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.
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Perfect Eyebrows Sin No. 3: You're Trimming Wrong (or Not at All)
The problem: Trimming is essential for polished, perfect eyebrows, says Bailey. A nice brow shape can get lost under brow hairs that hang too long below the brow line, creating a "hooded" look. If you skip trimming, your brows also might stick straight up (think: crazy old grandpa).
That said, trim with caution. Going too short can create holes in the brows and disrupt the whole shape, says Crooks.
The fix: A subtle trim shows off your shape, making your brows look nice and clean. Simply trim the very tips of the hair to avoid going too deep and messing with your brow shape. "Only use straight scissors, such as the Anastasia Beverly Hills Scissors, $22.50," warns Crooks. "Don't grab those curved ones in a pinch!"
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Perfect Eyebrows Sin No. 2: You're Tweezing With a Magnifying Mirror
The problem: Who enjoys looking in a magnifying mirror anyway? "It's impossible to get the right proportions when you're looking at your face so closely," says Taylor. "You may end up ruining the arch because you don't have the right perspective."
The fix: Toss that magnifying mirror in the trash (it was never kind to you). Instead, use a wall mirror as you pluck, so you can focus on the entire face at once. After all, no one else is looking at your face through magnification, so why should you?
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Perfect Eyebrows Sin No. 1: You Over-Plucked, and Now You're F*cked
The problem: Here it is. The most common eyebrow mistake in the book: Plucking and plucking until you're left with nothing but sad, skinny eyebrows. "Barely-there brows look harsh and actually add years to your look," says Bailey. In other words, 1999 called, and it wants its pencil-thin eyebrows back.
The fix: "When your brows are practically nonexistent, you need to bring in the big guns," says Bailey. "Go for a long-wearing wax and powder combination." (Try E.L.F. Eyebrow Kit, $3.)
The combo of powder and tinted wax will give you truly perfect eyebrows that are soft, yet defined. First, use your wax to build up the brow hairs. Then, follow up with a powder to set the wax and fill in any gaps. "This gives a natural layered effect (like highlights in your hair) that keeps your brows from looking drawn on," says Bailey.
Apply using a hard angle brush, then soften the edges with a pointed cotton swab.
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.
