Brows For Days
A lot of attention has been paid to eyebrows over the past few years. We have gone from the tiny pencil line of the 80s to the full brow in the 2000s and all the extremes in between. Brows grow in the shape of our orbital bone, creating definition and structure for our eyes and forehead. Thankfully a natural, defined brow creates an enhanced look without overpowering the full look. Whether you have lost all of your brows or are maintaining full coverage growth, there are tools for any need in this modern makeup age.
The Options: Toolkit
Pencil - Great for thinning hair, it’s going to attach to the skin and stay put. Perfect for drawing in the hairline (Caution - can look overdone if not careful)
Cream and brush - Waterproof option for oily skin or those with no hair remaining. You can brush on a hair-like shape that still looks natural but won’t smudge off.
Brow gel - Clear grooming tool, for those who have curly or hard-to-tame hairs that just need a little help smoothing.
Fiber Tint - My personal fav! Use if you have hair but it’s a little lacking in volume and color. The fibers attach to existing hair and fluff them up while adding a hint of color, leaving a gel finish to set in place.
Powder and brush - This is a great option for definition of color. It’s going to attach color to the skin and hair, creating a more polished look.
Dye - Low key monthly option for those who have hair and just need a little pop. A stylist drops color into the brows for you, and you’re done.
Tips for Picking the Right Color
It can go right or oh-so-wrong. Pick a color the same as the root of your hair shade. Good guidelines are:
Blondes - Stay in that ashy grey brown tone; be mindful of auburn based blonde shades that pull too much red.
Brunettes - Follow the natural tone of your full hair color; warmth and depth are your friends.
Black - Usually use a deep espresso or dark brown with a black undertone.
Pastels – My personal preference, but I generally vote to follow the natural root tone of your hair.
Brush and Product How To
Start by loading a generous amount of product onto your brush and gently tap off the excess. Begin at the bottom of the brow hair line, creating a soft defined line across and making sure to follow the full length of the brow bone. It generally ends at a line from the nose to the lash line as a guide (There are guides online if you need a visual).
Then use your brush in gentle upward motions, pulling the product from the root to the top of the hair line.
Finish using a spooly (Yes that little weird brush at the other end!). It’s a magic eraser for brows. Use it to pull and comb the product through the brow hairs so it looks polished but not overdone.
Brows are sisters, not twins, so don’t get too hung up on perfection. The intention is to create a picture frame for your eyes so that they do not get lost in your forehead and hairline.
You can use the same technique for brow gel, tints, creams, powders or pencils.
“Intrinsic, esoteric, dynamic, cosmic, prosaic, therapeutic, rhapsodic, terrific.” ORA+CLE, a vehicle for finding meaning and magic.
Creating a daily intention ritual does not have to be timely in manner. . I have found as summer is winding down, school schedules are starting and the fall shuffle of life begins. Making time for these moments becomes more challenging and yet now is when my soul needs them the most. Card pulling has become a wonderful quick tool that still brings my mind to focus on my body and set an intention each day.
Pause, Take a deep breath, Pull a card, Read, Set intention for the day
Sometimes it is a challenge, a small reminder that this world is bigger than ourselves. Other times it’s a little nudge to look inward. There are cards for all walks of faith and life. Angel cards, plant cards, animal cards, tarot cards, color cards, creative spark cards you name it there is a card deck that speaks to you, your spirit and soul. Keep collecting the tools that help us grow and come back to ourselves, because isn’t that the real work we are here to do?
photos: Melissa Marshall