Determine your face shape…

Before you get plucking, it’s important to figure out the shape of your face. And while this may sound easy enough, trust us: it’s not. So, either find a brutally honest friend with a keen eye for art and shapes or do this instead (we know, it sounds weird, but it works!). Looking straight in a mirror, use a dry-erase marker (an eyeliner or lip liner will do too!) to trace the shape of your face onto the mirror. Step away and look at the shape to see if you have a round, heart, oval or square shape.

If you’re face is round:

It is best to keep a fuller brow with a slightly angular shape in order to both frame and elongate the face. The arch, in particular, will help make your face appear more oval. It is very important that women with fuller faces don’t make their brows too thin, because it will make the rest of the face look fuller. It’s all about balance.

If you’re face is heart-shaped:

Since heart-shaped faces already have angles, keep your brows softer, with a rounder arch in order to balance a more pointed chin. If the brow is too arched, you’ll look permanently serious, so aim for a straighter brow with a soft, subtle arch.

If you’re face is oval:

Keep your eyebrows medium to full for the greatest facial balance. Oval faces can handle a higher arch, but don’t go crazy! Follow your natural brow shape and keep it natural.

If you’re face is square:

Keep arches softer and more natural because to balance the angles of your face. Your ideal brow shape is a fairly straight line from the start of the brow to the arch and then a slight curve after the arch.

For all face shapes:

The inner edge of the eyebrow should start directly above the nostril (determine this is by holding an eyebrow brush or pencil vertically along the side of your nose, straight up to the brow). To see where your brow should end, hold your pencil diagonally from the middle of your nostril to the outer corner of your eye. Unless have a strong, natural arch, determine the highest point of your arch by placing a pencil from the middle of your nostril to the outside of your iris.

And always remember… when in doubt, put down the tweezers and see a pro!

“Gray gives everything away! Women can dye the hair on their heads, but eyebrows gray too and dying them yourself is typically a no-no. If there are only a few grays, a brow marker or tinted brow gel can be used to cover them. If most of the brow is grey, ask your hair stylist to dye them when you get your hair done so it will match. The darker color will add an important definition.”

Rima Khan, founder of s.h.a.p.e.s Brow Bar www.shapesbrowbar.com.

Here are the top 4 celebrity beauty tips you need!

#2 – Get Arches Like The Stars
Some of the most coveted eyebrow shapes are that of Jennifer Lopez, Tyra Banks, Catherine Zeta Jones and Angelina Jolie. See if your face shape matches up with these beauties to get the perfect brow for you!

• Jennifer Lopez- Her rounded, medium arch is the perfect fullness and beautifully compliments for her heart shaped face.
• Tyra Banks – Her higher arch perfectly complements her higher cheekbones and oval face.
• Catherine Zeta Jones- For her round face, Catherine’s slightly higher arch gives the illusion of a more elongated, oval face.
• Angelina Jolie- Her soft arches balance the angles in her face and are arches complimentary to the angels in the jawbone.

To determine the actual shape of your face, Before look straight in a mirror and use a dry-erase marker or eyeliner to trace the shape of your face onto the mirror. Step away and look at the shape to see if you have a round, heart, oval or square shape.
Reema Khan – Founder & President – www.shapesbrowbar.com

For those of you who’ve ever found yourself at a brow low, HC has the down low on how to get the perfect brow for your face and other tips from Reema Khan, the founder of s.h.a.p.e.s. Brow Bar, which opened in Chicago in 2003 and has since expanded to 60 locations in six states across the U.S.

The first step to the best brow is knowing what brow shape works best with your face.

Oval-shaped: An oval-faced shape is compatible with most brow shapes, but Reema says a slightly rounded arch is typically best. Don’t create too high of an arch, she warns — a steep arch can make your face look even longer.

Square: Avoid round arches, as they do not complement the more angular shape of your face and can look unbalanced. “Strong, angled eyebrows balance a strong jaw line,” Reema explains. “The peak of the brow is most effective when directly above the square of the jaw.”

Heart-shaped: Soften your look and emphasize the shape of your face with a rounded shape. “Too angular of a brow can create a severe, angry look,” she says.

Round-shaped: Arch that brow! “A higher arched brow is best since it gives the illusion of a more elongated face,” Reema explains, adding that it also thins round faces out.

According to Reema, it’s best to visit your salon for professional brow care ever three to four weeks, depending on factors such as extent of hair growth and upkeep between appointments. Reema suggests threading, which is beneficial because it does not require hair to be a certain length before it can be removed, she says.

So how do you take care of your brows in between appointments?

Every girl should own a brow brush, slanted tweezers and a brow pencil. When doing your own maintenance, Reema says to be careful when plucking from the top, as a wrong move can flatten or sharpen an arch too much — it’s best, she adds, to leave the top to professional waxers or threaders.

“A good rule of thumb for plucking is only getting rid of hairs that were originally removed by a professional or be conservative when you are unsure,” she says.

In addition to being conservative on the top, here are Reema’s biggest brow no-nos:

Do not over-pluck: Plucking away too much hair can lead to uneven shapes and gaps in the eyebrows. “When in doubt put the tweezers down!” Reema says.

Leave the ends: Shortening the length of your eyebrows will not only create uneven brows, but will also create the illusion of a rounder face.

When in doubt, go thicker: Leaving a thicker brow gives you room to fix mistakes. If you make a mistake and go too thin, there is not much you can do to fix it except to be patient and allow the hair to grow back.
From Reema’s tips on what to do and her warnings against what not to do, you can call yourself a brow pro. So go ahead and pluck away (but not too much!) with confidence!

Sources:
Reema Khan, founder of s.h.a.p.e.s. Brow Bar