A Guide to Eyebrow Makeup for Beginners

Similar to fashion trends, makeup trends come and go. There’s a cycle, and the looks you love from the ‘80s are bound to come back eventually — just look at the renaissance ‘90s beauty is having. Sure, some looks arguably should have never made their way back into the trends (we’re looking at you pencil thin eyebrows).

Still, there are plenty of styles that we’re more than happy to welcome back. In fact, since we’ve already touched on the subject of brows, let’s dig deeper into the defined, bold and natural-looking brows from the ‘80s that remained ultra popular for the last decade. 

Even with more creators and influencers experimenting with eyebrow shapes, thick boy brows continue to be the look of choice for many. And luckily, there are a bunch of eyebrow makeup options available to help you achieve this fashionable, gorgeous, and timeless look. Read on to learn more about the best eyebrow products to nail the trend.

How Do I Choose My Eyebrow Makeup?

The short answer to this question is: It depends. Even if you’re going for a full, defined and bushy brow look, you may have a preference on how to achieve this. Plus, the product you use for your eyebrows will also depend on the type of eyebrows you’re already working with. 

If you have sparse brows you’re likely not going to use the same product as someone with a thick brow, or someone with curly brow hairs. So choose your best eyebrow makeup based on your needs, your desired look, and how effective the product is on your existing eyebrow hair.

5 Types Of Eyebrow Makeup to Try

If you've always been a fan of fuller brows or you’re ready to give the look a try for the first time, you have plenty of brow products to fill those babies in. Choose from eyebrow pencils, pomades, tinted gels, and more to define your brows and make them suitably on-trend. To figure out which will suit you best, find a breakdown below of different types of eyebrow makeup that can get you the look you desire no matter your eyebrow shape.

1. Eyebrow Pencil

Arguably the easiest eyebrow product to use, an eyebrow pencil is a classic tool that helps define and thicken the look of brows. You don’t need to do things like blend concealer around the brows, just utilize your brow pencil and a brow brush to fluff the brows up a bit.

To achieve bold brows with the help of an eyebrow pencil, draw the outline of your brow shape before filling in with light, feathered strokes. It’s a good idea to fill in starting from the center of your brows and working your way out — if you start closer to your nose, you risk an overly harsh, drawn-on look. After shading your brows, use an eyebrow brush to gently brush through your brows, pushing the hairs upwards to blend it all in.

The best eyebrow pencil for this job will have an ultra-fine point. Try a pencil like the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Mechanical Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil, which makes the art of eyebrow shaping easy to master with its 0.5mm ultra-fine pencil tip that allows for total precision and a gradual-shading effect. Pencils give super natural definition but also do a great job of filling in where needed.

2. Eyebrow Crayon

You’re not limited to using only one eyebrow product at a time, either. After you use an eyebrow pencil, you can fill in any remaining sparse areas with an eyebrow crayon. The L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Kabuki Blender is a soft and creamy crayon that glides on smoothly and easily for a quick and even application. 

It comes with a kabuki brush to help blend in your strokes for full-looking brows that have a soft, natural finish. How you wield the crayon will make all the difference in how your brows look, too — you can use it lightly for a natural look or use firmer strokes for a statement-making brow.

3. Eyebrow Gel

One of the best eyebrow makeup products for sparse brows is eyebrow gel — it’s also the one that will get you out the door the fastest. A fiber-infused brow gel formula can actually temporarily thicken the look of your brow hairs by coating each individual hair in hardly any time at all. 

In addition to giving brows a denser appearance, brow gels can be used for a natural-looking tint, as well as to tame brows and keep individual brow hairs in place. And who doesn’t love a multi-tasker? Before you rush out the door, use the L’Oréal Paris Unbelievabrow Longwear Waterproof Brow Gel to enhance your brows. 

The brow gel’s long-wear polymers create a waterproof seal on your brows for a smudge-proof, transfer-proof, sweat-resistant finish. Use the angled applicator to apply the eyebrow gel in short, gentle, upward strokes following your brow shape and comb through to blend and plump brows with the accompanying spoolie.

4. Eyebrow Pomade

When you see stunningly sculpted brows on your TikTok For You page, it’s safe to assume they may have also been achieved with the help of a brow pomade. These lightweight, creamy mousse formulas can be used to help define the shape of your brows and give them an overall thicker appearance. Even if you barely have any brows at all, you can draw on bold brows that actually look natural with a pomade — as long as you use the right technique. 

The L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Frame and Set comes in four shades equipped with a double-ended applicator tool, featuring a brush and spoolie. First, dip the brush into the pomade and use it to outline your brow and define your arch. Then, draw brow hairs in sparse areas with the brush’s angled tip. Fill in your brow to your desired intensity before blending with the spoolie.

5. Eyebrow Mascara

Pencils tend to be the go-to brow product for beginners, but eyebrow mascaras are equally easy to use. These can be especially helpful if you already have pretty full brows but you need to keep your hairs in place. The product combs through your hairs just like mascara for your lashes, and gives them a similarly defined, polished finish.

We love the L’Oréal Paris Unbelievabrow Longwear Brow Topcoat, Waterproof Universal Transparent for this. The quick-dry formula is waterproof, smudge-resistant and transfer-resistant, giving you up to 30 hours of control. The best part: It can also be layered over your eyebrow pencil if you do need to fill in thin areas and fits in your pocket for easy travel.

Next: 4 Eyebrow Makeup Tips For Men

Edited by: Shalwah Evans, Photo Credit: Chaunte Vaughn