By Anna Deutsch

If eyes are the windows to the soul then eyebrows are the shutters. Eyebrows frame your face, so altering the shape and size of your brows has a dramatic effect on your appearance. That ’ s why it is important to keep them carefully maintained. Well groomed eyebrows will give your face a clean, polished look. However, one must be careful because eyebrow mishaps can do the opposite, making a face look asymmetrical or messy.

Plucking

Plucking requires time, patience and accuracy. Never just reach for the tweezers and start pulling out hairs. Everything from the lighting to the tweezers themselves matter in achieving a flawless end result.

∙ Start by choosing tweezers; one ’ s with slanted tips will grip hairs best (don’t be thrifty in choosing your tweezers- quality might mean more money). Then make sure you are in a well lit space with a clear mirror.

∙ Wash your hands and face, but go easy on moisturizer because a slick surface will be harder to pluck.

∙ Step back and evaluate your eyebrows as they relate to your face. Maybe look through magazines to get an idea for the shape you want, but make sure that you choose something that works with your natural arch.

∙ Tweeze the hair in the direction of growth, stopping every few hairs to make sure you are not over plucking.

∙ Avoid plucking on top of the brows- this can mess up the natural arch.

∙ Avoid making the brows too short; to make sure of this you can hold a pencil vertical from your nostril up past your eye- do not go past that point!

Tip : Try not to pluck right before you go out to avoid swelling or redness, instead try doing it before bedtime and maybe after a hot shower (steam can help loosen the hair follicles). If your brows do seem irritated try putting cool tea bags over them, or a little bit of tea tree oil.

In addition: It is wise to have a little eyebrow comb and scissors. Brows can be trimmed by brushing the hairs upward and trimming anything that extends beyond the natural brow line. A comb can also come in handy in keeping the brows in place. Try using a coat of clear mascara (or brow gel) after combing to make unruly brows stay put.

Waxing

Waxing is best left to the professionals at the salons. But be careful when selecting who waxes your brows; it is important to really communicate with whoever is doing it so that you don ’ t walk away feeling your brows are too thin or the wrong shape.

Threading

Threading is the latest craze when it comes to eyebrow maintenance. Originally practiced in India and the Middle East , this technique of twisting a cotton thread to pull out hairs has gained huge popularity due to its accuracy. Many people think it is less painful than waxing, and it is also done in very quick but precise motions so it is over before you know it. People with sensitive skin should take note because threading is far less irritating than waxing, since it doesn’t pull up the top layer of skin or run the risk of burning the lids with the hot wax.