Pop quiz hot shot. Could your brows be used to shine your shoes? Are your brows giving your beard a run for its money? Could they pick up satellite TV? If you answered yes to any of those questions, it’s time for serious man maintenance.
Eyebrows get little love, always playing second fiddle to other facial hair, but even the Beckhams and Goslings and Clooneys of the world would look like Jabba the Hutt without them. The first rule of Handsome Brow Club is ‘They shouldn’t touch in the middle.’ After that, follow these simple grooming guidelines to brow glory.
Trimming
Eyebrow grooming is a balancing act. You want to keep your brows rough and masculine, but you don’t want them going totally rogue. The trick is to take out just the right amount of weight. To trim, start by brushing your brows straight up with a brow comb or old toothbrush.
Snip off excess length that extends beyond your natural brow line. Cut carefully, one millimeter at a time, brushing back down in between. This way you can check your work as you go, ensuring you don’t accidentally trim your brows into Pam Anderson territory.
Plucking
Lay a comb vertically along one side of your nose, then the other. Your eyebrows should begin just inside where the comb crosses them. Tweeze any hairs that grow between those points, as well as any that appear outside the eyebrow zone (forehead, temples, etc).
Clean up your brows further by removing strays that grow beneath. Post-shower plucking is best. The heat opens pores, loosening the hair and easing any plucking pain. Pull quickly by the root in the natural direction of hair growth. And don’t go overboard – you’ll end up with an overly-arched feminine shape.
Taming
If your brows still refuse to be restrained, bring in the big guns: hairspray or brow gel. Simply put a little product on an old toothbrush and brush the hairs into place or run it through with your index finger.
Waxing
No, waxing isn’t just for your girlfriend and overly-manicured Euro guys. If your brows are really unmanageable, it’s time to call in the pros. Be sure the expert in question knows what you’re looking for – a simple clean-up operation, not a full-on reshaping.
The keywords here are “natural” and “masculine.” Pain varies based on your tolerance, but brows are a small area so it’s over quickly whether or not you want to shout “Kelly Clarkson!” Have sensitive skin? Try threading instead.
Lasering
The most permanent solution to unruly brows is lasering or electrolysis. It’ll cost you a couple hundy a pop and takes repeated sessions, but if you have the time and the cash, this is an option. Remember that once the hair is zapped, it won’t be coming back. Proceed with caution.
Original article by Elyse Romano appears on D'Marge.
Photo by Jamie Fenn / Unsplash