I was visiting my cousin once in Australia and we boarded a busy tram in Melbourne We all know that a strong, well-groomed brow has the ability to transform your face - framing and defining your features. Yet unfortunately too often a history of over-tweezing, or just having naturally sparse brows, can make it tricky to create a beautifully full-browed look. Strong brows can emphasize your face’s natural symmetry, as well as opening up your eyes. Eager for our best tips about how to make your brows appear thicker and fuller? We spoke to International Makeup Artist Christabel Draffin on how to fill in your eyebrows for a more natural, full look.
The power of strong brows
e, during rush hour, when the driver pulled the train to a halt. Leaves on the line or the proverbial bad weather conditions? No, this (female) driver was just keen to know how my cousin got her brows looking so good! Frankly, we couldn’t blame her! It’s a story that also resonates with makeup artist Christabel Draffin, who agrees that strong brows are the pillars of the face and an essential part of looking groomed. "Quality products are key," she admits. "But you also need to follow some basic techniques. I promise they're easy to master!"
STEP 1: Plotting
On our shoot the SHISEIDO expert makeup artist started by drawing in the shape of the model’s eyebrows. “The first stage is plotting out where your brows should start and end,” she told us. Makeup artists swear by this trick: Just line up a pencil with the side of your nose where your nostrils start and place a dot by your brow, where the pencil meets your face. Next, hold the pencil at a 45 degree angle from the tip of your nose to the outer corner of your eye. Extend upwards from your eye and make another dot. This will be where your perfect brows will end. Finally, line the pencil up with your pupils and put a dot at the highest point of your brow. Join the dots up in a curved shape to give you a guide of how to create a perfectly arched set of brows.
STEP 2: Filling in
Brush long hairs upwards in the same direction using a brow comb. Trim any excess lengths carefully using tiny scissors and then fill in your brows using small strokes of the pencil. Next, brush out the brow using the brush at the end of the pencil to blend. “Fill in any sparse areas using the pencil or a brow powder,” advises Draffin.
Step 3: Plucking strays
Brush long hairs upwards in the same direction using a brow comb. Trim any excess lengths carefully using tiny scissors and then fill in your brows using small strokes of the pencil. Next, brush out the brow using the brush at the end of the pencil to blend. “Fill in any sparse areas using the pencil or a brow powder,” advises Draffin.
Step 4: Be bold
For a stronger look, carefully fill in your brows using a styling powder. On the shoot our makeup artist gave the model elegant brows using a double sided applicator, allowing them to draw sharp lines for a bold look or blend shades for a softer, more natural finish.
Which eyebrow shape suits me?
The way your brows grow naturally is the most flattering shape for you, but if years of plucking have left you unsure of your natural brow arch, then see a brow-shaping expert. If you’re going DIY, then this simple guide can help.
- Heart shaped or square face = a softer arch with a boyish brow.
- Oval face = you can pull off most brow shapes so go for a strong arch and a bold statement brow.
- Round face = a slimmer, more sculptured arch will lift your features.