Perfect Eyebrows Sin No. 9: Your Eyebrows Are Too Light
The problem: There is a ton of mixed information about what color we should use to fill in our brows. But according to Benefit Global Brow Authority Jared Bailey, going too light is the ultimate no-no. "When brows are too fair they appear to fall flat and don't frame the face," he says.
The fix: For perfect eyebrows that look totally natural, choose products that match the base of your hair color. That means those of us with highlights should use a brow product in a shade that matches our base color, not our highlights. If you like a bolder brow, Bailey says it's cool to go even a shade or two darker than the your base color. "The deeper shade of brow filler will draw attention to your arch and give you an instant eye lift," he says.
To fill in your brows quickly and expertly, grab a pencil, such as Benefit Instant Brow Pencil, $22. Start at the base of the brow (closest to your nose) and fill in the natural shape of the brow using tiny, short strokes. "As if you were drawing in each individual brow hair," Bailey says. Then, brush through the brow with a spoolie to blend the product for a natural finish.
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Perfect Eyebrows Sin No. 8: You're Over-Tweezing the Center
The problem: Maybe it's because of a cultural unibrow phobia; maybe it's because of a widespread tweezing addiction. Whatever the reason, almost everyone is guilty of removing too many hairs from between our brows.
"The hairs that 'start' your brows are probably the most important because they completely structure your face," says Tonya Crooks, brow artist to the stars. When you nix those hairs, it leaves a huge gap between your brows, which looks harsh and unnatural. Plus, it can make the bridge of the nose appear wider and the eyes too far apart.
The fix: "According to Anastasia's Golden Ratio method of proportion, brows should begin directly above the center of your nostrils," explains Tracy Taylor, Anastasia Beverly Hills brow specialist. So lay off the tweezing there until your hairs grow back.
Perfect Eyebrows Sin No. 7: Your Arch Is in the Wrong Place
The problem: We've all read about the technique of lining up a makeup brush with your nose and eye to find the points where your brows should start and end, and where your arch should go. But according to Crooks, this guide isn't one-size-fits-all. "Often times arches aren't far left enough, and this can make the brows look forced and artificial," she says.
The fix: To find your truest, most natural arch, Taylor recommends taking a moment to observe the muscle movements in your face. Raise your eyebrows, and you'll find that the muscles in your forehead naturally indicate where the arch of your brow is supposed to fall. "The goal should always be the most natural, customized brows possible," says Crooks. Which might mean ditching any prefab techniques -- and perfect arches will put you one step closer to perfect eyebrows.
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Perfect Eyebrows Sin No. 6: You're Forcing Your Brows to Be Something They're Not
The problem: Yes, "perfect eyebrows" exist, but that doesn't mean there's only one kind. "Most people think an arched brow is the only shape, and they force their brows into a shape that often isn't correct for their facial structure," says Crooks.
In reality, there are three main brow shapes: a classic arch, (think: Megan Fox), a rounded arc (like Fergie) and a straighter brow (like Natalie Portman). Your face and hair growth naturally lend themselves best to one of the three, says Crooks. Trying to change this natural shape -- either by yourself or at a salon -- won't result in your most flattering look. So even if you desperately want Cara Delevingne eyebrows, they might not be the best for your hair texture and bone structure. (Le sigh.)
The fix: "Finding the right shape for your face is the first step to perfect eyebrows," says Crooks. But if it's been a while since you've seen your natural shape, look back at old photos of yourself from before you started plucking. "That will tell you which shape you should be going for," she says. You can proceed with your shaping from there.
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Perfect Eyebrows Sin No. 5: You're Trying to Make Your Eyebrows Identical
The problem: You've heard it before: "Brows are sisters, not twins." Of course, that doesn't mean you can disregard balance altogether. It means that tweezing hair for hair on either side is never a good plan of attack.
Since no one's face is perfectly symmetrical, obsessively plucking until each brow is identical will only result in your entire face looking uneven and your brows looking over-plucked.
The fix: To achieve perfect eyebrows, try to make them look as even as possible while considering your natural face shape. To do this, Taylor recommends drawing a thin line with brow pencil along the bottom edge of each brow to use as a guideline. When you go in with your tweezers, only pluck the rogue hairs that fall outside the line.
Then, to fill in your brows, use your pencil to follow the brows' natural shape as best you can. When your brows are almost finished, alternate back and forth, adding a little to each one until the brows look balanced.
Perfect eyebrows can transform your entire look, according to, well, every makeup artist and brow expert we've ever talked to. On the flip side, an unflattering shape or color can instantly make you look angrier, older and otherwise off your game. And though eyebrow trends seem to change by the year -- from pencil thin to Lily Collins-level bold -- there is such a thing as timeless, perfect eyebrows. And yes, it is possible to achieve them all by yourself.
To start, a few basic pointers: Be cautious when working with tweezers. Especially since a tragic few of us survived the '90s without eviscerating our brows. (RIP, beautiful sprouts.)
That said, letting your eyebrows go totally au naturel isn't always the right move. We get it, it's tempting to lay off the grooming and let your brows do their thing after the great over-plucking of 2002. But you don't want your brow hairs to completely overgrow your arch, either.
Then, there's the matter of filling them in. With so many brow powders, pomades, pencils and more, it can be tricky to find the color and texture that will lead to your own version of perfect eyebrows. Ugh, we know -- so many variables to consider.
Luckily, that's where these priceless tips come in. Here, we share the most common eyebrow mistakes we make, according to three top celebrity brow gurus. If you're guilty of any of them, don't freak out. With these essential tips, perfect eyebrows are finally within reach.
