- Joined
- Sep 12, 2005
- Messages
- 2,657
- Reaction score
- 0
Skinny brows with sharp angles are totally out. The hotter arch is slightly flatter and fuller with only a soft curve. Here are all the tips you'll need to get them.
3 Reasons We Love This Look
- The fuller silhouette draws more attention to your whole eye area, giving it greater impact.
- It creates a perpetually polished (but not overly primped) appearance, so you don't have to load on lots of makeup to look put together.
- This natural arch is easier to maintain on your own than a severe shape.
Old Vs. New
Bye-bye, boomerang: The former It Brow was super slim and overly sculpted with an extremely defined arch that peaked directly above the pupil, then tapered to a fine point.
Hello, subtle slope: This new, more natural look is thicker than the old style, with a more gradual arch that begins at the outside edge of the iris and gets only slightly thinner at the ends.
Grooming Options
Tweezing is best if you don't have a lot of hair to remove or just need to clean up a few strays, says Aida Angjeli, the eyebrow specialist at Salon AKS in NYC. We love the grip of TNT Tweezers, $18.
Waxing is ideal for naturally bushy or dark brows that grow back quickly. It's also great for cleaning up any fine peach-fuzzy hairs, says celeb brow groomer Anastasia Soare. We like Sally Hansen Extra Strength Wax, $7.
Tinting Tactics
If you change your hair hue dramatically, you should alter your brow color too, but only subtly. Arches that match exactly may look fake. It's tempting to use dye or bleach, but it's actually illegal (even though some salons do perform the service) -- you could have an allergic reaction or get it in your eyes, both of which can be dangerous. Instead, use a tinted gel or powder in your desired shade.
If you can't find a stellar brow expert, it's okay to go at it on your own. Follow these steps to groom your brows perfectly yourself.
Step 1: Begin by holding a pencil parallel to the side of the bridge of your nose (a). The inner edge of your brows should start here, according to NYC star plucker Eliza Petrescu. To determine the highest point of your arch, place the pencil parallel to the outside corner of your iris ( B) . Angling the pencil diagonally from your nostril to the outside corner of your eye will tell you where your brow should end ©.
Step 2: Mark the spots you just mapped out with a soft eyebrow pencil, suggests NYC makeup pro Nancy Sprague. Then begin tweezing or waxing accordingly. The key is to remove no more than two rows of hair to maintain a thick effect. You may also need to remove just a few hairs from the top of the outer edges to create a subtle downward slope.
Step 3: Brush your brows upward, then use a pair of brow scissors to snip just the very ends of any long hairs, says Petrescu. We like Ramy Brow Scissors, $18.
Best Brow Booty
1. Chanel Brow Duo, $35. Use the powder to shade in sparse areas, then set brows in place with the clear wax.
2. Anastasia Tinted Brow Gel, $18. The brown color darkens your arches, while the gold hue (shown) softens them.
3. Stila Brow set Pencil, $14. This flat pencil has a light end for all-over filling in and a darker end for patchy spots.
4. BeneFit High Brow, $18. Apply this pinky mauve highlighter under your brow line to brighten up your whole eye area.
5. ModelCo More Brows, $24. This ingenious gel contains hairlike fibers that instantly thicken your brows.