We never thought we’d see the day, but it looks like thin eyebrows are the latest ‘90s trend to make their way back into fashion. It-girls like Rihanna, Bella Hadid, Kim Kardashian and Julia Fox have been spotted sporting the sleek beauty look and, proving their influence is alive and well, we’ve been left wanting to try it for ourselves.
Unlike fluffier brow trends of years gone by, the skinnier shape du jour requires a fair bit of maintenance, which can get costly if you’re making regular trips to the beautician to perfect your arch.
But that’s where we come in. We’ve scoured the beauty industry for the best expert-approved tips for shaping your eyebrows at home – plus, compiled the tools your bathroom cabinet should be equipped with.
Step 1: Prep Your Canvas
Like most things, it’s best to pluck your eyebrows with clean, dry skin, so start by removing any makeup, and going in with your favourite cleanser.
Warm water will also soften the skin surrounding your brows and loosen the hair follicle, which can make the process of plucking the hairs a little quicker and less painful.
Step 2: Tame Your Brows
Before you can get to removing hairs, you’ll need to make sure they’re neatly combed. Grab a spoolie, and comb your eyebrow hairs upward and outward. This will help you identify which direction the hairs are growing in – which will come in handy when it comes to the next steps – as well as see the natural shape of your brows.
Step 3: Map Out Your Desired Shape
Next, grab an eyebrow pencil – most professionals will opt for white here – and map out your desired shape. While it might not seem like an essential step, this process helps you maintain control over the shape of your brow when you eventually get to plucking, by highlighting any stray hairs that grow outside of your desired outline.
Of course, you’re going for the ‘90s skinny brow look, you’ll want to delineate a smaller area, whereas for fuller, fluffier brows, stick closer to your natural brow shape.
Step 4: Start Plucking
Here’s where the fun starts. Once you’re happy with your shape, it’s time to start removing hairs. It’s best to stick to plucking for at-home hair removal. Waxing is a hard skill to master, and further complicated when it comes to self-application on the delicate eye area.
It can take time to master a technique that works for your brows but, as a general rule, start by isolating the hair you want to remove. Then, grip it with your tweezers and gently pull it in the direction of the hair growth to avoid breaking it in half, and remove.
Importantly, don’t rush this step. Slowly and cautiously removing hairs is the best way to ensure you end up with a finished shape you love.
In addition to plucking, you might also like trim any excessively long or unruly hairs with a pair of eyebrow-specific scissors.
Step 5: Make Time For Aftercare
Once your happy with the shape, calm your skin with a moisturiser or aloe vera gel. You should also wait until the area is soothed before applying any makeup.
Caring for your eyebrow tools is equally important. Cleanse your tweezers and brow scissors with facial cleanser or warm soapy water, and dry them thoroughly to minimise the spread of bacteria.
The Best Brow-Shaping Products
01
Manicare Precision Tweezers
$13.79 at Manicare
02
Manicare Precision Brow Grooming Kit
$17.99 at Manicare
03
NYX Professional Makeup Jumbo Eye Pencil
$16.99 at Adore Beauty
