by Trina L. Grant

Created on: January 22, 2009   Last Updated: November 29, 2009

The eyebrows, though often overlooked as an important facial feature, are what frame the eyes, giving them definition and character. Keeping eyebrows shaped and tidy is essential, and can be done with less trouble and discomfort than one might imagine. Just a few simple steps will allow anyone to save money and time by allowing them to do their own brows at home.

1) Start by washing the face, paying close attention to scrubbing the eyebrows. This will prevent any debris or dirt from getting into the pores that are about to be left open.

2) Using a cotton ball, or cotton wipe of some kind, apply toner or astringent over entire face, once again paying special attention to the eyebrow area.

3) Placing the forefinger above and parallel to the brow, pull the skin taut. Doing this makes the hair itself slide out easier, and more likely to take the root, with less pain. Using a slanted pair of tweezers, and starting with the inside corner of one eyebrow, begin plucking, one hair at a time. Proceed with caution, as plucking more than one hair at a time could leave a gap. A lighted magnifying mirror may be necessary for a precise job.

4) Work from the inside corner to the outside, on the bottom of the brow. The desired effect is a smooth, semi-arched look. Go slowly, pulling the mirror back for perspective quite often to check the results. Don't over-pluck; more can always be plucked, but they cannot be put back in, and no one wants to go around looking like Mona Lisa. Repeat with the other eye.

5) After achieving the desired look, take another cotton ball or cotton wipe of some kind and put some astringent or toner on and around the brows. This cleans any dirt or debris that may have gotten there from hands or tools, and it closes the pores for a while to prevent nasty stuff from getting into freshly opened pores.

6) Finally, brush brows in an upward, outward motion from the center, (towards the temple) to see the results.

After practicing just a few times, notice that the discomfort has subsided, and that the tweezing process is much easier each subsequent time. Like anything else, perfection takes trial and error. After just a few rounds with the tweezers, the process should be a breeze, and the results well-worth the effort.

RULES OF THUMB:

*Look at a picture from a magazine or something on the net for guidance. There are stencil guides that can be purchased at any store with a health and beauty section.

*The outside corner of the brow should be perpendicular to the outside corner of the eye. The same holds true for the inside corner. Using a finger or pencil or skinny makeup brush, check by holding it straight down against the corner of your eye, to see if they match.

*Astringent/toner has alcohol and all sorts of other chemicals in it. Do not get any near your eyes or mouth; it will dry the skin around your eyes and lips.

*Don't worry if you make a mistake and leave a gap, you can always use a little brow pencil to fill it in. There is one made to match almost any complexion.

*Keep in mind that a full, natural brow, trimmed and tidy, is the best look for most.

*Always pull hair in the direction it grows.

*A shot of hairspray on the brow brush before using will set the brow.

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