Big, lush brows are in. They help to frame our face. Eyebrows are a precious commodity. Aging and abuse can damage them permanently so here are some Dos and Don’ts to help you keep your eyebrows healthy.
PLUCKING & TRIMMING
- DON’T – Start you’r brow grooming routine with plucking – trim first. See tips below for the best way to trim. If you choose to pluck, don’t use a magnifying mirror. The close up view is likely to exaggerate the amount of hair you have and lead you to over-pluck. Never over pluck! Today, thick brows are in so this makes it easier to minimize plucking and any damage to your hair follicles.
- DO – Most of the time an eyebrow trim is what’s really needed vs plucking. Trimming is preferred as there is less possibility of hair follicle damage. Invest in a good brow brush and scissors; we like Tweezerman brand. Brush hairs in an upward motion and trim the stragglers. We recommend doing this in stages. Trim once and take a look, then decide if more is needed. If you want to pluck, take time to plan the best shape for your brow before you start plucking. We recommend investing in the best tweezers – we like Tweezerman. They are an investment but you’ll use them for years. They allow you to get to the tiny individual hairs. When you pluck be sure to pluck from the root and in the direction the hair is growing. This will help to minimize permanent damage.
WAXING
- DON’T – Get your brows waxed the day of a large event as your brows will be red and possibly puffy. We do not recommend waxing if you have sensitive skin as the wax not only removes your eyebrow hair but disrupts the skin. Don’t try to wax your own brows until you are sure you know the proper shape and style for your face.
- DO – Seek a professional for your first wax. Be sure they discuss the shape and style your seeking as well as doing a test on your arm prior to doing your brows.
THREADING
- DON’T – Try to do it yourself. Yes, there are numerous youtube videos that make it look easy but lets face it – it’s not something most people can do. Try getting your fingers and thread positioned properly and then look into a mirror with reverse reflections – good luck!
- DO – Seek an experienced professional. This method of hair removal and shaping of the brow depends heavily upon the beauty technician as she is choosing exact pieces of hair to remove vs a more broad scale process like waxing. Note: this method is more gentle since it does not involve the skin – just the hair. It is a good option for people with sensitive skin or those that use retinol, have micro abrasion or have had chemical peels.
TINTING
- DON’T – Chose a color lighter than your natural (hair root) color and never leave the dye on longer than recommended. Choosing a tint lighter than your natural color will give you an odd, false look. Since the solution used to tint does have chemicals in it; leaving the solution on longer than recommended can actually damage your brows.
- DO – Go to a reputable brow specialist. They can help define the shape and coloring that will optimize your look. If you like what they did; you can later use this as a template for at home tinting. More tips on going to the salon or doing it yourself can be found here. You can read more from instyle here.
EXTENSIONS
- DON’T – Do this on your own the first time – could come out really badly and it lasts for 2-3 weeks! If you try to remove the glue sooner you could do permanent damage to you brows. You may be tempted as the average treatment is $50 – $100 but better to have some professional help.
- DO – Seek a professional who has experience. They have experience with the optimal shape of the brow for your face, they can recommend the thickness and have access to various color shades that will help to make the brow extensions look natural. Be sure to follow maintenance recommendations so your brows will last longer.
MICROBLADING
- DON’T – Seek the cheapest provider. This is one of those cases where you get what you pay for. Most of the horror stories start with “I got a great deal for $250 and ended up in the hospital”. The average cost should be around $600 ($400-$800 depending upon where you live) and touch ups average about $100.
- DO – Research and seek an experienced technician. They should have a license and certification. Be sure to follow all of the prep rules as well as post procedure requirements. This is the most costly and semi-permanent procedure so it’s important to take it seriously. More details here from instyle.
If your seeking a natural solution for brow growth we recommend an organic serum like WINK. WINK harvests the power of natural fatty acids to stimulate resting or damaged hair follicles into a growth state. It also nourishes existing lashes so you have less breakage and loss.
