Overplucked Eyebrows? How To Make Thin Eyebrows Appear Thicker

Standing in front of the mirror, tweezers in hand, I’m one of those girls that painstakingly debates the removal of any single eyebrow hair because, well, there just aren’t that many to fool with. One wrong move and my brows go from sparse and scattered to skeletal and “shit, where’d they go.” Needless to say, I’ve become pretty damn good and not touching my brows (except for the extreme outliers) and generally avoid getting them done by “pros” who, with the best of intentions, I’m sure, make forming an arch the goal, at the expense of removing oh, ya know, 95% of my already barely there brows. That is, until I discovered – and fell in love with – Warren Tricomi‘s Maral Balian.

Maral Balian is like the fairy godmother of eyebrows. With an eye for eyebrows, Maral skillfully transforms thin eyebrows from emaciated to healthfully full with all-natural tints, strategic hair removal and what seems like magic. So, how does she suggest you take your brows from bare to beautiful? Read on…

How To Make Eyebrows Look Thicker

Make Your Eyebrows Grow. If you’ve over-tweezed or just weren’t blessed with Brooke Shields like brows, check out RevitaBrow ($73), which, Maral says, is “the best thing on the market. Better than Latisse” to make your eyebrows grow in faster and thicker.

Does Waxing Really Make Your Hair Grow In Finer?

Tint Your Eyebrows. Want more prominent brows without having to fill them in? Maral uses vegetable dye to tint her clients’ brows, but she tells us that some of her clients are using the temporary tints men use to conceal grey (like Oscar Blandi Pronto Colore, $23)  in their beards to DIY it at home! But as Maral emphasizes, “it’s not marketed for eyebrows, so, like any other chemical, you have to be careful… but it works amazingly.”

Find out how to perfectly fill in and shape your brows here.

What Shape Fits Your Frame? Eyebrow Shaping 101

Perfectly shaped eyebrows can really change your overall look. How can you achieve the perfect shape? Work with your own eyebrow shape and frame—not against it. This means bone structure and eye set should be taken into consideration when trying to achieve shapely brows that wow.

There are three different kinds of eye sets: normal, close and wide set.

How to determine your eye set
Eye set is recognized by measuring your eye from the inner to outer corner. If your measurement is 7 cm and the distance between your two eyes is also the same, this means you have normal set eyes. If it is more, then you have wide set eyes and if it is less you it is close set eyes.

Spacing
Recognizing your eye set will help as a starting point for the best fit eyebrow shape. If you have close set eyes, shaping will require more space between your eyebrows. The brows should begin a little past the inner eye to give the illusion of a normal eye set. If you have wide set eyes, then you should not over pluck in between your brows, less space will better suit your face.

Shaping
The eyebrow arch starts from your pupil and gradually goes up and then down towards the end. The arch shape depends on your bone structure. There are many different shapes of eyebrows. Rounded shaped eyebrows soften features. A good example of this shape is Sharon Stone eyebrows. Soft angle eyebrows, the most preferred shape, is arched and feminine. This is similar to Nicole Kidman’s shape and usually goes well with a petite face. Angled eyebrows have a high arch and work well to mask droopy eyelids. It gives you a more youthful look. Straight eyebrows work best for those with a longer face shape face. Straight eyebrows make their face appear shorter and oval.

Designing
Once you understand what shape is the best fits your face, you can use the following tip to complete your new shape like a pro. Apply a little foundation on the eyebrows, and draw the desired shape with any colored make-up pencil. Look at yourself from a 3 feet distance in the mirror. If the sketch best complements your face, only remove the hair outside of the guideline you have created by tweezing or threading.

Susmta Patel is a multiple threat in the beauty industry as a licensed makeup artist, aesthetician, nail technician, hairstylist and waxing expert. Susmta was born in India and came to the US at the age of 20. This single mother wasted no time in diving head first into her passion for personal aesthetic services. As she says, “nothing makes me happier than the priceless smile of approval. This recognition motivates me to continue my pursuit of excellence.”As the founder and creative director of “Studio Sush” she has been a personal consultant to more than 900 brides. Susmta has impeccable training having begun her career at the New Jersey Capri Institute in 1996 from which she earned her cosmetology license. To further hone her skills, she attended the legendary Joe Blasco School of Makeup Artistry in Hollywood, CA and received her diploma in makeup artistry and special effects makeup. Joe Blasco is credited with creating the most comprehensive series of encyclopedic textbooks for the professional make-up artistry. The series, entitled “The Professional Make-up Artist” featured Susmta in all three volumes.Susmta has consulted for some of the beauty industries most prestigious brands such as Shiseido, Lancome, Versace, Christian Dior, Dr. Nicholas Perricone, Laura Mercier and Clinique. At the famed Completely Bare Salons in Manhattan and Scarsdale, Susmta was revered by clients for her prowess in full body waxing, permanent hair removal and eyebrow threading. Susmta was also the key makeup artist on the set of the Bollywood Film “Sama” and has judged Miss India worldwide beauty pageants.As a makeup artist, beauty expert and personal stylist, she is able to translate her passions into stunning metamorphosis for bridal and other special occasions. Her uniqueness stems from her visual analytic ability. She has an amazing sense of a woman’s face in only a few seconds and creates a unique look based on the individual’s personality. She works with spellbinding speed and clinical accuracy to lend attention to detail that compliments film and photography.Although Susmta is capable of creating any look desired, she does not push the latest trend on her clients. “It’s about you and your personality as an individual,” she says. “I work to enhance your natural beauty.” Susmta is a one woman “beauty machine” and travels worldwide providing her clients with one-stop makeup, hair, and eyebrow threading services. Susmta believes that providing ‘the total look’ for her clients enables her to truly customize a synergistic outcome that reflects the personality and aesthetic goals of each woman.Susmta Patel is a multiple threat in the beauty industry as a licensed makeup artist, aesthetician, nail technician, hairstylist and waxing expert. Susmta was born in India and came to the US at the age of 20. This single mother wasted no time in diving head first into her passion for personal aesthetic services. As she says, “nothing makes me happier than the priceless smile of approval. This recognition motivates me to continue my pursuit of excellence.” As the founder and creative director of “Studio Sush” she has been a personal consultant to more than 900 brides. Susmta has impeccable training having begun her career at the New Jersey Capri Institute in 1996 from which she earned her cosmetology license. To further hone her skills, she attended the legendary Joe Blasco School of Makeup Artistry in Hollywood, CA and received her diploma in makeup artistry and special effects makeup. Joe Blasco is credited with creating the most comprehensive series of encyclopedic textbooks for the professional make-up artistry. The series, entitled “The Professional Make-up Artist” featured Susmta in all three volumes. Susmta has consulted for some of the beauty industries most prestigious brands such as Shiseido, Lancome, Versace, Christian Dior, Dr. Nicholas Perricone, Laura Mercier and Clinique. At the famed Completely Bare Salons in Manhattan and Scarsdale, Susmta was revered by clients for her prowess in full body waxing, permanent hair removal and eyebrow threading. Susmta was also the key makeup artist on the set of the Bollywood Film “Sama” and has judged Miss India worldwide beauty pageants. As a makeup artist, beauty expert and personal stylist, she is able to translate her passions into stunning metamorphosis for bridal and other special occasions. Her uniqueness stems from her visual analytic ability. She has an amazing sense of a woman’s face in only a few seconds and creates a unique look based on the individual’s personality. She works with spellbinding speed and clinical accuracy to lend attention to detail that compliments film and photography. Although Susmta is capable of creating any look desired, she does not push the latest trend on her clients. “It’s about you and your personality as an individual,” she says. “I work to enhance your natural beauty.” Susmta is a one woman “beauty machine” and travels worldwide providing her clients with one-stop makeup, hair, and eyebrow threading services. Susmta believes that providing ‘the total look’ for her clients enables her to truly customize a synergistic outcome that reflects the personality and aesthetic goals of each woman.

Image Credit: beyondbeautybasics.com

Fab Fixes for the Worst Beauty Crimes

Unfortunately, beauty has a bad side. Between late nights, stress and, sometimes, just plain laziness (consider me guilty as charged!), our appearances can go horribly awry. In honor of today’s Partner-in-Crime Girlfriend (have you told us why SHE is your Partner-in-Crime Girlfriend in the National Girlfriend Awards yet?), we’re letting the crime fit the punishment with fab fixes for your biggest beauty law-breakers.

CRIME: Late-Night Laziness

PUNISHMENT: Late nights and a little too much wine can often lead to laziness, especially in the skincare department. After all, isn’t that 10-15 minutes it takes to remove your makeup better spent in bed? Alas, waking up with mascara on your cheeks and foundation on your pillow is never fun. Cut your nightly beauty routine in half with Olay’s Daily Facial Express Wet Cleansing Cloths for Sensitive Skin (SALE: $4.49 at CVS). These pre-moistened wipes are alcohol- and fragrance-free and contain skin-nourishing ingredients like vitamin E and aloe—they even take off water-proof mascara! Perfect for ladies with sensitive skin and those who would like to get some shut-eye, ASAP (uh, everyone?!).

CRIME: Dark Under-Eye Circles

PUNISHMENT: So that double shot of espresso might be a totally necessary start to your day (and night), but too much caffeine and lack of sleep will start to show eventually. Fight tired eyes and dark circles with Aveeno’s Active Naturals Smart Essentials Anti-Fatigue Eye Treatment ($9.59 on Drugstore.com). This easy-to-apply product comes in a roller ball that massages eyes to reduce puffiness while distributing anti-aging antioxidants like Southernwood and vitamins E and C. Bright eyes are just a swipe away!

CRIME: Bald Brows

PUNISHMENT: If eyes are the windows to the soul, then make sure they look awesome by not over-plucking your eyebrows. Thicker, more natural-looking brows have been the trend for a few years now and there is nothing sadder than seeing a pair of unflattering, pencil-thin brows. The key to a great at-home pluck session is backing aaaaway from that fluorescent-lighted, magnified mirror (use natural light and stand back a bit, believe it or not!) and dropping the hard-to-hold tweezers for an easy-to-wield option like the Tweezerman Slant Tweezer ($20). The shape and fullness of brows should complement your face, which means being able to see your entire face before and during plucking.

CRIME: Popping Pimples

PUNISHMENT: Pimples have the worst timing (job interviews, weddings, first dates), but drop the rubbing alcohol and tweezers already (popping a zit will probably just result in blood and having to cover an unsightly spot with concealer, anyway!). Try Neutrogena’s Rapid Clear 2 in 1 Fight and Fade Gel ($8.99 at Target) to effectively zap zits. Good guys like salicylic acid help erase pesky spots and fight any fade marks after the fact.

CRIME: Hair Help

PUNISHMENT: Every now and then I go a little crazy with the styling tools—I have a pretty intense relationship with my blow-dryer (…and my flat iron, curling iron, etc. ). Add over-styling to all that summertime humidity and fun (like swimming), and anyone’s tresses can get into some serious trouble. So, sentence your strands to Oribe’s Shine Supershine Moisturizing Cream ($49 at Neiman Marcus), a lightweight, creamy leave-in conditioner that moisturizes hair while fighting frizz, humidity and even defining curls—all while creating shiny and touchable hair.

What beauty crimes are you guilty of committing? How do you help punish your bad habits? What do you think of our fixes?

-Elana Lott

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