Plucking eyebrows: how to shape eyebrows with tweezers

We explain how to get the right eyebrow shape

The ’15 minute face lift’ – tactically plucking eyebrows can completely change the way you look. But be careful not to take it too far! Read our guide on how to shape eyebrows with tweezers.

Get the right shape for your eyebrows

When it comes to shaping your eyebrows, there are a few important rules you can follow to avoid looking constantly surprised:

• Find a shape that suits your face, and stick with it, don’t try to keep up with fashions that won’t suit you.
• The inside edge of your eyebrow should align with the inner corner of your eye.
• The arch of your eyebrow should follow the curve of the top of your brow.
• The easiest way to find how long your eyebrow should be is to imagine the under-eye line continuing to where it would meet with the eyebrow.

How to pluck your eyebrows

• If you’re plucking your eyebrows the day before that hot date or you’ll be left with unsightly redness.
• Brush your brow into its natural shape with a toothbrush, old mascara wand or eyebrow brush.
• Hold a warm flannel over your brow to make it easier to pull the hairs.
• Don’t pluck above your eyebrows, it will look strange.
• Don’t over-pluck, or you’ll have to draw them on and will end up looking permanently surprised.
• Use sharp, good quality tweezers, or the hairs will break off instead of pulling out, which could lead to infection.
• Do a single hair at a time. Grip the hair firmly and pull it in the direction in which it grows.
• First take out any stray hairs in the middle bit above your nose. It will help you get used to the feeling of plucking the hair because it is usually less sensitive here than above the eyes. Then, focus on your actual brow shape.
• If it really hurts, apply a little teething gel to the area a few minutes before you start. This will numb the skin.
• Start plucking your eyebrow hairs from the bottom of the eyebrow, working from the inside, by the nose, to the outside.
• Check your brows balance in the mirror. Then use a cold flannel to reduce redness.

If you’re not confident plucking eyebrows

If you still don’t feel brave enough or don’t know where to start, go to a beautician’s and get your brows waxed or sugared professionally. It should cost about a fiver and take minutes. Then you can just pluck the odd stray hair with a pair of tweezers before going back and getting it done again.

Remember, you don’t need to feel any pressure to look a certain way, it’s up to you how you choose to style your eyebrows or whether you even want to pluck them at all.

You can take a look around the rest of our articles on appearance here.

Picture of plucking eyebrows by Shutterstock