it to meet the outer corner of your eye. The end of the pencil will show you where your brow should end.

Shaping the Brows

1. Comb your eyebrows upward with a small brow brush. If you don't have a brow brush, you can use a fine comb or a toothbrush. You will see the natural shape of your brows, as well as any long hairs that you will need to trim. Trim the long hairs that extend above the natural shape of your brow. Do not tweeze the long hairs, as it will create patchy appearance.

2. Use a lip or brow pencil and draw a shape you want to achieve under your brow. You can see how the shape will complement your eyes and your face. The hairs that fall outside of that line will need to be tweezed.

3. Tweeze one row of hairs at a time. Avoid over-tweezing as it will make your brows look unnatural. If you over-tweeze the brows, you will need to let them grow back. Let the hairs grow back and don't tweeze them. You may slightly fill in with brow shadow or a light pencil. Avoid correcting the over-tweezed areas heavily as it creates an unnatural and dated look.

4. Brush your brows into a natural shape with a brush or a comb. Tweeze any stray hairs.

5. Use a brow shadow close to your brow color to fill in the brows. Start at the center of the brow and work towards the end and then backward to the beginning. Use a brow brush and apply shadow with short, light strokes, using a bit more pressure for stronger color where necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't have a brow shadow, use a matte eye shadow that is close to your brow color. The pencil should be light in texture and leave a dry finish.

• Avoid using eyeliner pencils to fill in your brows as they may create a grease look and mat the brow hair.

References

• Paula's Choice: Eyebrow Shaping and Shading
• Real Simple: How to Solve Five Eyebrow Problems