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Eyebrows

Anonymous

I - jokingly of course - like to consider myself the boss of all things eyebrow related

I started having my brows micro bladed probably 10 years ago now - when it first became an option in my not-exactly trend forward city. Over the course of those 10 years, I've only had to have them touched up about 4 times. I dye the actual hair using men's beard /moustache colour available in a box at the drug store , and this also boosts the "background"/skin colour a bit at the same time it darkens my now-white eyebrow hair. I might only do this a few times a year. In-between colouring, I use a Maybelline brow mascara to fluff up the existing hair. My last touch up was done about 3 years ago now, and I don't see needing to do it ever again, to be honest.

I really believe that as we age, a defined brow is flattering and provides structure and dimension to a face. I've read a ton about the topic of makeup and brows - something I enjoy doing in my down time. I too plucked the heck out of my brows back when I was a young teen, and because I already have fine, light coloured hair, there isn't much there at the best of times. Then with aging and the hormonal changes that come along with it , the hair at the tail of the eyebrow has largely disappeared (common) . My face is too ordinary and I don't have very prominent bone structure to do without this added oomph. Yes, I am aware enough to worry that I don't over do it and look like a crazy person. I hope my bffs will alert me when that happens

Oh also - I'm wearing a mask all day, and my eyes are the only thing anyone sees - so .....they better look good .

What do you all do?

General

64 replies

Latest reply was from davinylun

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Thanks for starting this, Lisa P.
Like you- I use the mens beard/moustache dye. I do this about every 3weeks. I love the natural looking effect it has, and that it allows me to not have to do much to my brows daily. I just started using Thrive Causemetics Brow Fix. It's a semi- permanent gel color that comes in a mascara like bottle with wand (smaller than mascara wands). This says it will last up to three days. I give the eyebrow hairs a fluff with this, and use a pencil as needed when I do my makeup in the morning. Right after I've dyed my brows, I may not need anything more, but as I get closer to time to redye them I need more daily fill.
If I were going to get something professionally done, I would look into lamination.

nuancedream

Veteran

Lisa p, I agree with you 100%. Having my eyebrows regularly shaped and tinted have been a game changer for me since I too was cursed with eyebrows that are light colored like my hair. Groomed eyebrows give my face more structure. Regular eyebrow grooming has helped to undo the damage I inflicted with overzealous tweezing, Also, applying a touch of black castor oil to my brows nightly seems to have helped with increasing their thickness.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Interesting! As someone who had naturally very dark, thick eyebrows in youth, I have come from the opposite direction -- I tried to downplay or tame them. Only to go a little too far when I was young and foolish. I plucked a bit too much from the middle as a teen and continued into my 20s, as you can see in these pics (I was 15 in the first, 25 in the second).

I'm experiencing the same thinning at the outer halves that you describe, Lisa, but there is still hair there -- it's just not as thick as it used to be. For now, a brow pencil and brush do the trick nicely to fill in and hide the occasional grey/white brow hair that pops up.

Your brows always look great! I actually like my hair best when my bangs brush my brows anyway, but I do like them to be groomed.

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Synne

Veteran

I recently learned (on here?) that the human eyebrow is for communication, not for "keeping sweat out of the eyes" or whatever other biological hypothesis one might have. Eyebrows are especially important to babies, when they learn to read faces and expressions.

Anyway, yay for eyebrow maintenance! Personally I prefer my brows the same shade as my head hair. I use a brow pencil to over- and underline, making my brows wider and more pronounced. I have thinning and ashy blonde (aka non existant) brows...

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

(This is on topic!)

I think brows frame your face, so it's visually effective to accentuate them, and groom them! I am with you on the importance of grooming them regularly, Lisa P. You do a great job

I have been into brow grooming since I was 18. I dye them myself, and shape them too. I got very practiced at it, and do a better job than the beautician. I use a brown pencil on top of that. My brows are prominent so, I ALSO make sure that the shape of my specs follows the shape of my brows.

Runcarla

Veteran

100% agree about the importance of brows! I had hoped that specs frames would provide some definition and make up for the lack of visible eyebrows, but dark frames seemed too dark and light coloured frames blended in. Then my hair lightened considerably, and everything above my shoulders just disappeared. Tinting my brows made a big difference, especially since I have some exema on my lids and can’t wear eyeshadow, etc.

Helena

Veteran

Funny you posted that as I was going to ask if anyone could recommend a good brow powder ... I use the Anastasia brow pencil but am always scared that they will look too drawn on, ergo I probably don't fill them enough. So Lisa if you have expertise you are willing to share I will take it!!! Damn that 90s arched brow

Irina

Veteran

Helena, I use Anastasia brow pencil, too to fill in the ends of my eyebrows. I brush it after and sometimes apply Anastasia transparent brow gel to keep hairs in place.
I had dark, medium thickness eyebrows and only tinted them once. I didn’t like the result, looked too harsh on me. They got lighter and thinner as I aged. I use a brow growth gel, it helps to regrow it and somehow makes them slightly darker. They will not grow back to how they were even 10 years ago but it keeps thinning at bay.
I shape and trim it myself.

Sloper

Veteran

Lisa - thanks for sharing the details of your routine.
And thanks everyone else for sharing tips.
All I know is that I have to do SOMETHING. Ideally I'd love to get a consultation to get the right shape, and learn how to maintain them myself.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am grateful for this thread because I need to improve here. I 1000% agree that eyebrows make the face -- and I barely have any. Never did, really. Didn't overtweeze because there wasn't much in the first place, but what little there was is going, and now I need to do something beyond pencil, which is what I currently do, and I fear it may not look natural enough.

I would like to do the lazering but don't know of a good spot here to get it done. Hmmm. Must look into it further.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Irina, can you tell us more about the brow growth gel? It actually encourages new growth?

nemosmom

Veteran

Beard dye, you say?! Whodathunk…!!

My hair is lightening to a strawberry blonde in some places, and my brows were light anyway. It’s less noticeable now when I forget to fill in my brows, but my whole face has become less noticeable

I use the Anastasia eyebrow duo powder (in the small compact) and like the results. Although, wouldn’t mind a more permanent option!

Bonnie

Veteran

I've been using Chantecaille brow enhancer for the past couple of weeks and I find it easy and effective to define my very light brows.

CHANTECAILLE Waterproof Brow Definer

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Irina

Veteran

Janet, right now I’m using RadidBrow serum. This is my first time with this product. It improves thickness and helps with regrow to a degree, also darken my brows. Not a miracle but works. Takes about two months to see results when applied twice a day. Budget friendly
It lasts me about 3 months, I’m almost out and will repurchase.
I used Latisse before, it worked faster but it is pricy.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Adding in case anyone is interested, I really like Benefit's eyebrow pencil, in this link. The pencil lasts longer than some other brands -- I swear some of them only fill the pigment halfway down the tube. Lots of colors so it's easy to find a good match. And it is quite water- and rub-proof.

https://www.sephora.com/produc.....il-P408219

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for the info, Irina! Interesting!

Anonymous

I had thick brows and dark hair and recovered from over plucking. Since then my brows haven't changed much in size. The color matches my hair so no need for anything other than plucking the strays and maybe a little waxing above the brows, which I do at home. Trish McEvoy Brow Perfector Pomade in Natural Brunette is great for smoothing and directing if necessary, it's sheer but it does add a little emphasis.

I don't think that everyone needs dark or defined brows. For example, Suz, at least in photos, has a delicate, almost ethereal quality that might be weighed down by a heavy brow.

JAileen

Veteran

I just pluck errant hairs. I am finding that my extreme grey hair has spread to my brows, and I probably need to dye or something.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I don’t do anything except occasionally pluck a hair that won’t line up, maybe one every couple months.
Thanks for starting the thread. It makes clear what people are doing to their brows.

Anonymous

My brows were never thick, so I never really did anything with them until the last maybe 10 years or less. I wax to get rid of stray hairs, but when we went in lockdown I got a little battery powered tool called Flawless.
The main trouble is they're not dark. I've been afraid to color them due to history of eye issues, so I just use dark brown powder to fill them in.
Recently I added the castor oil in my finds to my lashes and brows. We'll see how it goes over time.

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Helena

Veteran

NM, oh, I might try the Anastasia brow powder; thanks for mentioning! Agree with SF Lisa, thanks for the thread, so helpful!!

Anonymous

DD uses the Anastasia brow powder and gel . We both use the pencils - although I find I don’t need to use one much at all anymore . Great product line though .

Phoebe - you’re right that not all faces “ need” a strong brow. I hope I didn’t inadvertently suggest that .

Anonymous

FI / St F - is that sarcasm, wit, or what?

Anonymous

I shape my eyebrows with tweezers regularly. I have a few white hairs in them. At the moment using mascara daily to blend the white with rest of brow. At first used black mascara but now use brown. I also trim with scissors periodically.

slim cat

Veteran

I'm pretty new to shaping eyebrows - was afraid to do anything to them, mostly from watching my mom overdoing it from time to time. Since my face is slightly asymmetrical shaping just the more prominent left brow is enough ( and using some brown powder/shadow ).
I do love the look of shaped brows but with more natural appearance - tried before some gel to set the shape but didn't like the feel of it on my face/skin.
The color of my eyebrows haven't changed yet - so never say "never"

rachylou

Veteran

I got my eyebrows done a few time… and they never came back from that. So no more plucking. I use a little pencil now but really have a hard time getting good definition and not coming out feeling like Groucho Marx...

Preppy Pear

Veteran

Mine have thinned a bit as I’ve gotten older but I had a lot of brow to start with, so I still have plenty. I have never done my own brows, except during lockdown and I didn’t really know what to pluck. I have them professionally threaded or tweezed every 3 weeks. No wax, my skin won’t tolerate it. I do nothing to them between appointments. I could probably stand to wear some pencil to look a little more groomed.
No dye or growth serum yet, but when the time comes, I’m planning on it!

Staysfit

Veteran

What a great read this has been! So many Fabber’s use Anastasia brow products! I haven’t even heard of Anastasia! I have always had light colored, thin density brows which are even sparser on the edges. If I tweeze the wrong hair, I end up with a bald patch, or perhaps a better word is gap. I do think brow growth products work, but I am personally wary of anything that makes cells divide and grow, or produce something when they aren’t doing it naturally… instead, I use a mineral brow powder called Just Browsing from Elea Blake. It fills the gaps, and I want to believe it looks natural enough….as long as I use my brush in small upward strokes when it is applied rather than dragging it horizontally along my brow line. I try to apply it more heavily where my brow hair is thicker and less so where it thins, with the hope this still looks natural but enhanced.

Helena

Veteran

*runs to Sephora for the Anastasia brow powder*

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