Eyebrows frame your face and accentuate your eyes. Choosing the right shape provides balance and enhances your look. Arched, straight, curved, tapered — there are so many options. Which is right for you? We talked to the pros to help you discover four different ways to find your perfect brow shape.
Tinting
“Tinting creates a fuller, sharper, preened brow instantly! Whether you want to make your brows darker, or just match your natural color, tinting can be for everyone,” says Erica Walley, an esthetician at Lords & Ladies in Douglassville. While it is semi-permanent, tinting is a less intensive option for eyebrow enhancement. “Tinting allows you to grow out your brows on your own,” Erica explains.
“The process of brow tinting is quick, easy and painless,” adds Katherine Barregarye, esthetician at Lords & Ladies in Perkiomenville. Clients work with an esthetician to choose the perfect shade for their brows. “We start by mixing up the appropriate color with a developer. We gently apply this mix to the brow area with a small paint brush. After about 10 minutes, we wipe off the excess color and gently cleanse the skin around the brow area to remove any color residue. After the skin is wiped clean, the process is over,” Katherine says. From start to finish, tinting takes less than 30 minutes, including the consultation.
For those with sensitive skin, “the esthetician will spot test a small area before applying the tint on the entire brow,” says Erica. “There are no health concerns for brow tinting. If there is a cut, abrasion, rash or skin condition, your provider will want to reschedule your appointment,” explains Katherine.
“The color will fade to your original hue so naturally that you will barely notice it,” says Erica. Katherine adds that tinting provides a “fuller look” to brows. “It enhances the hair you already have on the brow by darkening it to match your own hair color or to cover gray brow color.”
Tinting starts at $19. “Brow tinting is semi-permanent, which means you will need monthly maintenance. We recommend touch ups every 4-6 weeks depending on your skin type and the look you desire,” says Katherine.
Lords & Ladies Salon and Medical Spa
Locations in Douglassville, Exeter, Fleetwood, Gilbertsville, Perkiomenville, Pottstown & Sinking Spring
844.725.6655
Waxing
“Properly shaped brows frame your eyes and give you a nice eye lift!” says Jenna Hiester, Marketing Manager & Esthetician at United Artists Salon & Spa. “A professional will know how to shape your brows working from your natural growth patterns.” Avoid the temptation of DIY tweezing and get your brows professionally shaped by the pros. Start to finish, waxing takes less than 15 minutes. “Waxing removes hair follicles from the bulb, so the hairs take longer to grow back and grow back less dense and thinner over time.”
The process starts with a consultation so clients can work with the esthetician to choose their preferred shape. Different shapes work to enhance your features. “Soft curves and arches soften angular faces; arches lift small eyes or lengthen the face, and less of an arch shortens longer faces,” Jenna explains.
Once a shape is decided upon, the area is cleansed and the eyebrows are combed. Wax is applied, and the excess hair is removed. So, does it hurt to have your eyebrows waxed? “Typically, the coarser the hair, the more intense it is, but it only lasts for a moment. Proper waxing technique and products reduce pain,” says Jenna. “With repeated waxing, hair follicles become weaker and waxing becomes less intense.” After the wax residue is removed, Jenna tweezes to perfect the brow shape. She finishes by applying a cooling cream. In addition, she also teaches clients makeup techniques to fill in and enhance their brows.
Brow waxing costs $18 for a visit. Jenna recommends returning every 4-6 weeks for a touch up, depending on the client’s preference and hair growth.
“You have to work with your natural brow shape,” Jenna advises. “It’s about balancing the shape of the base, arch and tail with the face and eye shape. That's what makes us artists.”
United Artists Salon & Spa
299 Penn Avenue, West Reading
610.376.8481
Permanent Makeup
Speed up your morning routine and leave the house looking great. Permanent eyebrow makeup is a great way to enhance your brows and make them look fuller. One advantage to choosing permanent makeup brows is that “they always look perfect and natural. There is no smudging when working out or sweating,” says Tina Shenk, Owner and Permanent Makeup Specialist at Tina’s Salon and Day Spa.
“The process takes approximately 1.5 hours.” The first step is a consultation and includes “measuring and drawing the brow shape on with a special pencil. The client can see and get an idea of what the end result will look like,” explains Shenk. Once client and artist have agreed on the shape, a numbing agent is applied for 20 minutes. “The procedure for permanent makeup is using different types of needles and pigment to pierce the skin and implant a color that compliments the hair and skin tone.” At Tina’s Salon, both microblading and micropigmentation are used to create permanent eyebrows. With microblading, a special tool is used to draw on individual hairs. After the procedure, Tina advises that clients keep the area clean and avoid touching it. She also recommends applying Aquaphor to moisturize. “The client will then come back in four weeks for a touch-up if needed,” she says. “At that time, they will be perfected, darkened or changed to the client’s desire.”
Despite the name, permanent makeup doesn’t last forever, so you can decide if you want to keep the look. Unlike a tattoo, the pigment does not go as deeply into the layers of the skin, and the color fades over time. If you fall in love with the look, “touch-ups are required every two to three years,” says Tina. Permanent eyebrow makeup costs $395 for the initial appointment, and $150 for touch-ups.
Tina's Salon and Day Spa
404 Penn Avenue, West Reading
610.374.5591
Threading
“Faces can transform with beautifully shaped brows. I find so much joy in seeing the results and the smiles on my customers’ faces,” says Deepa Sardhara, owner of Brows & Beauty by Deepa.
Threading is a centuries-old art that has its roots in Asia. “Threading is common practice in India, where I was raised,” says Deepa. “Threading is a way to share my culture and my love of helping people express themselves and become more comfortable in their skin.”
“Threading is a chemical-free way to shape brows with beautiful precision and accuracy and to remove unwanted hair.” The process involves using a piece of thread to target and remove hairs individually. “First, the skin is cleaned, and I pull a new thread from the spool to place around the back of my neck. I twist the thread to meticulously pluck hair from the root. When I am finished threading, lotion is applied based on the customer’s preference,” Deepa explains. Women can get their brows threaded for $10. For men, the service is $12.
How does it feel to get your eyebrows threaded? Deepa says, “My technique is deliberate, yet gentle. Most customers say that threading is much less painful than waxing and has little to no residual irritation.”
One advantage to brow threading is that the process is quick. It only takes about 10 minutes. “I can find and accentuate the natural shape of the brow with direct access to the hair. It’s also a less irritating hair removal solution for customers with sensitive skin,” Deepa asserts.
The results last about 3-4 weeks. “Because the hair is pulled at the root, the hair that grows back is typically a bit sparser and finer,” she explains. Deepa recommends that customers return for a touch up anytime between 2-6 weeks. “This varies based on hair color, texture and customer preference. I strongly encourage customers to keep their hands off their tweezers for the best shape results.”
Brows & Beauty by Deepa
2002 State Hill Rd., Wyomissing
484.648.0344
