Ask Belle: Bringing Back Your Brows
Feb 25, 2015
Belle,
I over plucked my brows when I was younger and I want to grow them back. Every time I try to let them grow in I get frustrated by the slow progress and take the tweezer to them. Do you have any tips for growing them back fast or at least better?
Sincerely, Desperate
Ah, growing back your eyebrows…what fun! Reinvigorating your brows is possible, but the key ingredient is patience. If you keep reaching for the tweezer, throw.the.thing.away. Commit to letting a professional shape them in the interim.
What does the perfect brow look like? That’s a matter of preference. Thick brows, like Hilary Rhoda’s, are great if you keep them trim. I like more of a Camilla Belle look, medium thickness, well-groomed. But if you want them a bit thinner, Charlize Theron is a good example. Just don’t push them too far.
As for how to regrow them, I would suggest starting with a vitamin. You’d be surprised what a multi-vitamin will do for your hair and nails. If you already take a multi, some women have great luck taking pre-natal vitamins. Though, if you go that route, you may want to give your boyfriend/husband a heads up. It can be awkward if they’re found sitting in the cupboard.
Also, you can grow them back in stages. Allow the hairs nearest the eyebrow to grow in first, tweezing the stragglers. Once those hairs are grown in enough to define the area, repeat with the next layer, and so on.
I grew mine in this way, and it really helped avoid that mangey look. Though it definitely took patience.
Talika Lipocils Eyelash Conditioner ($44)
If you really want to speed things up, you can try an eyelash condition like this one from Talika. Unlike most of the lash/brow re-grow products on the market, this one isn’t packed with chemicals. The product contains plant-derived ingredients that don’t irritate the skin.
Looking for something cheaper? Good old Vitamin E oil is always an option, as is olive oil from your kitchen. But these tend to make my skin breakout.
Whether you’re growing your brows back in or not, you should fill them in to give them more oomph. I like the YBF eyebrow pencil in ‘universal taupe.’ Or you can go all in with the Anastasia brow kit. For a tutorial on filling them in, this YouTube video is the best one I’ve found.
I’m growing my brows out now (for the past 3 months). Seeing a brow professional helped keep me sane in the beginning (i.e. not someone waxing out of the back of a nail salon). She also introduced me to hands-down my favorite beauty item ever – the Kimiko brow pencil. It’s seriously amazing. The pencil allows more precision in filling in the brow, and the other end is a brush (more like a mascara wand). I’ve tried other brow tools (Anastasia brow powder w an angled brush, Benefit gimme brow, Anastasia brow pomade) and Kimiko kills them all (it also has insane staying power through workouts and sweating). Trimming your brows is also really important throughout the growing process.
Hey Belle! What’s the link to the brow tutorial? It is not listed in the post.
I actually used generic men’s rogaine on my eyebrows. It worked amazingly.
Latisse works for eyebrows too but it can be costly.
Castor Oil mixed with Vitamin E
The best tip I can give is finding a good brow artist on Yelp. (Search for “eyebrow shaping.”) Go to someone who makes their living doing brows, not the girl in the mall or at your nail salon. This person will know exactly what shape will be most flattering on your face and can help you stick it out during the ugly interim periods. If you’re in D.C., Willie at BrowBeat Beauty is AMAZING. Expect to pay $30ish per session. (I’ve seen people charge as much as $65 – are you kidding? it’s my brows, not my full head of hair!)
As for product, try the L’Oreal lash serum in the clear and blue tube. It’s sold near the mascara, less than $10. I’ve been impressed with how much it’s made my lashes grow. Of course, the effect is temporary and only lasts as long as you keep using it, but that seems perfect for just trying to grow out your brows.
Just booked an appointment with Willie! Thanks, Diana!
Oh my gosh, yay! I hope you love him as much as I do! I temporarily live in a flyover state, and I’m so devoted to him I book my visits home based on when he’s available.
Pro tip: the Marshall’s right there in DC USA often has fantastic finds ;). Brow days are my favorite – a chance to score great deals and get pampered!
Btw, his appointments do take the full 20-30 minutes. You’ll be panicked thinking he’s removing your entire brows, but he’s just meticulous.
I agree with seeking professional help. My brows were severely over-tweezed many years ago and I swore off the tweezers completely since I just didn’t know how to leave them be. You have to go often to control the temptation but a real eyebrow specialist can get you back on track!
Along with a multivitamin, evening primrose oil supplements are great for healthy hair growth.
Just bought the Zara top you posted with your cobalt trousers on Instagram. I passed by it when I originally saw it on the Zara website, but I had to have it when I saw it on you. Thanks!
Oh good! It’s a little sheer, but I like it.
Two things:
1) European Wax Center makes a product for eyebrows called “Restore It,” which does work if you use it daily and brush it into your eyebrows.
2) Using a spoolie brush and brushing your eyebrows up and over daily also “trains” your brows to grown in a certain direction. Think of it like training your natural part.