Oh, our poor eyebrows. They have been tweezed to oblivion, waxed, and threaded to suit the latest trends. If your eyebrows survived the pencil-thin styles of the ’90s and the tadpole trends of the 2000s, I salute you. However, the newest natural brow trend is one you should be all about. We’re talking minimal effort here, ladies!
If your eyebrows really define your face, how do you get them back on track after decades of abuse? We have some expert tips and tricks that you can start today. Here’s our six-step program — call it Brow Rehab 101.
1. Put down the tweezers. We repeat, put down the tweezers!
Since it is all about the natural look, it is time to see what your eyebrows will do sans maintenance. After years of frequent plucking, this might be the hardest part. We recommend having someone hide your tweezers for you, so you don’t break down and tweeze away a few weeks into the regrowth period. Embrace the regrowth, and welcome back those poor, tortured hairs!
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2. Find a professional.
We recommend pairing up with a professional esthetician to get you on the right path. The Wicked Waxer in Lakeview recommends letting your eyebrows do their thing for at least eight weeks before you book a visit with her. “The more unruly the better, as far as I’m concerned,” she says. This way she can see your natural brow shape before she cleans them up.
Egea Spa in Evanston, a Best of 2019 winner, offers eyebrow waxing and tinting services. Along with a little clean-up, tinting will be a lifesaver after your growth period and will help accentuate your natural eyebrows and make them look fuller.
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3. Understand what is achievable.
This might be a year-long process, so be patient. It’s also important to understand that not everyone will be able to achieve the Lily Collins eyebrows of their dreams. And that is fine! Own your natural brows and give in to the fact that your blonde and slightly sparse baby hairs might just be perfect for you.
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4. Use the right tools.
This leads us to the best tools to achieve the brows of your dreams. Pencil, pomade, powder … there are countless options. Here are some of our favorites that are easy to use and achieve amazing results. Plus, they will help you get through the awkward regrowth period.
- Glossier Brow Flick & Boy Brow: This combo is great for those that have brow areas to fill in or want fuller-looking eyebrows. The brow flick places tiny hair-like strokes in your brow while the boy bow sets and volumizes your eyebrows, in a clear or complimentary shade.
- Hourglass Cosmetics Arch Brow Micro Sculpting Pencil: The angled applicator on this pencil allows for a precise stroke that promises to give you microblade-esque results.
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Duo Brow Powder: This OG cult-favorite is a leader in the eyebrow cosmetics game. With 11 shades to choose from, the powder set will help you customize a shade that will perfectly fill in your brows.
5. Consider magic potions.
If you want to boost your growth, there are a few options to try, including growth serums and natural treatments. We hear good things about the Grande Brow growth serum, but you can always try the all-natural method of applying castor oil every evening (use a brow brush for easy application and massage into the skin). Castor oil is a great source of Omega-6 fatty acids, which goes to the hair root to improve circulation and stimulate growth.
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6. To microblade or not?
Sometimes, even after months of brow rehab, your eyebrows will have areas that just won’t grow back. This is where microblading, the technique of tattooing your eyebrows with semi-permanent ink, can help you complete your look and save you from spending time in the morning filling and applying product to your brows. Kristie Streicher, the L.A.-based genius behind the Feathered Brow and Microfeathering techniques popular among celebrities, says that her microblading technique is “not meant to create an entirely new eyebrow, but more of a way to refine and define a beautiful eyebrow.” The look lasts 8-12 months, so you definitely get a return on your investment. If you have stubborn areas that just won’t grow, microblading might be the final step to achieving those brows of your dreams!
If you decide to update your arsenal of beauty products with any of the recommendations on this list, make sure to donate your used, unwanted, and empty beauty products to be recycled or given to someone in need.
Macaire Douglas lives in Chicago with her husband and two sons. She proudly supports Share Our Spare, a local nonprofit that collects goods for children in need.
