Stocksy
Eyebrows should be sisters, not twins. We know, we know. But what if our asymmetric brows barely even look related? Of course between serums, pencils, and powders, having uneven brows isnt much of a problem—but some of us would prefer a more permanent solution to a wax or pluck job gone awry.
So, we decided to go to a celebrity brow artist and makeup artist to learn their best tips, tricks, and overall game plan when it comes to fixing an uneven set of eyebrows. Spoiler: Patience is a virtue when it comes to the symmetry of our arches.
Meet the Expert
Carissa Ferreri is a celebrity makeup artist based in Los Angeles.
Click Play to Watch MUA Carissa Ferreris Uneven Brow Tutorial
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Let Your Brows Grow
Joey Healy recommends allowing your brows to grow for four to six weeks before you consult a trustworthy brow specialist (Instagram research is recommended) or embark on the following steps on your own. "Fixing uneven brows can take several sessions and depends on clients ability to grow hair, which can depend on age, ethnicity, etc.," he adds.
Seeing a pro will also help you decide what hair removal process is best for your brows, whether thats tweezing, waxing or threading. Of course, if you go to someone who offers just one of those services, then thats the method youll be using once your growth phase is over and its time to shape and maintain.
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Put Down the Wax
Reaching for wax-based brow products may be tempting for taming your regrowth, but theyre a big no-no for the growth phase of brow-balancing. Although brow pomades, gels, and pencils can work some serious magic, they can also manipulate hairs into falling out and delaying your growth efforts entirely if they have certain waxes in them. So, scan the labels for any wax ingredients before you use them. Those brand-new, baby hairs youve only just gotten to grow back will be the most vulnerable and sensitive, so the best thing to do is leave them be.
Once your brows reach their fullest potential, you should be able to go back in with the products that you love. Its just during the regrowth phase that you want to make sure youre not messing with the process.
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Even Things Out
During your brow appointment, Healy says he (or your pro) will assess if your brows are equidistant from the bridge of the nose and whether or not theyre level. If not, theyll start tweezing from the bottom, up, ensuring the hair underneath is as balanced as the hair on top of the brow.
"Is one higher? Splitting the difference often helps here by carefully tweezing under the low one and making sure nothing comes too high on the high one," says Healy.
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Choose Your Length
Now, Healy says a pro will use a mirror to check where the brows end and assess whether or not they end at the same point. "The corner of the nose to the corner of the eye is a good guideline to hit, although you can go a bit further, as long as it doesnt end up in the temple depression," advises Healy. Once at home, and looking to maintain the look, he advises using a brush and scissors to comb the hairs out to ensure they remain symmetrical.
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Create the Perfect Arch
Heres where a pro will look at your arch and aim to create one that hits about two-thirds of the way out. Healy says a center arch can make the overall shape look like a triangle (if pointy) or a rainbow (if round).
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Trim Carefully
Now for the maintenance part: Trim, but sparingly! "Often, the length of the existing hairs can prove to be a wonderful asset, allowing you to do a brow comb-over and direct them in a helpful way," Healy tells us. "Clear brow gel is so helpful at this stage."
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Fill Between Brow Appointments
Fill while you wait. Healy recommends investing in both a powder and a pencil while growing out uneven brows. "While a powder can help light brows achieve more depth, pencils are preferable for specifically fixing unevenness," Healy explains. "Pencils allow you to work on perimeter lines and are good for patching up a hole, gap, or scar. I recommend using a pencil for instant gratification, but dont apply it through the entire shape of your brow, just where you need it in the areas that are sparse and being grown out."
He recommends searching for a pencil that has a triangular, wedge-shaped tip to gradually and naturally build up the intensity of brows. Use the narrow edge for outlining, the broad side for filling, and a pointed tip for more detailed work.
To achieve a natural and subtle effect, make sure your pencil pick is the perfect match for your brow color.
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Create a Brow Plan
Make a follow-up plan. Healy suggests scheduling monthly appointments with your brow artist and only plucking the most obvious of strays (the ones that are in the dead center between your brow and eyelid).
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Strengthen With Serums
"Brows are constantly growing, resting, and shedding," Healy reminds us. "They are not one static thing that stays the same, but rather more similar to a revolving door of hair. Thats how and why effective serums can help in the growth phase." He suggests seeking out products that are rich in peptides and avoiding those with growth hormones.
Additionally, Healy explains serums can be beneficial when fixing uneven eyebrows, as they can strengthen existing hair, aid in follicular repair, and improve the health of surrounding skin for thicker growth. "They can also increase hairs elasticity, enhance circulation, and improve the hairs ability to retain moisture, which leads to brows with more volume, suppleness, and sheen," he says. "Most serums are applied day and night for six weeks and nightly thereafter, with initial results seen in as little as two to three weeks. Fuller results come around the six-to-eight-week mark. However, many report brows continuing to fill in well after."
According to Healy, try applying your serum every morning on a clean, washed, towel-dried face, and allow at least five to 10 minutes before layering any other brow products or makeup on top. Then, in the evening, apply your serum again just before hitting the sheets.
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Fight the Urge to Pluck
Dont let all that time and effort go to waste. "During this time, self-maintenance should be sparing, and a pro should be in the drivers seat," says Healy. "We often set ourselves back with a quick cleanup session."
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Be Patient
According to Healy, a full brow transformation is usually attainable by the six-month mark, but depending on how fast your brows grow (and how vigilant you are about not plucking), you might see a full result as soon as two months or as long as one year.
How long should you let your brows grow before seeing a specialist?
Allow your brows to grow out for four to six weeks before you consult a trustworthy brow specialist.
Can I clean them up at all during that time?
Yes, but only at a minimum. Feel free to pluck obvious strays (i.e., those in the center of the eyebrows), but try not to touch the others.
Can I trim them, at least?
You really shouldnt as you could risk cutting them too short. Instead, try grooming with clear brow gel.
How long will it take my brows to completely transform?
If youve severely over plucked your brows, you should be able to grow them out fully by the six-month mark, at which point you can see a specialist to get them completely groomed.
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