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The Quest for the Perfect Brow

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

“A brow without a shape is like a face without expression.”

Most of us have agonized over our eyebrows at one time or another.  What’s the perfect shape?  How thick, how thin?  Where do they start?  Where do they end?  If they are too high, you’ll look surprised.  If there are too low, you’ll look angry.


Do you remove the top and bottom hairs?  What’s the perfect shape?  Can you arch as much as Angelina Jolie or will you look like Cruella Deville?   
What color should they be?  Are you using the wrong color pencil or power to fill them?  What do you do with the grey/blond hair making them virtually invisible?  Do you even have a brow?


Should you see a professional?  What method should you use?   Waxing, threading, sugaring, tweezing, shaving?  How often should you go?  HELP!

We asked the expert and got all the answers!  Leanne Carter of Facial Accents by Leanne weighs in on all things BROW.


First the basics:


•    Eyebrows should remain au natural until age 12 or an age of maturity when a young girl can understand and tolerate the hair removal process.


•    Shaving is never a good choice for eyebrow design.  It’s very inaccurate and you’ll have immediate hair growth.


•    If you use prescription topicals or Accutane, waxing is not an option. Stick with tweezing or threading.


•    Sugaring was developed for the body and not the brow.


•    Professional waxing is your best choice for the perfect eyebrow



So does it hurt?  Leanne says no.  A good technician is fast and efficient with a quick technique that will feel like a Band-Aid coming off. There are numbing agents available, but they can sometimes increase post-waxing irritation.  You may be slightly pink (sometimes up to 24 hours) after waxing, but a mineral makeup with zinc can calm and cover easily. If you have overly-sensitive skin, ask your technician for a post-treatment solution.


Speaking of technicians, who do you choose?  Leanne says to choose carefully.  A basic brow wax on a service menu does NOT mean the technician is an artist prepared to design your eyebrow and once they’re gone, they may take months to grow back. 


Do your homework; when you see someone with great brows, ask them where they go for waxing.  When calling local spas and salons, ask if they have an experienced esthetician and/or makeup artist.  Know what shape you want before you go.  Bring magazine pictures of eyebrows you like and don’t like. 


Here are more tips from Leanne:


•    Eyebrows are meant to be seen! Thin brows are never in fashion. 


•    Hair removal from the upper and lower brow is a must if you have a lot of hair growth and want an arch.  If you have thin brows, remove only from under the brow. A great technician will always design your brow using waxing, trimming and tweezing for the perfect look.


•    If you fill in your brow with a pencil, bring your colors with you and ask the technician if they are the right shade for your skin and hair color.  Brow shading works best in hot climates with a powder rather than a pencil and the right color makes all the difference.  Hair tinting is always a good choice if you have grey hair.  Do not pull them out!  Blondes should also consider a slightly darker hair shade for their invisible eyebrows!


•    If your eyebrow hair is virtually nonexistent due to over plucking, thinning, thyroid issues or other medical reasons, consider a more permanent eyebrow with cosmetic tattooing also known as permanent makeup. The industry has come a long way in producing a beautiful, more natural result.  But as always, choose your technician carefully.


•    How often to wax your brow depends on your own hair growth and if you tweeze the brow in between appointments.  Try maintaining your brows at home with tweezing and wait 3-4 weeks for your next appointment.  If you have a special event, be sure to coordinate your eyebrow appointments so they look perfect. 


•    Plan to spend as much for your brow design as you do for your nails! The cost can vary by region with the best in Tampa charging $25 - $35 for eyebrows.  Tinting is an extra charge.
                       
 

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