Try This Eyebrow Tutorial for Your Best Arches Yet

Figuring out how to do your eyebrows isn’t always as straightforward as, say, throwing on some lip gloss. There are countless brow styles to choose from, from ‘90s-inspired skinny brows to thick, bushy brows—each of which requires a slightly different approach to achieve. If you’re new to eyebrow makeup, it’s best to start with the basics and go from there.

For all the first-timers wondering how to do eyebrows for beginners, we’re sharing a super simple eyebrow tutorial that only requires a few brow products and a few minutes of your time to nail. We’re also sharing tips on how to ensure your eyebrow makeup looks natural (think: your brows, but better). Read on for all of the need-to-know details.

How To Shape Your Eyebrows

Shaping your eyebrows can make a huge difference in your overall look, and is a crucial first step before starting with your eyebrow makeup. You don’t have to alter their shape (unless you want to)—but it is a good idea to trim your brows and tweeze stray hairs to help ensure a neater end result.

Brush the brows up

Using a clean spoolie, brush all of your eyebrow hairs upward (from the beginning of the eyebrow to the end, including the arch) to get a clear visual of what needs to be trimmed. Skipping this step may lead to you accidentally trimming hairs that you don’t want to trim, so take the extra few seconds to brush up your brows before reaching for the grooming tools.

Trim outgrown hair

Once the hair is brushed up, use eyebrow scissors to trim any hairs that are noticeably longer than the others. Be sure not to cut your brows too short—the goal is simply to ensure all of your brow hairs are more or less uniform in length. Then, use your spoolie to brush your brows downward (toward your eyelid) and repeat the process, trimming any hairs that appear significantly longer than the rest.

Tweeze any lone hairs

Once you’ve cleaned up your brows, brush your brows into their natural position with your spoolie brush. Then, use tweezers to remove any stray hairs between your eyebrows or under the arch if necessary. Bear in mind that the goal is to clean up any stray hairs, not create a new eyebrow shape. That being said, if you are wondering how to arch eyebrows, imagine a line going upward from the iris of your eye. Your arch should begin where the imaginary line intersects with your brow.

How To Do Eyebrow Makeup in 5 Easy Steps

When you do your eyebrows, the overall idea is to enhance the shape of your natural arches. For this tutorial, you’ll be doing so with an eyebrow pencil and an eyebrow mascara (or gel). There are plenty of other types of eyebrow makeup products out there, from pomades to powders and everything in between, but we prefer the ease of use and versatility of a pencil and gel for creating instant and effortless arches with natural-looking fullness. Keep scrolling to learn how to do your brows in five simple steps.

Step 1. Start with a clean slate

First off, make sure you’re starting with a fresh slate. Use cleansing wipes (we love the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Radiant Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes) to remove any makeup or product debris from your brows, then let your arches dry for a few minutes. While they do, you can apply your face makeup—foundation, concealer, blush, and highlighter—as usual. Hold off on applying your eyeshadow, eyeliner, and mascara—you can complete those steps after you perfect your arches.

Step 2. Brush upwards

Starting with clean brows as your base, use the spoolie end of the L'Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Mechanical Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil to brush through your brows in short, upward strokes. The pencil comes in 10 natural-looking shades—we recommend selecting one that closely matches the color of your natural brow hairs. If you’re stuck between two shades, opt for the lighter of the two.

Step 3. Outline and fill

Next, use the pencil end to outline the natural shape of your brows. When you’re outlining your brows, focus on defining the arch area, since this will help instantly open up your eyes. Gently glide the pencil along your arches, through the tail, and along the top of the brows. Then, create hairlike strokes throughout your brows—particularly in the front—to fill in any sparse areas.

Step 4. Set them in place

After filling in your brows, use a clear brow gel to coax your arches into place. We love the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up To 24H Brow Lamination, especially for lifted brow looks. The salon-inspired formula applies easily and provides up to 24 hours of hold without a sticky texture or any residue. If you want to add color, opt for a tinted brow mascara, like the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Volumizing 24H Wear Brow Mascara, instead.

Step 5. Apply the rest of your eye makeup

Once you’ve got your brows in place, it’s time to move on to applying the rest of your eye makeup. Eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara—this part is completely up to you. If you need some inspiration, check out our article 12 Brown Eyeshadow Looks That Are Anything But Boring.

How To Make Eyebrows Look Natural

Now that you know how to do your eyebrows, it's a good time to go over tips on how to keep them looking natural. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you’re shaping, grooming, and filling in your arches.

• Use two mirrors: Throughout the trimming, shaping, and filling-in process, it's helpful to have two types of mirrors handy: a magnifying mirror so you can see the hairs up close, and a standard, long-distance mirror to help you see the full picture. Every so often, alternate between looking at the smaller and larger mirror—this will allow you to see the brows from different angles to ensure you're not over-tweezing, over-shaping, or over-filling.
• Choose the right products: The type of eyebrow products you choose can make a noticeable difference in how natural or done-up your eyebrows look. Using an eyebrow pencil and a brow gel is a great way to create defined, full-looking arches. But if you want something even subtler, try a tinted brow mascara like the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Volumizing 24H Wear Brow Mascara. The long-lasting formula offers a subtle tint and provides up to 24 hours of hold to keep your brows in place all day and night. Use the brush applicator to comb the product through your brows and blend everything for a natural-looking result.
• Select the right shade: If you opt to use pencils, pens, or tinted brow gels, choosing the right shade is a must. Anything too dark could make your brows appear harsh and unnatural. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to select a shade that either closely matches or is slightly lighter than your natural brow color. Be sure it has the same undertones (cool, warm, or neutral) as your natural brow hairs, too. If you’re not sure what your undertones are, opt for a neutral shade that matches your natural brows.

Finally, remember that the perfect eyebrows are the ones that look the way you want them to. Thin, thick, straight, or arched—it doesn’t matter, as long as you’re happy with the end result.

Next Up: Brow Lamination: What It Is and How To Get The Laminated Brow Look at Home

Photo Courtesy of L'Oréal Paris