When we hear terms like “slimmed down” and “thin” we hope it is in reference to our figure and not our eyebrows. But alas….here we are staring at our reflection in the mirror wondering where our brows have run off to. Much like thinning of the hair on our head, as we get older our eyebrows can thin out too.
For women, aging can cause a drop in hormones like estrogen which shortens the hair growth cycle, resulting in thinner hair (Source). So not only does our skin wrinkle and we go through menopause, but now we have to worry about thinning eyebrows too? The joys of being a woman.
Thick, full eyebrows are a seen as youthful, so to have your natural eyebrows begin to thin makes the aging process even more difficult. Whether you choose to use a brow enhancer (like WINK) or stick strictly to color cosmetics, there are some steps you can take to get your eyebrows looking so good, that you’ll probably start getting carded.
Of course – aging isn’t the only cause of thin brows. Sometimes it’s diet, stress, hygiene or just plain genes! No matter where you are in life – or your brow journey – these tips and tricks are guaranteed to make your brows look fuller.
THINNING BROWS SOLUTION #1: FILL THEM IN
Because eyebrows are having such a huge moment right now, almost every cosmetic company has some sort of product you can use to enhance your eyebrows. You have gels, powders, pencils, and pomades so it’s really about what you’re comfortable with. I personally am a fan of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (here), Glossier’s Boy Brow (here) or the ColourPop Brow Pencil (here) for those on a budget.
To start, make sure your brows are clean and free of all product. Start by brushing them up (using a spoolie – like this one) so you can see all of the gaps and areas that need to be filled in. After you’ve determined where the gaps are, and what eyebrow shape you are going for, start creating short, upward strokes with the product of your choice. The goal here is to create fine lines that mimic your eyebrow hair. Make sure you are using a light hand, and avoid filling in the front of your brow as this can look too harsh. It’s best to begin under your natural arch, and finishing at the ‘tail.’
Once you have finished applying the product, use the spoolie again to brush them out. This may seem counterproductive, but trust me it will make your eyebrows look much more natural. Make sure you are brushing the hairs up and out. Once everything is all blended together you can set your brows using a tinted or clear brow gel. You don’t have to do this step, but I like it for holding the hair in place and making sure product doesn’t move around, especially if you are using a brow powder (suggestion: ABH’s duo brow powder, here).
If you need any help mapping out the best shape for your eyebrows, check out our handy ‘how-to’ guide here for determining the best brow shape for your face!