If the eyes are the windows to the soul, the eyebrows are the curtains, valances, and shades — in other words, they’re crucial to framing the face and making it look more balanced. Even though the focus has been on brows these past few years and procedures like microblading have become increasingly more common, it’s still difficult to get brows exactly right. Often times, the biggest mistakes happen because we are doing too much or too little to our brows in an effort to make them look their best.
Out of all of the most common errors people make with their eyebrows, here are seven that are most “detrimental,” according to experts.
Overplucking
Remember just a second ago when we said that overdoing it is one common eyebrow mistake people make? Overplucking is the NUMBER ONE biggest error. Once you start trying to create an unnatural line in your brow that it doesn’t want to naturally follow, you leave them open to overplucking. And tweezing or waxing too much hair can make your brows look sparse and create a situation where they may not grow back again. Be very conservative when you have a pair of tweezers in your hand.
Not Tinting Them
If your brows are gray or white, or little whites are starting to peak through, it’s perfectly fine to leave them as they are — remember: there’s no wrong way to do anything. But if you feel like they are aging you, visiting a professional who can tint them will help. Just make sure you don’t go too dark — which can look harsh.
Sparse Eyebrow Tails
When you groom your brows, make sure the tail of your brow isn’t really skinny, which can look aging. It’s better to leave them fuller at the ends to avoid this common mishap.
Filling Them in Too Dark
Once you’ve finished tweezing or shaping your brows, filling in any sparse areas with a brow pencil or gel cream is a great way to make them look fuller and more polished. Just be careful not to go too dark with your shade. Choose a color that either matches your brows and hair color or is one shade darker.
Creating a Too-High Arch
It’s natural to be tricked into thinking a high arch is better. A higher arch gives you more room to apply eyeshadow and can make the eyes look more alert. But there’s a big “but” here — high arches don’t work for everyone. If your brow bone naturally sits lower on your face, straighter brows may suit you better. Beautiful brows should always follow what nature gave you — trying too hard to make them something they aren’t can look wrong on you.
Not Trimming Your Brows
Brow grooming isn’t just about tweezing or tinting — don’t neglect giving them a good trim if yours tend to grow long. Brush your brows upward and trim any that stick out far too much.
Not Eating a Balanced Diet
We saved one of the most important eyebrow mistakes for last. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals will help keep your hair follicles healthy and strong — and that includes your brow hairs. Keeping them groomed and maybe investing in a brow serum is always a great idea, but making sure you get the proper nutrients is key.
