How to Shape Your Best Brows

The key to brows—whether you’re plucking them, filling them in, or both—is restraint. Do less than you think you need to, stand back to evaluate, and go back in to do more only if you’re absolutely sure.

Plucking your own brows is doable at home, but unless you’re super confident, go at least once to a salon or makeup counter to have them plucked; once the expert creates a shape you like, you can follow it at home with tweezers (and a bit of face oil, which can soften the hairs and make them easier to pluck). Wait a month to six weeks between tweezings.

Filling in brows—whether you’re looking to just darken them or create the appearance of more hair—is more intuitive, but again, take it slow. Effortless-looking no-makeup makeup definition is best accomplished by many small marks or brushstrokes, as opposed to drawing a single bold line.

The key to brows—whether you’re plucking them, filling them in, or both—is restraint. Do less than you think you need to, stand back to evaluate, and only go back in to do more if you’re absolutely sure.

Plucking your own brows is doable at home, but unless you’re super confident, go at least once to a salon or makeup counter to have them plucked; once an expert creates a shape you like, you can follow it at home with tweezers (and a bit of face oil, which can soften the hairs and make them easier to pluck). Wait a month to six weeks between tweezings.

Filling in brows—whether you’re looking to just darken them or create the appearance of more hair—is more intuitive, but again, take it slow. Effortless-looking no-makeup makeup definition is best accomplished by many small marks or brushstrokes, as opposed to drawing a single bold line.
Beautycounter
Color Define
Brow Pencil
goop, $24
goop by Juice Beauty
Enriching Face Oil
goop, $110

To choose the most flattering shade, find a tint that’s a notch lighter than your natural hair color. Though it’s easy to imagine darker will define better, a pigment that’s too dark for your complexion can look harsh. Note that gels and creams are generally subtler in terms of pigment, while powders and pencils tend to be more intense. A gel can add volume and sculpt brows all at once, so choose whichever type of formula seems easiest, most natural, and—of course—prettiest to you.

To choose the most flattering shade, find a tint that’s a notch lighter than your natural hair color. Though it’s easy to imagine darker will define better, a pigment that’s too dark for your complexion can look harsh. Note that gels and creams are generally subtler in terms of pigment, while powders and pencils tend to be more intense. A gel can add volume and sculpt brows all at once, so choose whichever type of formula seems easiest, most natural, and—of course—prettiest to you.
(M)ANASI 7
CUSTOM EYE AND BROW QUAD
goop, $82
Juice Beauty
Phyto-pigments brow Envy Gel
goop, $22