Tidy, tamed brows are a simple way to create a polished look. If your brows are in order, it can make your eyes look bigger, and give your face some oomph.
As a general rule, your brows should start in – line with the inner corners of your eyes. And to work – out where they should end, draw an imaginary line for the corner of your nose, past the outer corner of your eye towards your temple. Where this line crosses your brow is where it should end.
There are 3 options for shaping your brows:
Plucking is the easiest, and you can do it yourself. But make sure you use good tweezers – if you use cheap ones, they may break instead of remove the hairs. We love our Tweezermans, which you’ll find at Dis – Chem and selected Stuttafords. To get a perfect line – use a highlighter pencil to mark hairs you want to remove before your start plucking. This way you won’t go over – board. If you’re brave enough, try using a brow razor to shape the top. We rate the Browtician Grooming Brow Razor (R59.95), available at selected Woolworths.
Waxing can also be done at home, but we wouldn’t recommend this for a first timer! Only attempt this if you are very sure of your ability. When done correctly, waxing can deliver a great shape. But done badly, and the results could be disastrous.
Threading is the last option, and our favourite because of the incredibly clean and smooth finish it delivers. It is an Indian technique of removing the hairs using cotton thread. Do a Google search for a therapist in your area, as quite a few salons are offering it now.
If you shape your brows yourself, don’t forget to trim the hairs along the top. To get the neatest edge, brush your brows vertically, and trim the inner corners with small scissors. We use Studio Basics Cuticle Scissors (R69.95) because they slant upwards slightly at the end. You’ll find them in selected Foschini stores.
If they need to be filled, you can either use a brow pencil, or a powder applied using an angled brush. Start in the inner corners, and work outward. Keep the strokes light and feathery – don’t colour them in. Using a pencil or powder a shade or two lighter than your brows will give a more natural finish.
Emmy is the daughter of a sailor, animal loving, coffee addicted, beauty product junkie editor of Beautopia.co.za
