a few quick and simple tips to achieve naturally filled in brows
My eyebrow journey began just a few short years ago, when a friend of mine who worked at Sephora gave me a sample of eyebrow pomade. She told me I should try it because it would "really pull my look together." At the time I thought she was crazy... Me? Do brow makeup? No way... It's not a necessary part of my makeup routine, I'm not good at it, and it's not going to make a difference because I don't have much brow to work with...
Well, four years later and here we are... turns out it is actually an important part of your makeup look. I still practice and play with different methods and styles, but I find I am MOST comfortable with just "filling in" my sparse 90s plucked brows, versus the extreme styles floating around the internet these days. So if you are looking for a dramatic, Instagram worthy brow tutorial.. this is not it. Maybe another blog, another time... but for beginners and folks who just want a regular day-to-day look, these tips may help you achieve a natural brow look!
Now, over the years, I have tried just about every kind of brow product there is. I've used brow powder with liquid activation, brow powder that doubles as an eyeshadow, eyebrow pomade, brow gel (so many brow gels...), eyebrow pencils that are hard, soft, waxy, etc... you name it. I have tried what feels like a million different brow products. I've played with the painted on look (with a very harsh edge), typically outlined with concealer, and I've also experimented with a feather brow (or soap brow) look. I've come to adopt all of the methods and tips that I've learned over time into a very simple routine that I use daily.
The first thing you need to do is look at your brows, with nothing on them, to determine their natural shape and decide what you want to do with them. Although it may not seem like a crucial step, your eyebrows really do frame your face and they do help complete your look. (I think my friend that gave me a sample of pomade years ago was very politely telling me that my makeup wasn't finished...)
Once you have determined the natural shape of your brow, decide if you need to tweeze any stray hairs, or if you are going to incorporate them into the new brow shape. If you have a few stray hairs down your eyelid, in-between your brows, or far out to one side or the other, it would be a good idea to pluck it. But if it's close to your natural brow, you can leave it alone. Use it as a guide for where to fill in with your eyebrow pencil, to create a more full brow.
When purchasing a brow pencil and brow gel, you will want to consider the color of the product versus the color of your hair on your head. If your eyebrows are naturally lighter than your hair, or if you have dyed your hair, you may want to consider a color to match. Typically you will find these products in a range of 3-5 different options. There are usually blonde, light brown, brown, dark brown, black, and clear options available depending on the brand.
I like to go with a medium brown color to match my darker brown hair. Since my brows are thinner, they appear lighter. I like to make them a little bit darker to fill in those areas, define my face and have everything match. You can choose to do the same, or you may choose to make your brows lighter or darker than your current hair color. It's up to you how you choose to do it. I prefer for mine to match.
Once you have plucked any stray hairs, have decided on the shape you want to make your enhanced brow, and have chosen the color(s) you would like to use, you will now find the three main points to guide your brow shape.
If you line up your brow pencil on the side of your nose, up and down, you can see a guideline of how far over your brow should go. Some people have brows that don't quite meet this line and will have to fill it in with makeup. Some people have hair that goes past. It is up to you if you want to tweeze the "excess" hair or not. If you have large bushy brows and want to achieve a more slim, polished brow look, I would recommend plucking them to this imaginary vertical line, based on your nose and brow shape.
Next you are going to move your brow pencil on an angle to find the arch of your brow. Using your nose as a guideline, you can identify "point 2" for where you should fill in your brows. Most people have a natural arch in their eyebrow hair, but if you do not, make a small dot with the eyebrow pencil slightly above the brow to create the illusion of an arched brow.
My brows are fairly straight and dip down on the end, so I like to angle the top of my brow up slightly, to give the illusion of a more full arched brow. You can play with different looks depending on what you are looking to achieve and what you are naturally working with.
Your third and final point should be on the outermost corner of your eye. This is the "tail" of the eyebrow. Again, it depends on the shape of your face, your nose, eye shape, etc. Not everyone will have the exact same look or the exact same shape. (But that is what makes you beautiful and unique!)
If you are just starting out or consider yourself a beginner, make three small dots or dashes at the three points to serve as a guideline. (I would recommend doing the marks on the top side of your natural brow.) Make the marks for the edge, or beginning of your brow, the arch, and the tail.
I like to make my brows a little bigger and a little longer, so I will take my "tail" out past where my natural brow stops. I use the bottom of my nose and the outer corner of my eye as a guideline to create a natural look.
Okay! You know the shape, the color, and the three guiding points to create a natural brow shape.
The next step (before you begin filling it in) is to brush out the eyebrow hairs. You will want to use a spoolie to brush them out and "prep" them for pencil application. The eyebrow pencil I have been using from Vic Beauty is double ended. One side is the eyebrow pencil and the other is a spoolie. I love that it is a two-in-one product and you don't have to buy another brush or keep up with two different tools. If you want to give this brow pencil a try, click the link below to shop for your perfect color:
I am using the color Lingering - Medium Brown
Once you have brushed out the hairs, you will begin to fill in the brow shape, using the eyebrow pencil. I personally like to start on the bottom line, but you can choose to do it however you like. I begin with my first "point" or the head of the eyebrow and begin to work my way toward the arch of the brow.
Use short hair-like strokes, with a gentle hand, to mimic the natural appearance of hair, rather than drawing a straight line all the way across. Don't forget to follow your natural brow shape for the most natural look. You don't want to overdraw your brows too much, or you will look like you have block brows (and people will definitely be able to tell that you drew them on). The goal with this style and technique, is to achieve a natural, filled in look.
Once you reach the arch of your brow (on the bottom section) begin to angle your shape downward toward the third point, or the tail, of your brow. You can choose to make this a rounded shape, an angular shape, or a straight line depending on your natural brows and the goal you are trying to achieve.
Once you have finished the outline for the bottom of your brow, move to the top of the outline. It may help you to brush the eyebrow hair downward during this step if you have longer brow hair, or if you want to fill in the line closer to the natural hairs.
Repeat the process, moving from the head, to the arch, to the tail. Don't forget to use short hair-like strokes to mimic the appearance of a natural brow.
Again, you can customize the shape of the brow based on your nose, eyes, natural brow shape and the desired end result.
After you have drawn the "outline," continue to fill in the brow with your brow pencil. Brush the hairs up again to see where there are spots that need to be colored, to complete the new brow shape.
Before you apply the brow gel, use the spoolie end of your brow pencil to brush the hairs in the direction and shape (of the brow) that you want to keep. Be careful when using your spoolie... If you brush it out too much, you may need to reapply in some areas of the brow. You might remove too much of the product if you press too hard or brush too many times. Be careful with brushing out past the brow outline, too. You might get some "dragging" of the product past where you want the brow shape to be. If this happens, just smooth it out with your finger, a Q-tip, or reapply a very small amount of your foundation/concealer, to fix the areas where you pulled it out too far. I like to soften the front part of my brow by wiping my fingertip across, to minimize the strong line look that can sometimes happen if your hair is very thin.
Once you are happy with how your new, natural brow looks, its time to use your eyebrow gel. The purpose of the gel is to "lock" your look in place. The gel will help hold the brow hairs where you want them to stay. This might be feathered up and out, or smoothed to the side
I prefer to use a clear brow gel, but you can also choose to use a colored brow gel. Again, these products typically range from clear to dark brown or black. If you do choose to use a colored gel, make sure that it is similar in color to your pencil. This will help prevent an odd mix of different colors in your new brow. When in doubt, I would go a shade darker to give a more natural dimension, just like when you dye your hair. Be careful not to drag the gel through the pencil too much, as it can change the properties of the makeup and may lead to streaking or thinning.
What you want to do is focus just on the actual hair you do have. (It took me a lot of trial and error to realize this crucial step.) Even if you have "drawn on" your brow past your natural hairs, you will only need to apply the gel to the real hair you have. This will ensure that they stay in place and help keep that brow shape that you worked so hard to achieve!
I have been using the clear brow gel from Vic Beauty and I must say, I love this product! It is the perfect mix, based on what I have tried over the years. I've used several that were either too thin and didn't hold the hair at all, or were too thick and left me feeling like I just used glue. THIS brow gel is the PERFECT consistency! It also has such a nice petite brush, for easy precise application. The gel has just enough grip and hold to keep the hairs in place and doesn't leave a thick, crusty, or gross feeling on your face. I highly recommend you give this brow gel a try, and I'm not just saying that. I actually REALLY like it, and hope you do too. Click the link below to grab yours:
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I hope you found these tips and tricks helpful! Feel free to find me on social media, and reach out if you need any further help. I'd be happy to assist you as you practice your perfect brow look. Trust me... it will take some time. But these two brow products are top notch. They will definitely make it easy for you to achieve a natural looking brow; follow these steps and keep trying. Don't give up! Especially if you are new to brows... I've had some good and bad brow days. It happens. And remember, brows are sisters, not twins...
Don't be too hard on yourself if you can't get them both perfect on the first try. You've got this! And I'm cheering you on...
All my love! 💕
Leah
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