Do you have celebrity eyebrow envy? I do! Big, bold, beautiful eyebrows are trending in Hollywood right now and everyone wants them. Before I learned these easy eyebrow secrets I thought I was destined to be a style victim of the over-plucked ’90s forever.
Not only do thicker, fuller eyebrows make you appear younger, a perfectly shaped eyebrow gives you a look of confidence and balances your face. After filling in my own over-arched brow line I had to admit, my eyebrows changed my whole face.
Creating a “perfect” eyebrow shape may be intimidating—especially for beginners. But trust me; if I can do it, it’s a safe bet that anyone with opposable thumbs and a mirror can too. So if you want Hollywood-worthy eyebrows and a more youthful appearance like Miranda Kerr, Rihanna or Cara Delevingne, check out our step-by-step brow tutorial below.
More of a visual learner? Beauty blogger Thu of Lazy Girl Glam has you covered:
How to Get Perfect Eyebrows
1. Start Fresh
Before you build your perfect eyebrows, tweeze, wax or thread your brow line so you have a clean slate to work with; if you are prone to irritation, redness or swelling you may want to apply a cool compress afterward.
2. Stock Up
If you’re a novice, it’s time to pack your makeup bag with eyebrow essentials like tweezers, a spoolie brush, and a brow pencil. You may also want to invest in brow gel, brow brush and a powder or pomade—and you’ll have everything you need to create the brow look you’re going for.
3. Measure Up
Your eyebrows should form an arch just outside of the pupil (the dark center of your eye). To find it, just align an eyebrow pencil or brush vertically along the outside of your nose and rotate it until it aligns with your iris. Locate the natural beginning of your eyebrow by aligning the pencil vertically against your nose and the end by aligning the pencil with the outer corner of your eye.
4. Brush Up
Make small upward strokes from the front to the tail of your eyebrow using a spoolie brush.
5. Find Your Shade
One of the most important steps to creating a natural-looking eyebrow is selecting the right color. Look for a shade that closely matches your hair color or is one shade lighter. Try to avoid using darker shades, as the contrast might be too harsh.
6. Define Your Line
Using your eyebrow pencil, start drawing your bottom brow line, first from the middle to the tail, then from the front to the middle.
7. Fill In
Once you have the bottom border defined, it’s time to add density to your eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil; small upward strokes are best to mimic your existing eyebrow hairs.
Note: If your eyebrows are extra thin, a pomade and slanted brow brush may give you a fuller, natural look.
8. Brush Up—Again
Don’t forget this important step to blend and soften any harsh, unnatural-looking lines.
9. Highlight and Glow
Finish your eyebrows with a highlighter or concealer along your brow line to give your eyebrows the definition and lift you’re after. Try going a shade lighter than your skin tone to make your eyebrows really pop.
10. Blend In
Blend the highlighter or concealer using your finger and gently pat until it glows; this is especially effective near the tail of the eyebrow.
11. Set It
Tame and set your brows with brow gel for ideal shape and a lasting hold for an everyday look or on special occasions.
Do you have a favorite tip for defining your eyebrows? Prefer a more understated look? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.