How to Thread Eyebrows

Originating in India, eyebrow threading can groom and shape your eyebrows as an alternative to plucking or waxing. Eyebrow threading sounds very painful, but is about the same as brow waxing and is not hard on your skin. Threading your eyebrows gives you a better result than waxing or plucking because it pulls an entire row of hair from the follicle to achieve a more straight-looking line of hair.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• 100% cotton thread
• Skin toner

1. Cut a piece of regular cotton thread into a 24-inch strand. Tie the ends together to form a circle.

2. Hold the thread around all four fingers and thumb of each hand and open your hands. With your fingers and thumb, form the circle of thread into a rectangle in front of you.

3. Twist the thread about ten times in the middle. With your hands apart in front of you, the string should now look similar to an "X" with the twisted portion in the middle.

4. Push the twisted portion of the thread to the right by extending the fingers and thumb of your left hand while closing the fingers to the thumb of your right hand. Then push the twisted portion to the left by extending the fingers and thumb of your right hand while closing the fingers to the thumb of your left hand. Do this a few times until it becomes easy.

5. Place the thread on the skin with the twisted portion of the thread just to the side of the hair you would like to remove. Gently move the twisted portion along the skin from side to side to capture the hairs, either to the right or to the left whichever way feels more comfortable, by doing what we learned in step 4. Once hairs are captured, simply pull.

6. Start with the unibrow (the hair in-between both eyebrows), move on to the top and then to bottom of the brow forming it to any desired thickness. Be aware, the bottom will be the most sensitive area.

7. Use a toner directly afterward on the skin to close open pores left by the removal of hair from the follicles.

Tips & Warnings

• Numb your eyebrow area by rubbing ice on it for several seconds before beginning the threading process.

• This method can be performed on men as well as women. It can also be applied to the hairline and upper lip and used to trim mustaches and beards.

• When threading your own eyebrows, be aware that you may not do it perfectly the first time, but practice will make it easier. Should you make a mistake, remember that your eyebrows will grow back and you can always use an eyebrow pencil to fix any problems.

• Practice on an inconspicuous area before attempting to thread your own eyebrows.

• If you decide not to use toner to close pores after threading, be aware that these open pores could be susceptible to infection.

Resources

• cosmetic and grooming advice