TIPS FOR GROOMING EYEBROWS AT HOME

After months of staying home, many of us have had the pleasure of watching our brows grow and evolve into a natural and untamed state. Although our eyebrows may resemble something straight out of National Geographic…this grown out state poses the perfect opportunity for some at-home shape up action. Before you go and tweeze away all the hard work that your Exhale wax expert has put into sculpting your brows to perfectly frame your face, let’s talk about some basic rules to follow when grooming during quarantine. National Spa Director, Rachael Gallo, gives us all of the info we need before getting at our brows!

Let’s start with the most important question: waxing or tweezing? Your skin type as well as the nature of your skincare routine will determine which is the best option for your at-home clean up.

Waxing:

• Longer-lasting results
• Pulls from the root
• Removes all of the thin hair follicles that are often missed by tweezing
• Faster and less painful
• Better for those with thicker coarse hair and or unruly hair growth
• Would not recommend for extra sensitive skin especially for those with rosacea
• Do not wax if you are using products with:
  • Retinoids / Retinol A
  • Vitamin A

Tweezing:

• More accurate technique for shaping your brows
• Can often be more painful as you are working with one hair at a time
• It is best to tweeze if you have more sensitive or thinner skin.

Now that you know the ins and outs of tweezing and waxing, let me walk you through how to clean up your brows and make your esthetician proud!

Materials needed:

• Mirror
• Brow Scissors
• Slant Tweezers
• Eyebrow Brush
• Eyebrow Pencil
• Calming lotion such as: witch hazel or aloe vera
• Wax kit

Tip:  I recommend GiGi wax for sensitive skin. This strip-less wax contains vitamin E and can be heated in your microwave.  If using hard wax, you will use a wax applicator. I suggest a medium applicator with a slanted edge. Another option is Pre-Wax Strips such as Flamingo strips. These are great for first time waxers.

Prep your brows:

• Exfoliate your skin 24 hours prior
• Use an oil free cleanser and ensure the area is completely dry
• Map out your brow shape.

The shape of your face will determine the best way to shape your brows. Let’s break down the three most common face shapes, and how to shape your brows accordingly!

Round Shaped Face
The goal here is to make the face appear to be longer. The best way to achieve this is a high arch. The angular lines will draw attention to the eye and lengthen the appearance of the brow. To create this look, use the brow brush to map out the arch. Place the base of the pencil along your nose holding the base at the corner of the nostril and move the pencil angle to directly the middle of your eye. Use the tip of the pencil to mark where the arch will peak.

Heart Shaped Face
The goal is to soften and balance the angles of the chin. The best way to achieve this is with a low arch and roundly curved brows. From there, adding on some extra volume brings length to the forehead and overall balance the face. Using your brow pencil, you will find three marks. Start with the pencil at the base of the nostril pointing straight up. This is where the perfect brow should start. Next find the middle of the low arch by holding the base of the pencil at the nostril and moving the angle across the eye to just past the pupil. This is the low arch point. From there, take the angle further towards the corner of your eye. This is where your brow should end. Follow these points and you’ll have the perfect brow.

Oval Shape Face
The goal is to maintain and follow the shape of the face. Create a softly angled eyebrow with no main point, just a curved and even shape to soften the angles of the face. Follow the natural curve of the eyebrow bone and you’ll achieve your shape with ease!

Now, let’s break down some general tips and tricks to keep in mind throughout your brow shaping process!

• Brush your brows to ensure all hair is pointing in the same direction.
• Apply wax or pre-waxed strip in the direction of the hair growth and always begin with above the brow.
• To reduce pain when waxing, immediately place your hand on the waxed area and apply pressure.
• When moving to the eyelid, brush the hair upwards using the markers you made for the brow shape. This will leave the hair you want to wax separate from the rest.
• Never wax over the same area twice. If you miss a few strays, then grab your tweezers.
• When tweezing, brush your brows upward to help identify the excess hairs you will want to remove.
• Less is more! Don’t over-tweeze, unless you have a time machine on hand.
• To minimize pain while tweezing, hold the skin taught and tweeze in the direction of hair growth.
• When finished tweezing, brush through the brows and in an upward direction and use your brow scissors to clean up the edges. 
• Apply aloe vera lotion to reduce redness and eliminate any sensitivity.
• If you have sensitive skin or are prone to breakouts, apply a cool compress to reduce irritation.
• Avoid using facial cleansers, heavy creams or makeup around the brow area for 24 hours following your shape up.
• Top off your brows with a setting gel that helps to sculpt, control and shape your eyebrows for immediate, and lasting results.

SHOP NOW

Before you know it, you’ll be back in the hands of your favorite Exhale waxer. Until then, we’re here to guide you through your at-home grooming to ensure that you maintain he healthy and natural shape of your brows! If you have any questions about your brows, reach out to Rachael at [email protected]