The Ultimate Eyebrow (shaping, tattooing, waxing & more!)

The Search for the Ultimate Eyebrow (on your own head)
Top Reasons for Eyebrow Loss
Too Little or No Eyebrow Hair
Too Much, Or Unshaped, Eyebrow Hair
Asymmetrical Brows
How To Shape Your Eyebrows
Tools of the Trade
Permanent Make-up
Topicals For Hair Loss
Medical Solutions For Hair Loss
Related Links
YTF! Beauty Report Message Board RECOMMENDED!

The Search for the Ultimate Eyebrow (on your own head)
Does it seem like everyone BUT you has good eyebrows? How about eyebrows, period? You watch TV and beautiful brows abound. Are they real? Is that make up? Is that micropigmentation? Did she have brow transplants? Was she born with that?? Grrrrrrrrr Why don't I have any!!! My favorites are Pamela Anderson's (and I've looked closely and lately she has hair in them thar brows), J Lo's, Naomi Campbell's -- that beautiful, unattainable arch that I will never have naturally. *sigh*

Those of you who know me or have read throughout the site know I barely have two eyebrows to rub together. I have scarce brows from over plucking, from medication usage, from bad luck -- who knows. I just know I am forever forced to have a brow pencil or get micropigmentation (permanent tattooed makeup). And I will venture to guess that if you are reading this section you either:

have no or have very little eyebrows to work with
need help learning how to shape them
you're curious about an eyebrow shape change to your already near-perfect eyebrows

Well, I can't say I am some type of expert but I have been through eyebrow hell and I haven't made it back quite yet. I can offer you what I know and perhaps you will become brow-saavy sooner than you think!

Top Reasons for Eyebrow Loss
Here are a few causes of eyebrow loss. They are listed alphabetically. If the below does not apply from you, this doesn't mean there is no reason. Please discuss this issue with your Primary Care Physician to be sure your eyebrow loss does not stem from something more serious.

Alopecia Areata
Androgenic Alopecia
Anesthesia
Antibiotics or other medication
Autoimmune Disorders
Chemotherapy
Eczema
Fungal Infections
Hormone Imbalances
Lupus Erythematosus
Over Plucking!!
Parasites
Psoriasis
Seborrhea
Scleroderma
Thyroid Problems

Too Little or No Eyebrow Hair
Most of us have at least a little brow hair. I don't know if this is good or bad. It's like okay great, you some real hair thrown in there, but does it really do you any good?? I mean sure, it can be used as a guide if you have enough in all the right places. Or does it just get in the way and make you look like you have eyebrow pencil on top of sparse eyebrow hair?? Anyway, since the majority of us have at least one hair, right?

Too Much, or Unshaped Eyebrow Hair
Just say NO, ladies. I sometimes wonder if it is entirely worse to have too much over not having any at all. However, at least the cure for bushy brows is a quick, precise plucking session and you have instant diva! But I must say when I see a beautiful woman with unruly or misshaped brows, I cringe and want to say please go get your brows plucked correctly before I freak out right here in the street. Ladies if you have brows like this, run, not walk to the best eyebrow shaper in your city and "get plucked!"

Asymmetrical Brows
Actually this isn't as bad as it sounds. At least you have brows! Many celebrities have asymmetrical brows, one being my favorite pretty lady, Angelina Jolie. Regardless, you can cover one half of your face and look like a different person (paten, one side sexy, the other plain -- or as some people say happy on one side/sad on the other)

Whatever the case. They are easy to fix, but don't necessarily have to be. Take a straight on photo of yourself and do a mirror image exercise. BTW if you visit that page you will see an AWFUL photo of me. Deal with it, or put it in your kitchen to keep roaches away.

Natural, Simple Brows
Although not glamorous, these brows fit this person's face and looks perfectly fine on her. Try fro brows which are easy to care for, not unruly and are neither too small or too large for your face. You can wear a variety of different brow shapes but wear one which is suitable for your lifestyle and personality.

Great, Glamorous Brows - In My Opinion
I think she has the perfect arch, the perfect thickness, the perfect length and the perfect color for her face and personality. Not everyone could wear brows like these but I think that they can certainly open the eyes on a great many people. I think this shape eyebrow screams, "I am high maintenance! Where is the next shoe sale?!"

But then again, so does her entire face.

I would give my right implant to look as pretty as she. But since I can't do that, I will have these brows!

How To Shape Your Eyebrows
To determine exactly where your brow should begin, hold a makeup brush or a pencil straight up and down against one nostril. Where the pencil lands by your brow is where it should begin. The brow should end a little past your eye (if it grows down too far it will drag your eyes down). If you have a natural arch, work with it. If you need to create one, look into your eyes. The arch of your eyebrow should fall directly above the outside of your iris. Using an eyebrow pencil, fill in the brow area that you want to preserve so you can pluck outside the edges.

Take a thin make up brush and place it at the side of your nose straight up and down. Where this line ends near the brow, your brow should start from there.

Take the same make up brush and angle it from the nose to the pupil while looking straight ahead. Your arch generally peaks where the make up brush meets your brow.

Again take the make up brush and angel it from the nose to the outside of the corner of the eye. This is where your brow should end. It should never drag below this area either or it can drag your eyes down.

Tips: Go SLOW! Draw them on first if you have to or use a stencil but pluck one hair at a time and make sure you take a step back to see if you are doing well. Pluck the unwanted hairs in the direction that they grow. It causes a lot less pain and you are less likely to bleed. Brush the, up as well and carefully trim any long hairs. And the myth about not plucking above your brows. Please do! If you don't need it, pluck it!

After you have correctly plucked, or had your brows correctly plucked by a professional, it will be easier to see where you need color fill in (if necessary). They will also be easier to maintain of you don't let them run amuck again.

Tools of the Trade
You simply MUST have a good pair of tweezers. There are so many cheapies out there it is pathetic. Trust me I have gone through a ton of cheap ones and the expensive Tweezerman tweezers have lasted me years now. Tweezerman, ask anybody, is practically the best you can buy -- and they will resharpen them for life, you just pay postage. Eyebrow combes and brushes are also extremely helpful. Not entirely necessary but certainly the eyebrow brush is a necessity for ME because I have to pencil color in and brush it in to blend.

Permanent Make-up
Some technicians use the individual hair-like strokes technique. I favor this technique because is looks rather natural, but only if the pigment is a softer, lighter color. Some even use 2 to 3 colors with may occur naturally in natural eyebrows. The technician should determine the hair color and skin tones in pigment selection. Please see our Micropigmentation Section for more info on this option. Please use a transfer stencil and NOT freehand! Don't make my mistake.

Topicals For Hair Loss
Yes, Topicals DO work.

Rogain: From what I hear about Rogain it does help people grow some of their hair back but it is reported that you must continue taking it to retain this hair growth.

Medical Solutions For Hair Loss
Hair transplants are a very real options. It requires the removal of hair similar to the thickness, texture, color and length on other parts of the body and surgically implanting them into the balding area of the scalp.

The transplant may tale approximately 3 to 6 months to fully grow out and blend in with the rest of the brow. However, be sure you have someone who is very skilled in this procedure. A foot long hair growing out of your brow is just wrong! It is minor surface surgery and supposedly it is one of the safest surgical procedures ever performed.

Search on Google for more information on eyebrow transplantation, eyebrow restoration surgery, etc. and see what you come up with. I can't say I haven't thought about it and often wonder if nose hair would be a good match?? Just make sure they don't take hair from the back of your head or pubic hair, I mean really do you want to trim those things all the time?? I'd rather have toe hair than pubic hair on my face. At least female toe hair isn't long and curly like a man's. Blech. I personally think nose hair is comparable, and the most viable for a transfer.

* All photos on this page are stock model photography, with the exception of Pamela Anderson

Are you lost? View Site Index