Between services like microfeathering and microblading—yes, there’s a difference—our insatiable appetite for celebrity brows (current obsession: Emilia Clarke)—and a bevy of new products designed to thicken, fill, define and elevate our brow game, eyebrows have never been so important. But strip back all the grooming, and good brows still come down to one simple thing: shape. While one size (or shape) doesn’t fit all, finding your perfect shape will change your face—and your life. Here, the ELLE edit of celebrity-endorsed eyebrow shapes.
Curved
Throw a curveball like Gigi Hadid
Gigi Hadid and Beyoncé both favour a curved brow. The rounded shape is ideal for those with heart-shaped or square faces—it creates a good flow for the former face shape and softens a square jawline, too. Rounded brows also help to lift the face, making them on par with retinol in terms of anti-ageing power. If you’re not blessed with a natural curve à la Gigi—the 22-year-old famously doesn’t shape them—your best bet is to use an eyebrow tint before your tweeze; that way you can see what you’re actually working with and avoid the ‘90s skinny brow. Try Maybelline New York Tattoo Brow 3-Day Gel-Tint; the peel-off temporary tint is foolproof and leaves you with defined, filled brows for up to three days.
Straight
Straight shooter, Kendall Jenner
Like everything big in beauty—BB creams, sheet masks, facial essence—the straight brow trend (aka the “boy brow”) started in Korea, but with an A-list nod of approval from Kendall Jenner and Victoria Beckham, it’s become the go-to shape to sport—and ‘gram. Best suited to those with small, delicate features or an elongated face, a straight brow gives the illusion of width. If over-plucking means you no longer have a naturally straight shape, don’t fret. It’s easy to fake. Brush your brows up to create fullness, then draw a straight line from the start of your arch to the end of your brow. Use short feathery strokes to fill in the gap and cancel out any natural arch. If you’re not confident with your shading skills, use a brow pencil one-two shades lighter than your hair colour first. Then, once you’ve got the shape, go over it with a darker shade to deepen and define.
Soft arch
Killing me softly, Amanda Seyfried
A slightly-arched brow is a classic look that transcends trends. Just ask Amanda Seyfried, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jessica Alba who are all fans of a soft arch. It’s a look that works on most face shapes, but the trick is getting your measurements right. Your brow should always start in line with the bridge of your nose and end wider than your eye—imagine you’re holding a ruler from your nostril to the corner of your eye; your brow should end on that trajectory. And, most importantly, your arch shouldn’t be in the centre of your brow—it should be two thirds of the way along, towards the tip of your eyebrow. This ensures a subtle arch. If you’re reshaping your brows at home, try using a brow stencil, such as Anastasia Beverly Hills Stencils, to ensure a well-balanced result.
High arch
Arch angel, Karlie Kloss
If you’ve got a heart-shaped faced like Karlie Kloss and Kylie Jenner, you can pull off a high arch—if you decide curved brows aren’t for you. Like the latter style, a high arch is ultra-flattering and youthful as the exaggerated arch provides an instant lift. It pays to visit a professional for them to initially guide you through the process of getting a high arch shape—you may be put on a brow detox (where you’re not allowed to tweeze any hairs for a period of time in order for your brows to be thick enough to reshape). Once you’ve got the shape mastered, you can maintain it at home, tweezing any stray hairs and using a brow tint and gel to keep brows polished and well-groomed.
From: ELLE AU
