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So how do you start, what tools do you need, and what are the essential rules you should keep in mind before dipping your toe into eyebrow grooming?

First things first: your natural eyebrow shape

As with everything, no eyebrow routine will be the same for every man, and to figure out what you need to keep them neat, first learn how they look in their natural state. Are they extra bushy, or are there bald spots in them? Is there a natural arch? Are they on the curvy or straight side?

Once you’re aware of how they look and behave naturally, it will be easier to work on them. Remember that grooming doesn’t involve redesigning; instead, the goal is to work with what you have and simply make them neater.

Key factors to consider are height – for the arch to provide a framing effect, your eyebrows shouldn’t be too tall – symmetry, even length, and the space between them.

Once these are taken care of, it’s time to choose your preferred method, and tools, to accomplish the goal.

6 grooming essentials for low-maintenance guys, from moisturiser to a comb

Waxing

While there are eyebrow waxing kits available, you may want to try this method only if a professional showed you how to perform it or if you’re confident you’ll be able to apply hot wax in detailed and angled lines. Otherwise, it may be better to let a professional do it for you.

One of the main benefits of waxing is that it removes hairs from the root, which provides a cleaner, longer-lasting result. Waxing is an excellent choice for removing lots of hair at once, especially between the brows, above the arch, and on the outer edges.

Depending on the speed at which the hairs in your eyebrows grow, you can go two to eight weeks between each waxing.

Trimming

Many tools are available at regular pharmacies to help you trim your eyebrows. Kits usually include a small comb to help brush and pull the hairs in one direction, a small pair of pointy scissors, and/or an electric blade to run along the comb to cut them all down to the same height.

While this method is great for keeping depth and thickness under control, it won’t do much to help maintain the outline of the brow – unless your kit also includes a touch-up razor blade. This could be a vital tool for your maintenance routine if you struggle with extra bushy eyebrows or stray hairs.

Plucking

By far one of the most accessible and affordable forms of self-maintenance, plucking only requires a pair of tweezers. To ensure each follicle is removed from the root, choose a wide, metallic, angled pair of tweezers to avoid hairs being cut instead of pulled.

A pair of tweezers is crucial in your brow kit, as they will help you maintain the look through time, clean up edges, and quickly remove strays or hermit hairs.

However, it can be time-consuming if you plan on using them to shape your brows or do some heavy-duty work.

To help make the process easier, use a gentle wash or toner to dampen your eyebrows, lightly rub them both from the end towards the centre, and pluck out any hairs that may stick out from the rest.

Threading

While some people do it at home, threading is a technique that should be learned properly before trying it on yourself. So, unless you’ve been trained, you should let the professionals handle it for you.

This ancient method uses a twisted length of thread to grab and pull out hair in a straight, slick line. For many, this is their preferred and only eyebrow care technique, as it is less painful than using tweezers or wax, provides more accurate results and can be done in less than 15 minutes.

Additionally, the risk of ingrown hairs is almost nil with threading, a significant benefit compared to waxing.

As it’s a process that you’ll need to get done regularly – every three to four weeks generally – it can be a little more expensive, but that’s when tools like tweezers and trimmers come in handy to help extend the time the results will last.

Dos and don’ts of eyebrow grooming

Before you decide to give eyebrow grooming a try, there are some principles you should consider.

The first: keep it simple. At-home grooming should not involve extreme makeovers, as the purpose is to tidy up, not to remodel; rather, think of it as a way to make the best out of your natural brow shape.

For that same reason, you should never pluck out the core body of the eyebrow; instead focus on the edges, bush length, and height.

Moreover, as much as you feel tempted to, don’t try to alter your curve’s natural shape. The reason your brows are shaped the way they are is directly linked to your bone structure, and modifying them can end up looking unnatural and out of place.

You can place a long, narrow object (such as a comb, a pen or bamboo skewer) right by your nose and pick off all strands that stand out past it towards the nose bridge.

If some hairs seem to be growing too long, comb your brow upwards and use nippers or a pair of small, pointy scissors to chop anything that emerges above the arch of your brow.

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