Try This Eyebrow Tutorial for Your Best Arches Yet

Figuring out how to shape brows isn’t always as straightforward as throwing on some lip gloss. There are countless brow styles to choose from, from 90s-inspired skinny brows to thick, bushy brows, and each requires a slightly different approach to achieve the set goal of beautiful eyebrows. If you’re new to eyebrow makeup, it’s best to start with the basics and go from there.

For all the first-timers wondering how to do eyebrows for beginners, we’re sharing a super simple eyebrow tutorial that only requires a few brow products and a few minutes of your time to get it right. We’re also sharing tips to ensure your eyebrow makeup looks natural (think: your brows, but better). Read on in this eyebrow guide for all of the need-to-know details.

Tools You’ll Need

Ever wondered how to do eyebrows at home? If you want to shape and define your eyebrows with precision, you’ll need a few key tools. Let´s review the list.

• Brow pencil or pomade
  A brow pencil is great for filling in sparse areas, while pomade offers a more defined, long-lasting look. Choose the one that suits your desired finish.
  
• Spoolie brush
  This soft, brush-like tool helps blend your brow product for a natural look. It also tames unruly hair and helps shape your brows.
  
• Angled brush (if using powder or pomade)
  An angled brush provides control and helps create defined lines and arches when a precise application of powder or pomade is needed.
  
• Brow gel (clear or tinted)
  A brow gel helps set your brows in place. Clear gel keeps them in shape, while tinted gel adds subtle color and enhances fullness.
  
• Tweezers & small scissors (for grooming)
  To maintain your shape, tweezers help remove stray hairs, while small scissors are perfect for trimming longer brow hairs for a neat, polished look.

How To Shape Your Eyebrows

Shaping your eyebrows can make a huge difference in your overall look, and is a crucial first step before starting with your eyebrow makeup. You don’t have to alter their shape (unless you want to)—but it is a good idea to trim your brows and tweeze stray hairs to help ensure a neater result and the perfect eyebrow.

Brush the brows up

Using a clean spoolie, brush all of your eyebrow hairs upward (from the beginning of the eyebrow to the end, including the arch) to get a clear visual of what needs to be trimmed. Skipping this step may lead to accidentally trimming extra hair, so take a few seconds to brush up your brows before reaching for the grooming tools.

Trim outgrown hair

Once the hair is brushed up, use eyebrow scissors to trim any hairs that are noticeably longer than the others. Be sure not to cut your brows too short—the goal is simply to ensure all your brow hairs are more or less uniform in length. Then, use your spoolie to brush your brows downward (toward your eyelid) and repeat the process, trimming any hairs that appear significantly longer than the rest.

Tweeze any lone hairs

Once you’ve cleaned up your brows, brush your brows into their natural position with your spoolie brush. Then, use tweezers to remove stray hairs between your eyebrows or under the arch if necessary. Remember that the goal is to clean up stray hairs, not create a new eyebrow shape. That being said, if you wonder how to arch eyebrows, imagine a line going upward from the iris of your eye. Your arch should begin where the imaginary line intersects with your brow.

How To Do Eyebrow Makeup in 5 Easy Steps

When you do your eyebrows, the overall idea is to enhance the shape of your natural arches. For this tutorial, you’ll use an eyebrow pencil and an eyebrow mascara (or gel) to accomplish the mission. You can find plenty of other types of eyebrow makeup products in the market, from pomades to powders and everything in between. We prefer the ease of use and versatility of a pencil and gel for creating instant and effortless arches and perfect eyebrows with natural-looking fullness.

Step 1. Start with a clean slate

First off, make sure you’re starting with a fresh slate. Use face cleansing wipes to remove any makeup or product debris from your brows, then let your arches dry for a few minutes. While they do, you can apply your face makeup—foundation, concealer, blush, and highlighter—as usual. Hold off on putting in your eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara—you can complete those steps after you perfect your arches.

Step 2. Brush upwards

Starting with clean brows as your base, use the spoolie end of the L'Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Mechanical Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil to brush through your brows in short, upward strokes. The pencil comes in 10 natural-looking shades—we recommend selecting one that closely matches the color of your natural brow hairs. If you’re stuck between two shades, opt for the lighter one.

Step 3. Outline and fill

Next, use the pencil end to outline the natural shape of your brows. Focus on defining the arch area while outlining your brows since this will help instantly open up your eyes. Gently glide the pencil along your arches, the tail, and the top of the brows. Then, create hairlike strokes throughout your brows—particularly in the front—to fill sparse areas and get good eyebrows. If you want to add even more definition and fill try theL’Oréal Paris Faux Brow Hair-Like Brow Filling Pen.

Step 4. Set them in place

After filling in your brows, use a clear brow gel to coax your arches into place. We love the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up To 24H Brow Lamination, especially for lifted brow looks. The salon-inspired formula applies easily and provides up to 24 hours of hold without a sticky texture or residue. If you want to add color, opt for a tinted brow mascara, like the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Volumizing 24H Wear Brow Mascara, instead.

Step 5. Apply the rest of your eye makeup

Once you have gotten your brows in place, it’s time to move on and start applying the rest of your eye makeup. Eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara—this part is entirely up to you. If you need inspiration, check out our article 12 Brown Eyeshadow Looks That Are Anything But Boring.

How To Make Eyebrows Look Natural

Now that you know how to do your eyebrows, it's a good time to share some tips to keep them looking natural. Here are a few things to remember while shaping, grooming, and filling your arches.

• Use two mirrors: Throughout the trimming, shaping, and filling-in process, it's helpful to have two types of mirrors handy: a magnifying mirror so you can see the hairs up close and a standard, long-distance mirror to help you see the full picture. Every so often, alternate between looking at the smaller and larger mirror—this will allow you to see the brows from different angles to ensure you're not over-tweezing, over-shaping, or over-filling.
  
• Choose the right products: The type of eyebrow products you choose can make a noticeable difference in how natural or done-up your eyebrows look. Using an eyebrow pencil and a brow gel is a great way to create defined, full-looking arches. But if you want something even subtler, try a tinted brow mascara like the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Volumizing 24H Wear Brow Mascara. The long-lasting formula offers a light tint and provides up to 24 hours of hold to keep your brows in place all day and night. Use the brush applicator to comb the product through your brows and blend everything for a natural-looking result.
  
• Select the right shade: If you use pencils, pens, or tinted brow gels, choosing the right shade is a must. Anything too dark could make your brows appear harsh and unnatural. As a rule of thumb, choose a shade that closely matches or is slightly lighter than your natural brow color. Also, be sure it has the same undertones (cool, warm, or neutral) as your natural brow hairs. If you are not convinced about the color of your undertones, pick a neutral shade that matches your natural brows.

Finally, remember that the perfect eyebrows are the ones that look the way you want them to. It doesn’t matter if they are thin, thick, straight, or arched as long as you’re happy with the final result.

Next Up: 6 Makeup Mistakes To Avoid When Filling In Your Brows

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris