Wow Brows

Brows are big business but with so many techniques and products out there to try, it’s hard to know what’s right for you. That’s why we’ve put together the hood guide to achieving your best-ever brows. 

You might think that brow perfection is all down to genetics – that those with the best brows were simply blessed with them from birth. However, the truth is, to have A+ arches, serious work and maintenance is required. But what are the techniques we should be asking our technicians for? Do we need a combination of more than one or two? And which treatments really are worth all the hype? 

Plucking

Plucking eyebrows involves using tweezers to, well, tweeze out individual hairs to achieve the desired shape. It’s tricky, and can be painful to do the whole brow this way, so nowadays plucking is mostly reserved for stray hair maintenance for stragglers over or under the brow.

Try Tweezerman 40th Anniversary Slant Tweezer, £23 

Waxing

Waxing involves removing brow hairs at the root by applying a strip of hot wax along the brow line and quickly pulling it off, in the opposite direction of hair growth. Yup, it nips – but it’s quick and efficient and, as with all wax, is pretty long-lasting. Don’t make plans for immediately afterwards though, as most of us will experience a bit of redness, swelling and irritation. 

Try Revive – The Key to Wellness, Glasgow Fort

Sugaring

It’s a similar process to waxing but, instead of wax, your technician is using a mixture of sugar, water and lemon. A more eco-friendly and natural alternative it’s also sometimes more suitable for those with sensitive skin. The sugar paste will only adhere to the hair and dead skin cells and, when dry, the paste is flicked off in the same direction as the hair growth – which should mean less irritation and discomfort. 

Try Nad's Natural Sugar Wax Kit, £10 hollandandbarrett.com

Threading

Threading is a super-precise technique used in Asia to epilate brows, the upper lip and cheeks. Technicians use a thin cotton string to twist and roll hairs beneath and above the eyebrow to extract the hair by the root. Similar to plucking, but an experienced threader can remove full rows of hair at once, cutting the treatment time in half.

Try La Venere Beauty, Dalkeith 

Microblading

Microblading is the semi-permanent form of eyebrow shaping taking the beauty world by storm. Technicians use a super-fine needle to gently draw strokes of realistic-looking hair along the brow, using pigment that should last up to 18 months. Unlike a tattoo, microblading does not break the skin and is a great option for more mature women whose brows have faded or those who have over-plucked in the past.

Try BrowJam, Dundee 

Tinting

Eyebrow tinting uses dye to fill in the shape and colour you’re looking for. This is good for those with lighter or finer hair looking for more definition. Tinting usually lasts up to six weeks.

Try Adore Beauty, Aberdeen

Brow lamination

The new kid on the block, lamination is huge right now with those who favour the ‘bigger is better’ brow belief. This technique involves straightening and lifting the hairs using a chemical solution (kind of like a perm for brows) which gives the hairs more flexibility, allowing them to be moved into your desired shape. This is a great way to cover any gaps or stray areas. After your natural brow hairs are straightened, a fixing solution is applied to keep the hairs straight and in position. This should keep them full-looking for around six weeks. 

Try Brows by Sonia, Musselburgh or Bare Beauty, Leith