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If the eyes are the window to the soul, eyebrows are the curtains. Window fixtures should highlight and accent your windows, not lay over them like fuzzy, stubbly shag rugs. If your eyebrows are looking more like caterpillars and less like sleek, stylish curtains, it’s time to whip them into shape. Sculpting your eyebrows changes the entire look of your face, inviting people to look deep into your peepers and see the sexy diva inside.
Shape Up
Eyebrow shape should highlight your natural facial features to bring out your eyes. Ladies with full, round faces should stick with thicker brows with a higher arch. Square-faced fashionistas look best in highly-arched brows with thin outer edges to give a refined appearance. Those with thin, long faces and delicate bone structure need equally delicate brows, so aim for a thin brow with a gentle arch. Strong-featured ladies with prominent cheekbones and noble noses look smashing with thicker, slightly arched eyebrows.
Outlines
Outlining your brows before cleaning them up prevents the dreaded uneven, overplucked, stubbly look. Look at yourself in the mirror and lightly draw the desired shape over your existing brows. Start at the inside corner of the eye, sketching out the curve and height of your new brow over each eye. Fill in the outline with a darker pencil and step a few feet away from the mirror to get an overall impression of your new eyebrows. If you’re unsure of your drawing skills, pick up an eyebrow outline template next time you hit up the salon or beauty supply store.
Clean Up
Assemble your weapons before diving into the war on eyebrow hair: A pair of slanted tweezers, a pair of small scissors, an eyelash brush and eyebrow wax if you’re extremely hairy is all you need to get the job done. Pluck all hairs that fall underneath the lower outline, or slather on a line of wax and rip them all out at once. Wax is extremely effective in battling stubble and leaving your brows sleek and smooth. Brush the hair straight up with a curly eyelash brush and snip off any hairs that extend above the upper edge of the outlined brow. Pluck off any stragglers outside the shaded eyebrow and dab a little hydrocortisone cream on to combat redness or swelling.
Maintenance
Consistent maintenance will eliminate eyebrow stubble before it turns ugly. Examine your brows once a week, and pluck off any sprouting hairs before they get stubbly. If plucking is too traumatic, smooth a little depilatory cream over offending eyebrow hair with a cotton swab. Wipe away with a wet rag after 20 minutes to reveal sexy, stubble-free eyebrows.
