The Perils of Plucking: The Shape of Brows to Come

Eyebrows often fall victim to our ineptitude -- we pluck at our own peril. Perhaps the problem stems from brow maintenance being a rite of passage, passed down from mother to daughter. And so, despite the technological age, we adhere to superstitions and wives' tales: Wipe the under-brow clean, arch as high as you can, never pluck from the top ... the fallacies go on and on.

Put those tweezers down immediately! Eyebrow plucking has a way of whipping us into a tweezing frenzy. Those follicles might not grow back, and one day you'll miss them with all your soul. Here are tips and myth-busters, as gleaned from the experts:

• Do not pluck every hair that grows upward toward the main brow line. They make eyebrows sexy.
• Do not assume that hairs growing above the brow line are off-limits. If there are plenty, they can be carefully thinned, but not wiped clean.
• Do consider the heft of your features. Fine noses, small brows and narrow eyes and lips require thinner brows.
• Do not over-pluck the outer edges of your brows. Your brows should extend beyond your eyes.
• Do comb every last eyebrow hair upward and trim off only the part that curls.
• Do not give yourself an exaggerated arch. The brow should rise slightly above the outer half of your pupil. Many people now want an entirely flat brow.
• Do use eye shadow or eyebrow pencil to gently darken in bald areas of the brow. Makeup artists brush in shadow against the natural growth of the hair, so the color reaches the roots.
• Do avoid waxing the brow, as it's not easy to control. Professional removal by string is fine for far-flung hairs, but sharp tweezers are recommended for hairs closest to the main line.
• If your tweezers get dull, it's just a matter of giving the blades a few strokes with extra-fine sandpaper.

Source: Tulsa World. Powered by YellowBrix, Inc.