How to Get Perfect Arches in 4 Easy Steps With This Eyebrow Tutorial

Eyebrow trends come and go, but you can never go wrong with full, thick arches. If you don’t have naturally full brows, it’s possible (and easier than you think) to fake it with makeup. But with all the brow makeup products and eyebrow makeup tutorials out there, it can get confusing to know where to start. 

So, we’re starting off with the basics; read on for an easy eyebrow tutorial that only requires a few brow products and a few minutes of your time. This one is perfect for beginners, and once you’ve got the basics down, we also share how to shape your brows at home so you can always maintain their look. 

How Can I Shape My Eyebrows to Look Better?

Shaping your eyebrows can make a huge difference in your overall look. It’s important to complete this step before starting with your eyebrow makeup. 

Brush the Brows Up

Use a spoolie and brush your eyebrow hair up. If you skip this step, you may accidentally trim hairs that you don’t want to trim. 

Trim Outgrown Hair 

Once the hair is brushed up, trim any wayward hairs poking upwards with eyebrow scissors. Then, brush the brows down, and trim any long hairs that stick out. 

Tweeze Any Lone Hairs

Once you’ve cleaned up your brows, use tweezers to pluck any stray hairs between your eyebrows or under the arch. Remember, the goal is to clean up any stray hairs, not create a new eyebrow shape. 

How to Perfect Eyebrows Step-By-Step

When you do your eyebrows, the overall idea is to enhance the color and shape of your natural arches. For this tutorial, you’ll be doing so with an eyebrow pencil and an eyebrow mascara (or gel). There are plenty of other types of eyebrow makeup products out there, from pomades to powders and everything in between, but we like the pencil and mascara for creating instant and effortless arches with natural-looking fullness. And a little reminder: Perfect eyebrows are the ones that look the way you want them to, so always keep that in mind. 

Step 1. Start With a Clean Slate

First off, make sure you’re starting with a fresh slate, AKA a clean complexion. After applying your face makeup — foundation, concealer, blush and highlighter — it’s time to move on to your brows. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to apply your brow makeup after you’ve finished applying your face makeup (to avoid getting foundation on your completed brows) but before you do your eyeshadow and mascara.

Step 2. Brush Upwards

Starting with clean brows as your base, use the spoolie end of the L'Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Waterproof Eyebrow Mechanical Pencil to brush through your brows in short, upward strokes. When picking out a brow pencil, be sure to choose the shade that most closely matches your natural brow hairs. Going too light will result in the pencil not showing up, and therefore, it won’t have the desired effect. On the other hand, a pencil that’s too dark could look harsh and unnatural. Take an extra few minutes to find a shade that matches; it comes in 10 shades so there should be a good match for almost everyone.

Step 3. Outline and Fill

Next, use the pencil end to outline the natural shape of your brows. When you’re outlining your brows, focus on defining the arch area, since this will help instantly open up your eyes. Gently glide the pencil along your arches, through the tail and along the top of the brows. Then, create hairlike strokes throughout your brows to fill in any sparse areas.

After filling in your brows, use the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Volumizing 24H Wear Brow Mascara to set them for a seamless finish. This tinted brow mascara will help to fill in any sparse areas and make your brows appear thicker. Use the brush applicator to comb the product through your brows and blend everything for a natural result.

If you already have full, bushy brows, you can also use a clear brow gel like the L’Oréal Paris Unbelieva-Brow Longwear Brow Topcoat, Waterproof Universal Transparent to simply help them hold their shape.

Step 4. Apply the Rest of Your Eye Makeup

Once you’ve got your brows in place, it’s time to move on to applying the rest of your eye makeup. Eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara — this part is completely up to you. If you want your shapely brows to be the star of the show, opt for just mascara, and apply a few coats of the L’Oréal Paris Telescopic Instant Lift Washable Mascara to complete your eye makeup look.

Next: 3 Ways to Revive Dry Mascara Like a Pro

Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn, Associate Creative Director: Melissa San Vicente-Landestoy, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Associate Creative Producer: Becca Solovay, Associate Content Director: Shalwah Evans, Makeup Artist: Jonet Williamson, Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi, Wardrobe Stylist: Alexis Badiyi, Digital Tech: Erik Dalzen, Photo Assistant: Sam Kang, Model: London Knight