How to Perfectly Arch Your Eyebrows
We all wish we woke up with full, arched eyebrows like Cara Delevingne or Rihanna, but the reality is that most of us need the help of tweezers and a brow pencil to shape our own arches.
"Eyebrows can really contour and change the shape and appearance of your overall look by bringing balance and proportion to not only your eyes, but your entire face," explains Jared Bailey, Benefit Cosmetics global brow expert. What Bailey says is true, but one wrong move with a pair of tweezers and your arches quickly go from soft and high, to over-plucked.
You can avoid any mishaps and months of re-growth by knowing exactly where your arch should start and stop, along with what products to use so that your eyebrows look soft and full before you start your tweezing session.
Keep scrolling for a step-by-step guide on how to perfectly arch your eyebrows.
Map Your Eyebrows
Bailey says that the first step in arching your eyebrows is identifying three points: the start, arch, and the end.
"To find the perfect position for your brow arch, meaning the highest point of your brow, take a skinny makeup brush and place it vertically against the side of your nose," explains makeup artist Gita Bass. "Then stare straight into the mirror and move the top of the brush — keeping the bottom flush against your nose — over the outer edge or your iris. Where the brush hits your brow is where the arch should be. It should be roughly two-thirds from the middle of your brow to the tail, not halfway across."
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Tweeze Eyebrows Into the Arch Shape
When it comes to actually tweezing your arch, Bailey recommends making the marks and connecting them to box out the shape you want your eyebrow to be. "This way you have a boundary and know that when you go to tweeze, you’re not going to go past those lines," he says.
"Also, take note of your arch — not all brows need to have high arches," Bass adds. "If your brows are on the straighter side, which are gorgeous and can really frame the face, just clean up the underneath and don’t try to create an artificial arch, which will often result in the dreaded rainbow or tadpole shaped brow. Always tweeze the hairs one by one."
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Use the Right Eyebrow Products
Once you've tweezed your eyebrows into the ideal arched shape, follow up with brow products to further enhance your look. Bailey says to choose a brow product based on your needs and desired finish.
However, if you over pluck by accident, you'll want to use a treatment in addition to a pencil or gel or find a two-in-one solution. Bass recommends reaching for Rodan + Fields Brow Defining Boost. "I like this product because over time it will boost the appearance of fullness and thickness of the brows, but it can also instantly fix over plucking with its tinted formula," she says.
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For Sparse Eyebrows: A Micro-Fine Pencil
If you have sparse spots or want overall more fullness, use an eyebrow pencil with a micro-fine tip such as Benefit Cosmetics' Precisely My Brow Pencil Ultra Fine Shape & Define. The slip shape of the pencil is ideal for sketching natural, hair-like strokes exactly where you want them.
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For More Color: A Wide Brow Pencil
When your eyebrows are light, reach for a chubby pencil like Lancome's Monsieur Big Brow Pencil to boost your arches with an even wash of color.
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For More Defintion: Eyebrow Gel
Looking to add even more definition for dramatic eyebrows? Use a cream-gel like Benefit Cosmetics' Ka-BROW! Cream-Gel Eyebrow Color with Brush. Since the formula is buildable, you can layer it depending on how bold you want your arched eyebrows to be.
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For Extra Insurance: A Clear Eyebrow Gel
Finishing off your arched eyebrows with a coat of clear eyebrow gel like NYX Professional Makeup Control Freak Clear Eyebrow Gel. This product acts like a top coat for your brows and locks in the shape and other products you've used to perfect your arches.