How to Shape and Fill in Eyebrows

Pluck stray hairs. Remove any hairs below your natural brow line, including those between your eyebrows. You don’t need to be overly precise at this stage—just focus on eliminating any stray hairs outside the desired shape.

• Avoid plucking hairs above your brow line, as this can make your eyebrows look unnatural and your eyes appear smaller.

Trim your eyebrows. If you notice any hairs longer than your natural brow line, use a spiral brush (similar to a mascara wand) to comb them upward and trim them. Position small eyebrow scissors horizontally above your brow (following the natural arch) and carefully trim any excess hairs to align with the natural brow line. For unruly hairs, comb them downward with the spiral brush and trim any strays below the natural brow line.

• Be cautious not to over-trim! Only remove about 0.3cm above the brow edge. It’s easy to cut too much, so start with a little and trim more if needed.

Line below the natural brow. Use short, feathery strokes to define and enhance the natural shape of your eyebrows. Avoid heavy lines; instead, apply light strokes and build up if necessary.

• Focus on sharpening the lower edge of the brow while keeping the upper edge soft and natural. If the lines appear too harsh, blend them upward with a spiral brush.
• Don’t choose a brow pencil that matches your eyebrow color exactly. Like hair, eyebrows have varying shades. Opt for a lighter tone to avoid an overly bold look. For example, if you have dark brown brows, go for a medium brown pencil.

Determine the brow boundaries. Place an eyebrow brush (or any straight tool) vertically near the inner corner of your eye. Move the brush upward to where it intersects with your brow—this marks the starting point of your eyebrow. Remove any hairs growing beyond this point.

• Alternatively, use the flare of your nostril as a guide to find the brow’s starting point. Note that facial structures vary, so this method may not work for everyone.

Mark the brow’s starting point. Use an eyeliner pencil to lightly dot the starting point and tweeze any hairs growing in front of it (toward the center of your brows).

• Tweezing is recommended for precision to avoid mistakes.
• Avoid over-plucking beyond the inner corner of your eye.
• If your skin feels irritated or red after tweezing, apply aloe vera gel or cortisone cream to soothe it.

Identify the tail of your eyebrow. Position an eyebrow brush (or a straight tool) diagonally from the outer edge of your nostril to the outer corner of your eye on the same side. You can also align the brush with the brow bone. This marks the endpoint of your eyebrow. Remove any hairs growing beyond this point.

• Avoid plucking the tail of your eyebrow, as these hairs rarely grow back. Only remove stray hairs outside the desired shape.

Determine the natural arch of your eyebrow. Place an eyebrow brush (or a straight tool) diagonally from the outer edge of your nostril to the outer edge of your pupil on the same side. The point where the brush intersects the top of your brow is the natural arch.

• Typically, you’ll remove hairs below the brow line. However, carefully observe and only pluck stray hairs outside the natural shape rather than over-plucking.

Create a soft, angled arch. Overly arched brows can make you appear angry. Pluck a few hairs above the arch to reduce the curve and achieve a gentle, natural look. Ensure your brows have a slight angle rather than a rounded shape.

Understand your skin tone. Just as you use a lighter shade to define the lower edge of your brows, your skin tone also influences the color you choose to fill them. For example, if you have a darker skin tone, opt for a shade with reddish undertones to make your brows look natural. If your skin is fair but your hair is dark, try a light brown shade with ashy undertones.

• If you’re unsure which color to choose, visit a cosmetics store and test shades in person. You can also seek advice from a beauty consultant.

Use eyebrow powder to fill in your brows. Dip a small angled brush into the eyebrow powder, tap off the excess, and gently apply it along the top and bottom edges of your brows. Follow the natural direction of your brow hairs, ensuring the powder stays within the natural boundaries of your brows without spilling over.

• Start from the arch of the brow and blend outward toward both ends.
• For a soft, natural look or to accentuate strong jawlines, opt for a gently curved brow. To add definition to a round face, choose a sharper, more angular brow shape.

Use an eyebrow stencil for a flawless shape. You can purchase eyebrow stencils online or at beauty stores. Select a stencil with your desired shape, place it over your natural brow, and press it down with two fingers to ensure visibility. Carefully fill in your brows along the stencil's edges.

• After completing one brow, wipe the stencil clean with a tissue, flip it, and repeat for the other brow.

Fill in the remaining part of your brows. Starting from the arch, use light strokes to extend the color to the tips of your brows. Focus on adding powder to the outer edges to create thickness, avoiding the middle section. This technique ensures your brows look full and natural.

• Avoid drawing outside your natural brow line.
• Remember, it's easier to darken your brows gradually than to fix mistakes from over-application.

Blend the color. Use a spoolie brush to comb through and evenly distribute the powder. This softens the look and creates a natural finish. Add more powder and blend until you achieve your desired thickness and color intensity.

Review your work. Place the brush diagonally from the outer edge of your nostril to check the starting point of your brow. Assess the tail and arch using the same steps from Part 1.

• Use the brush and your eye as a guide to determine if your brows are too short, too long, or need adjustment.
• Ensure the starting and ending points of both brows are balanced. While natural brows are never perfectly symmetrical, aim for as much balance as possible.

Set your brows in place. Use a clear brow gel to lock the hairs and makeup in position. Start from the middle of your brow, brushing the hairs upward and moving outward toward the tail. Apply concealer around the brows to define their shape.

• You can also use tinted gel, but a clear gel is a safer choice to avoid adding extra color to your brows.

Use brow gel and a white pencil for a soft, natural look. Apply the gel with an angled brush, following your natural brow line and hair growth direction. Then, use a white pencil to highlight along the brow bone, creating a subtle brightness that makes your brows appear fuller and balanced.

Use matte powder for a natural, trendy brow style. Brush a small amount of matte powder beneath each brow hair in an upward direction. For a natural finish, simply comb through with a spoolie. Add a touch of highlighter above the brows for a smoky, effortless look.

Create sharp, angled brows for a bold evening look. Use a powder brow pencil to draw a straight line from the inner edge of your brow to the arch. Instead of rounding the brow tip, opt for a squared, angular finish.

• Balance the sharp brows with smoky eye makeup. For a softer look, simply line the upper lash line.