Makeup

Here's Why You Don't Have Perfect Eyebrows

Fix every brow blunder in the book with this guide to the ideal arch

by Amber Katz, Amanda Montell

6 of 10

Perfect Eyebrows Sin No. 4: You're Plucking Out the "Meat" of the Brow The problem: Let's say you have a few gray or coarse hairs that need to be removed. It's tempting to go in and yank them with tweezers. But according to Bailey, this is a recipe for bald spots and mangled, uneven brows. "The closer you get to the brow 'line' the more room there is for error," he says. "We call this the 'no zone.'"

The fix: Stick to tweezing strays only. That means any obvious hairs growing underneath the arches. If there are wonky hairs on top, don't pluck -- control them with brow gel instead. (Try Ulta Eyebrow Gel, $6.) If you need more of a shaping overhaul, leave it to the pros, Bailey says.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Perfect Eyebrows Sin No. 3: You're Trimming Wrong (or Not at All)

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products mentioned

Benefit Instant Brow Pencil

9.1

Urban Decay Brow Beater Microfine Brow Pencil and Brush

9.4

Anastasia Brow Enhancing Serum

6.0

Ulta Eyebrow Gel

8.2

Anastasia Scissors

0.0

E.L.F. Eyebrow Kit

8.9

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Older comments

perfect brows are important

by brianna121791 Monday, May 13, 2013 at 01:50PM Report as inappropriate

Never knew you shouldn't use the same shade as your hair. Will try this tip.

by Dee Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 05:01PM Report as inappropriate

well, frieda kahlo might be an example of beauty for some, but a unibrow must go! in the same type of scenario, how can you wait three months between tweezing?

by AstridB Friday, April 12, 2013 at 07:57AM Report as inappropriate

I don't agree with not plucking the unibrow and using a shade lighter for brows than natural hair ive always used a shade darker and it looks fine I always see people with blondehair have darker brows also so that rule makes no sense to me

by kfloyd01 Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 05:53PM Report as inappropriate

Fascinating. Nearly every day I spy a woman with perfect makeup but a major brow faux pas. Great tips included here!

by GigiSD Monday, March 25, 2013 at 03:23PM Report as inappropriate

Sound useful, will try some of these tips.

by Zeaundra Monday, March 25, 2013 at 02:34PM Report as inappropriate

These were some really helpful tips! I'll keep them in mind when I do my brows tonight.

by NillaButterfly Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 02:48PM Report as inappropriate

This article is interesting but what I really need are examples of do's and don'ts - and not celebrities but real people with real jobs and real lives and real problems.

by Sonflower Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 06:03PM Report as inappropriate

I have seen some truly crazy looking brows

by LittleBunny Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at 08:03AM Report as inappropriate

I hate my brows!!

by Mommy_of_Ethan Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 07:17PM Report as inappropriate