Eyebrows are an art form.  They frame the eyes and, though we don't always think we notice them, they have an enormous impact on our appearance.  Look at movie stars and models, especially if you can compare before and after pictures from their early careers and now, their eyebrows are perfectly shaped and groomed.  Perfect brows give an elegant, rich look.  Shaggy, unkempt brows do not project the same image. 

 In portraying characters in movies, sometimes letting the actress keep her movie star eyebrows belies the working class image of the character.  An example of this is Jennifer Anniston in the recent movie, The Good Girl.  Though her character was depressed and trudged around with unwashed hair, jeans and t-shirts, her brows were always groomed to a T.

 

For your own perfect eyebrows, the first recommendation is to go to a professional.  Just as in choosing a hair stylist, look around you at women whose looks you admire.  If they have a great brow line, ask them if they have someone who does them.  When you hear the same name a few times, call and book an appointment.  Once you find someone to shape your brows, either by waxing, tweezing, threading, or some other exotic method, let the person know what you have in mind.  There are some rules for eyebrows, but the most important is that they are on your face and you must walk around with them everyday.  If you like them thick or thin, whatever special requests you have, let the technician know.  However, if you followed the advice to find someone whose work you admire, you may just want to relax and trust his or her judgment.

 

The art in doing eyebrows comes from several factors:

• The ideal brow shape according to the latest fashion trends and the traditional rules which are:
  • The eyebrow starts at the inner corner of the eye
  • The highest point of the arch is in a line with the outside of the iris when looking straight ahead
  • The brow ends in an extension of a line which starts at the corner of the nostril and crosses the outside corner of the eye
  • The brow should begin and end on the same horizontal plane
• The natural growth pattern of the brow hairs
• The brows that the person has developed through previous attempts to shape them, whether they are thin, thick, stop too soon, start too late, etc.

 

The goal is to design a pleasing frame for the eye today and to work toward the full potential of the brows to meet the ideal.  Growing in over-plucked eyebrows is a process that can take several months.  Using the different types of brow makeup can make the process less painful.

 

The some of the options for filling in sparse or to short eyebrows are:

• Brow powder and a stiff, angled brush.  This is best for filling in sparse brows.
• Brow pencils.  Because these can give a precise line, theyre good for extending the line of too short brows.
• Waxy creams applied with a softer angled brush.  This can fill in brows, extend the brow line, and help keep brows in place.

 

Clear mascara or special brow gels are also good for keeping unruly brows in place.

 

If you decide to do-it-yourself, be sure to work in a good light with magnification if needed.  Go slowly and check you work as you go by looking at yourself in perspective in a non-magnifying mirror where you can see both eyebrows at once.

 

Whether you do them yourself or see a professional, remember that brows aren't twins, theyre sisters--but they shouldn't look like second cousins!