How To Shape and Fill Eyebrows Effortlessly
Killer eyebrows can take any makeup look to the next level by giving you a fresh, polished air. That said, almost everyone has one (or two) brow horror stories from that time they way overplucked while attempting to get the Y2K brow look… or filled them in three shades too dark.
Let’s face it — brows can be complicated. That’s why we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about how to shape and fill your eyebrows effortlessly. Pretty soon, doing your brows will be your favorite part of your beauty routine!
How Do You Know What Eyebrow Shape Is Best for You?
When it comes to brows, the first and most important thing to consider is shape. Thankfully, finding your ideal brow shape is an easy, three-step process.
First things first, grab your brow pencil (or lip liner if you’re not a fan of a brow pencil!), and hold the pencil against the side of your nose and the inner corner of your eye, making sure to keep it as straight as possible.
Hold your opposite thumb in place where the pencil hits near your brow, then make a small mark with the pencil. This is where your brow should start.
Next, take your pencil and line it up from your nose straight through the iris of your eye. This will help you find the midpoint of your brow and the place where the arch should be. Again, grab your pencil and make a small mark that you can use later as a reference point.
Finally, rotate your pencil, keeping the bottom at your nose, so that the top lines up with your outer eye. This is where your brow should end. Draw a mark at the end point, then repeat this process on the other side. What you’ve just done is called brow mapping by makeup artists, and it will make your life so much easier once it’s time to shape and fill.
Should Your Eyebrows Be Identical?
If you’re anything like us, you probably tend to stress from time to time over making your brows perfectly identical. But the truth is that your eyebrows don’t actually need to be identical (and most peoples’ aren’t).
That said, you do want them to be somewhat similar. As you start to shape and fill your brows, you’ll likely notice that one is a little harder to work with — and that’s completely normal. With eyebrows, the rule of thumb is that they should be siblings, not twins. This means that while you should make an effort to make them look similar, you don’t need to aim for perfect symmetry.
What Products Do You Need To Do Your Eyebrows?
When it comes to shaping and filling your eyebrows, there are several different types of tools you can use. In terms of shaping (removing hair and trimming your brows), you’ll want to have tweezers, eyebrow scissors, and maybe even the Ez Control Hair Removal Pen & Ez Control Soothing Toner to remove those pesky brow hairs with ease.
Filling your eyebrows (aka, adding color, definition, and shape) requires a whole different set of products. To fill your eyebrows, you can choose between an eyebrow pencil, liquid, or gel. Where eyebrow pencils and powders usually come in tinted shades, you’ll find that brow gels are either clear and work just to hold your brow shape or are tinted to add pigment to your brows.
You’ll also want to have an eyebrow brush or a spoolie on-hand. For thicker eyebrows, an eyebrow brush will likely be more useful, while a spoolie works wonders on thinner brows.
How To Shape Your Brows for a Runway-Ready Look
Now that you know the basics, it’s time to dive into the world of eyebrow shaping! This is going to be an essential step for you if you have overgrown or long, bushy brows that you want to define. If you have thin brows that you’re looking to add some volume and pigment to, then you might only need minimal shaping before you move on to filling.
Once you have your brows mapped and you’re happy with the shape you’ve outlined, grab your spoolie and brush your eyebrow hairs up. Using your eyebrow scissors, trim the excess hairs that are protruding beyond your desired browline.
From there, use the spoolie to brush your hairs down, and trim any excess hairs that extend beyond the bottom browline.
Remember that when you’re trimming your brows with scissors, you just want to be cutting the excess hair. This means that it’s important to avoid pulling or pushing your brows with the scissors.
After your brows are trimmed, it’s time to move on to tweezing. Again, using your outlined brow as a guide, tweeze all of the hairs that fall above, below, or outside your brows. When you’re tweezing, it’s important to remember to go slow and take your time, stepping back a few paces from the mirror every so often to observe your work.
Keep in mind that you can always tweeze more, but you can’t put the hairs back in (and they can take a while to grow back), so tweeze one hair at a time. It may take a while, but we promise it’s worth it!
How Can You Fill Your Brows To Get the Perfect Shape?
Now that you’ve trimmed, tweezed, and removed all the stray eyebrow hairs, it’s time to start filling them in. To choose the best product for your brows, take a moment to consider what exactly you’re looking for.
If you have naturally thick eyebrows that you’re looking to tame a bit, then a gel (either clear or tinted) will help you keep your brows in place. If you have thin eyebrows that you want to add thickness and width to, then an eyebrow pencil, liquid, or powder may be better for you.
It’s also important to consider what shade you need if you want to use a pigmented product. Keep in mind that your eyebrows should complement your natural hair color but are usually a few shades darker.
If you have blonde, auburn, or red hair, make sure you don’t settle for a standard black or brown product. Look for products specifically made for your natural brow color to get the best results possible.
With your products selected, it’s time for the application. Following your brow line, apply your product of choice in short strokes, paying special attention to any part of your brow that looks patchy.
For eyebrow pencils, avoid applying the product so generously that your brows look overdrawn. You can easily avoid this by holding the pencil far back (much farther than you would an eyeliner pencil). This will make sure you apply light, short strokes to your brows.
After you’ve styled and filled in your brows, you can apply a small amount of concealer along the edges of your brows. This will highlight the shape and add a pop of definition to your makeup look. Spray a few spritzes of setting spray to make sure the look doesn’t budge throughout the day, and you’re ready to go!
Style Your Brows With Ease
You’re officially a brow expert! With these simple tips and tricks, you’re ready to shape and fill your brows to achieve the look you’re going for, whether it’s a dramatic, sharp arch or a more natural-looking curve.
Remember, when it comes to eyebrows, you’re going for a polished look, but you don’t need to aim for perfect symmetry between your brows.
Once you’ve got your brow routine down, it’s time to start crafting makeup looks that show off your newly shaped eyebrows and hosting impromptu photoshoots to share them with the world. As soon as you have a few photos of your brows that you’re ready to post, make sure to share them with us. At SHEGLAM, our customers like you are our biggest inspiration!