Buzz
Eyebrows frame the face and play a vital role in expressing emotions. As a result, even slight changes in their shape and color can significantly impact your facial appearance. People choose to draw eyebrows for various reasons. Some are dissatisfied with their natural brows because they are too faint, hard to see, or lack an appealing shape. Others lose eyebrow hair due to illness and simply wish to maintain the natural brow line on their face. Whatever the reason, there are multiple techniques you can use to draw eyebrows.
Steps
Basic Eyebrow Drawing
Prepare for makeup. Before applying makeup, ensure your face is clean, moisturized, and completely dry. If you’re doing a full face of makeup, complete the following steps before drawing your eyebrows:
- Start with a primer. Primer helps keep your makeup from smudging and ensures it lasts longer. This is especially important when maintaining a natural brow look.
- Next, use a makeup sponge to apply a thin layer of foundation. Then, add concealer to areas you want to cover. Blend it evenly with a sponge or your fingertips.
- Many people use only bronzer or blush, but if you want to use both, apply bronzer first. Once these steps are complete, you can move on to drawing your eyebrows.
Apply a bit of colorless setting powder to the eyebrow area. The powder will help set the foundation and concealer. Additionally, it gives the skin a smooth and dry appearance. If the eyebrow area is damp, the eyebrow lines may smudge.
Mix black and brown eyeshadow to create a shade close to your hair color. You’ll use this color combination to fill in the eyebrow base. Combining black with one or more brown tones usually results in the most natural-looking shade. A bit of black eyeshadow mixed with light brown can make lighter shades appear more natural, while brown tones soften the harshness of pure black.
Create the basic eyebrow shape using the mixed eyeshadow. Use an eyebrow brush to define the shape of your brows. Follow the natural brow bone to help shape your eyebrows. Drawing too far from the brow bone can make your brows look unnatural. Alternatively, you can experiment with different brow shapes before deciding which suits your face best.
- If you don’t have an eyebrow brush, you can substitute it with a cotton swab.
Use a pencil to add individual "hairs." You’ll need a sharpened black-brown eyebrow pencil. Draw small strokes starting from below the brow line, moving away from the nose. A few "hairs" that don’t perfectly align with the brow line will make the brows look less perfect and more natural.
Brush a thin layer of clear gel over your newly drawn eyebrows. The gel will help keep your brows from smudging for up to 24 hours.
- If the gel makes your brows look too shiny, you can apply a layer of colorless powder. The powder will create a matte finish and reduce the shine.
Shaping Light-Colored Eyebrows
Maintain the eyebrow shape. Even if your natural eyebrows are faint and hard to see, keeping them neatly groomed is essential. By maintaining a well-trimmed shape, you’ll have a clear boundary when filling them in. Therefore, pluck or wax any stray hairs outside this boundary.
- Even if you’re dissatisfied with your natural brow shape, try to follow it while creating a new look. Filling in eyebrows along their natural shape appears more authentic than straying from it.
Apply eyeshadow to the eyebrows. Use an eyebrow brush to pick up eyeshadow and stroke it along the brows. Start from the outer edge and move inward toward the nose, going against the hair growth direction.
- Unlike basic eyebrow filling, eyeshadow here is used to add thickness to natural brows. Choose a lighter shade for this step. If you have fair skin and light hair, opt for a neutral taupe. For darker skin and hair, use a neutral dark brown.
Define the eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil. Use your natural brows as a guide for shaping. Fill in the brows with light, small strokes until you’re satisfied with the shape and thickness.
- Selecting a pencil color close to your hair and skin tone is crucial. Aim for a shade that matches your natural hair color but is slightly darker. If you dye your hair, choose a color closer to your dyed shade rather than your current brows for a more natural look.
Avoid extending the tail of the eyebrow too far. Place the eyebrow pencil diagonally from the nostril to the brow. The point where the pencil intersects the brow bone is where the eyebrow should end. Extending beyond this point can make the brows look unnatural.
Fixing Over-Plucked Eyebrows
Let your eyebrows grow. The first step to fixing over-plucked brows is to stop tweezing and waxing. The best way to achieve a desirable brow shape is to let them grow back for about a year.
- Using a brow razor to shape your brows can stimulate regrowth.
- If you absolutely cannot stop tweezing, try waiting at least three weeks before plucking again. Frequent plucking can damage hair follicles, leading to long-term issues.
Fill in the gaps. Many people have sparse areas in their brows, which becomes more noticeable with over-plucked eyebrows.
- Use an eyebrow pencil or powder with a brow brush. Choose a shade that matches your natural brow color. Combining both products can create a more natural look.
- When using a fine-tipped pencil, draw thin strokes to mimic natural brow hairs.
- Gently brush away excess color with a clean makeup brush.
- Add another layer of color and continue brushing off the excess. Repeat the process until your brows reach the desired intensity.
- Use a gel to keep your filled-in brows in place throughout the day.
Use tinted brow mascara. Similar to eyelash mascara, brow mascara (sometimes called brow gel) enhances your brows by coating each hair, making them appear longer, thicker, and more defined. Choose a shade close to your natural hair color and brush from the inner brow to the tail. Brow mascara is also effective for shaping and holding your brows in place all day.
Tips
- Once finished, compare both eyebrows to ensure they are relatively symmetrical. Don’t worry about minor differences, as no one’s natural brows are perfectly identical.
- If you struggle with creating a basic brow shape, try using an eyebrow stencil as a guide. These tools are available at most cosmetic stores.
- To achieve a natural look, avoid creating sharp angles or overly defined edges. However, if your brows have a natural arch, don’t force them into a straight shape.
