Update-got my brows done: What's a good eyebrow routine for someone with thin brows? - YouLookFab Forum

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Update-got my brows done: What's a good eyebrow routine for someone with thin brows?

Suja

Veteran

This morning's post got me thinking that I may have neglected my eyebrows as part of my style. I have always wanted to get my brows done professionally, either waxing or threading, but I have thin brows and am a little worried about a procedure which only takes away and doesn't add. Are there any eyebrow people (for lack of a better term) who also show you how to fill in thin areas in addition to pulling strays? I sometimes try an eyebrow pencil or powder myself but whenever I do it, it looks too heavy. Does anyone else have a similar concern about getting your brows waxed when they are already thin? What do you do to keep them looking their best?

General

23 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Day Vies

Veteran

Define thin -- My brows grow in thin so they look invisible when I don't wear make up. Or do you mean they cover a minimum amount of space.

Suja

Veteran

Day Vies, do you fill in your eyebrows with makeup?

For me, I would like to get a good eyebrow shape for my face which includes getting the strays pulled and creating the right arch but I also would like help selecting the right product to fill in the thin areas. Maybe they are two separate processes, get your brows shaped and then go to Sephora and ask for product recommendation?

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/an.....outiquep01

Day Vies

Veteran

Yes I fill in my eyebrows with powder (eye shadow) from a super skinny angled brush (from MAC). I used to use pencils but they are too waxy for the most part and have that "heavy" look you describe. The key to keeping your eyebrows on your face (and not sliding off) for me is primer! My primer isn't some fancy brand either. I prime with a drop or two of milk of magnesia mixed into my daily moisturizer. It keeps my entire face perfect for 18 hours on average. Then I add my concealer then face powder. At that point I start my eyebrows then eye shadow.

The first thing I recommend is getting your eyebrows shaped first (no make up just shaped) by a professional. Make sure you like the shape then continue to pluck the strays with a good tweezer (I have a Revlon tweezer that's perfect) to maintain that shape. I have had the same brow shape since I was 17 it really works for my face so at this point (a few years later ;-)!) I know my shape and can maintain it without professional help.

I have to run but I'll check back in on your thread later if you have any questions or just send me a private message.

rachylou

Veteran

Pluck with a super restrained hand! Only pluck really stray hairs. When I go for a groomed look (which is not often, I am RATE RATE RATE), I brush my brows to shape and use either a pencil to fill or powder and tiny, stiff, angled brow brush. I've used one of the clear gels before, but I find that too much fuss.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I dye and groom my own brows, and have done so for 15 years. I also use eyebrow pencil.

Have them shaped professionally first, and see if you can manage on your own after that.

Suja

Veteran

Day Vies, I get it now. That makes sense, I will try to find makeup AND a primer that works. I would never have even thought of Milk of Magnesia.

Rachylou, I never thought of changing up my eyebrows as part of my look. I think that's too advanced for me at this point

Angie, That sounds like a good approach. I am going to get a professional plucking and then head over the the makeup counter at Nordstrom (the one Anna recommended) and see if they can set me up with some eyebrow products.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I have a couple of thin spots in my eyebrows (weird because OMG UNIBROW when I was a kid), and I've just recently started paying attention to that. I started using this, and I like it a lot. Easy to use and blends in perfectly.

http://www.sephora.com/retract.....of-P286513

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great strategy. xo

DonnaF

Veteran

Castor oil applied with a q-tip just before bedtime helped to restore a bit of over-plucking and patchy areas in my eyebrows. If I get super ambitious, I may use a bit of eye shadow on them -- but in a taupey brown and not their actual black color. Black looks odd and artificial whereas taupe looks more like a shadow that the brow hairs above have created.

Anonymous

Suja, you're right to be careful about getting your brows professionally shaped. If too much is taken from the outer half, sometimes it won't grow back in (this is a genetic thing, I'm told). I would ask friends for recommendations or even go to a shop and watch the technician doing the work until you feel comfortable with him/her. I would ask him/her to draw the shape they plan to create with a pencil first so that you can okay it. Once it's finished, you can easily pluck the stray hairs as they appear, using a magnifying mirror. Just check every morning and then they won't get out of control. Good luck!

Anonymous

Suja, once you've had your eyebrows shaped, I absolutely swear by this twist-up eyebrow defining pencil by Clinique : http://www.clinique.co.uk/prod.....index.tmpl I love that it twists up and I don't have to sharpen it and the line you get is really fine so you can do feathery strokes to make your brows look natural. If I run out of it I panic! I must have a spare at all times as I feel utterly naked without my sparse and patchy brows defined.

Suja

Veteran

Thanks for the responses and product recommendations. I am going to check out all these items at the mall today!

One800mom

I love the look and ease of use of Benefit's Gimmme Brow product. It is applied with a tiny mascara-like wand to groom and define at the same time.

http://www.sephora.com/gimme-brow-P379986

Suja

Veteran

Gimme brows? Hilarious!

Glory

Veteran

I have very light blonde eyebrows. Recently they started to bald and I used vaseline on them every night. Surprisingly they have seen some regrowth!
I used the Anastasia duo powder from Sephora with an angle brush as well and have had excellent results. I have tried many pencils but because my brows are so fair they often look unnatural.
Here is the product that I use http://www.sephora.com/brow-po.....uId=929778

jackiec

Veteran

Suja, I swear by the same Clinique eyebrow pencil as Diane G

I agree - and sounds like you have a plan - get a good shaping first, then figure out the product that's right for you. My outer eyebrows have been slowly disappearing on me as I age - and my brows overall have a thin shape (probably over plucked in my 20's). I used to have quite the unibrow. I am way overdue for a professional shaping. It does make all the difference in the world, and it's easy to just pluck strays for quite some time after that.

Good luck

cinnamon fern

Veteran

Here's a third rec for that Clinique eyebrow pencil!

Jeanie

Veteran

Suja, there are some great brow videos on Youtube that really helped me.

Susan

I love Make-up Forever's Aqua Brow. It is a cream in a tube that you apply with a firm angle brush. It stays on until you wash it off. I live in a hot humid climate and this stays on through anything, including swimming and sleep. There is a YouTube video on how to apply it. You only use a small amount each time so it's not as pricey as you might think. Good luck!

Gigi

Veteran

I have read that castor oil can help with hair growth in the eybrows and eyelashes. I see that DonnaF has had some good results there...good to know that it actually works! (I've never actually tried it.)

Suja

Veteran

I did it! I got my brows plucked/threaded for the first time ever. I really love the shape she put into my eyebrows. I told her about my concern of losing too much of my brow and she took that into account. It took about 40 minutes. I went to a lady who works out of her home (I know, scary). She had great reviews on Yelp so I thought I would give her a try. Plus she lives just a couple blocks from me in Kirkland. She owned a beauty salon in Iran for 30 years and just recently came to America. I've been getting compliments from family members. So excited to have added a little something extra to my overall look. I will be shopping for brow powder or a pencil tomorrow! Thanks for all the suggestions.

Gigi

Veteran

Yay! I've never had my eyebrows done, but it sounds like it is worth it! I do think that eyebrows are an important part of the face and can do a lot to enhance our appearance.