10 Simple Steps To Bold Beautiful Brows

Your eyebrows should look as close to your natural shape as possible, or you could end up looking permanently shocked, surprised, sad or angry (eyebrows are responsible for so many of our facial expressions). Whatever you do, don’t over-tweeze! The idea, when shaping, is to remove the ‘strays’ but keep the natural form and character.

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Use a brow brush or spooly brush to sweep brows directly upwards. Using small eyebrow scissors, trim the excess length off the top.

Pick a colour that is the same as, or one or two shades darker than your hair colour. Starting at the inside of the brow, apply mousse in short upward strokes, all the way to the outer edge of the brow. After the first coat, use the brush to apply a second layer, going back the other way. This coats the eyebrow with a water-resistant, moisturising colour that helps each brow hair stand out. Sweep brush through from inside to outside to make sure hairs are in place.

Available at Blinc Inc.

If your brows are fair, and you want something that will last longer than just a day, semi-permanent dye will set the stage for bold, beautiful brows. Vegetable dye normally lasts for about three to four weeks and fades slowly. It will give your individual hairs a boost and help make filling and defining look more natural (plus, there’s one less step each time you do your makeup). It’s best to leave this job to the professionals though, so visit your favourite salon or spa if you want to darken your brows.

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To create depth and definition, use an eyebrow pencil. Surprisingly, taupe is almost universally flattering and blends to match many eyebrow colours. Try taupe at first and see if it works, and remember that unless you’re a redhead or have a hue that is warmer, most people will look better using cooler toned brow colours. Feather the pencil upwards and outwards to fill gaps or sparse areas and to adjust the shape of the brow, if necessary. Using a spoolie brush, blend out any areas that look too dark or lack dimension.

Every now and then, take a step back from the mirror and compare your brows from a short distance. Your brows don’t have to be identical, but the general shape and intensity should match.

Some people prefer using a brow powder and angled brow brush, rather than a pencil, to fill in sparse areas and to shape the brows. You can get eyebrow powder duos that contain a lighter and a deeper shade, for added dimension. Use the deeper powder to add definition on the top and bottom of the brow, as well as in bald or very thin areas, and use the lighter powder to add depth to the entire brow.

Available at Sephora.

A touch of highlighter, just on the brow bone, can make a huge difference to accentuate the arch of the eyebrow and bring a little extra attention to your big, beautiful brows.

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Try to keep other makeup to a minimum. A bold brow, black mascara and a nude lip is a standout look on its own.

To encourage eyebrow growth apply a drop of castor oil to each brow, on a clean, freshly washed face. Advocates suggest a nightly ritual of castor oil application before bed, applied using a cotton bud or clean spooly brush. Castor oil is high in fatty acids and vitamin E, helping stimulate hair growth. Make sure to patch test on the inside of your wrist (or somewhere less conspicuous than your face) prior to using on your eyebrows to rule out an allergic reaction.

Available at Well.ca.