I started my eyebrow tweezing days at the ripe age of 12 years old and really could have used these waxing guidelines for many reasons. No, my brows did not rival Cara Delevigne or Brooke Shields, but it would have been helpful to have a Pinterest tutorial on how to wax your eyebrows at home so I could have avoided shaping them into Nike signs. Thankfully I am here to save you if you are wanting to learn to wax your brows into a gorgeous shape with a step-by-step guide. Avoid over-waxing and be confident that you are shaping them the way a professional waxer would.
I have been shaping brows for 15 years as an esthetican, and makeup artists. Trust me, I have learned a few things about brow shaping that I am going to share with you. With a little practice, you can learn how to wax your eyebrows at home for maintenance and not leave them looking like a sideways comma.
Before I share with you my tips on brow waxing and shaping at home, let’s have a little chat, shall we? It’s essential that if your brows are uneven and pencil thin with gaps that you grow them out for several months. Yes, you heard me right, we are talking 60 days of letting your brows go so rogue that people will think you might be growing your pit hair out too. After you have allowed your eyebrows to develop into a scary situation, come back to this post and follow my instructions on brow waxing at home.
Right now, I love that the brow trend is full and more natural, it makes it a whole lot easier for people to DIY their brows at home. Plus, I feel like it looks classier than the Instagram brow that only looks good in macro photography and not in real life. I can say that because I did an entire book of 500 eye makeup designs where I had to do up-close photos of just my eye.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can wax your brows into a natural shape and use your tweezers sparingly and only if needed.
Disclaimer: While it’s fun to do things DIY, if you think you may have a terrible brow shape and don’t feel like you know how to create a good one, see a brow design specialist.
1) Pre-Shape: Brows are easy to screw up. With some eyebrows, pulling just one wrong hair can make them look uneven. So if you are a brow shaping/waxing newbie, or even if you aren’t, try pre-shaping before waxing. Use a brow pencil using these tips from my brow shaping post and my number one brow waxing tip to define the design that you want. If you don’t feel like you can do that, use a brow stencil and follow the instructions.
Tools for Pre-Shaping
2) Prep: Apply a dab of olive oil or coconut oil to the eyelid skin you will be waxing with a q-tip. Applying too much can make wax ball up (so just a little please). I personally use coconut oil.
Tools for Prep
- Viva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (it’s huge and will last forever)
3) Wax: Now that you have your pre-shape and prep done, it’s time to wax. I like to use a hard wax because I feel like it’s easier to work with, and you don’t have to mess with a strip when you are trying to wax your eyebrows at home. Start by dipping your waxing stick into the hard wax, getting a pea size amount and let it cool for 10 seconds (should still be gooey, not dry and hard). I like to test my wax on my arm first, so I know it’s not scorching hot when I place it on my brow.
Next, apply the hard wax from the inner eyelid to the outer eyelid, leaving room between the wax and your pre-shaping design. Make sure to apply the wax as far down on the eyelid as your hair goes (usually to the eyelid crease). Let it cool for about 10 seconds, or until it feels tacky (try not to let it get too hard). Then pull quickly going parallel to your skin and towards your inner brow.
Once that is complete, place the wax on your uni-brow hair and above your brow where unwanted hair is. When you pull the wax, make sure you are going against the growth of the hair and always parallel to the skin.
Waxing Pot and Wax That I Use
- I use the GIGI Wax Warmer and have for years.
- Cerepil Blue Hard Wax it’s the best in my opinion.
- You can also get these waxing sticks for super cheap.
4) Tweeze: Since it can be easy to get the wax in your hair if you go too close to the brow design line, I like to leave a little space so I can tweeze instead. If there are any stray hairs below the brow design, go ahead and tweeze them.
Favorite Tweezers
- I like these tweezers after waxing because of the point. They grab hair really easily.
5) Clean-Up: After you are done tweezing, apply a dab of coconut oil to the skin that was waxed with a q-tip or clean finger. Massage it lightly in a circular motion to get any left over wax off of the skin.
Want to know my number one eyebrow waxing tip? This will save you all-the-drama froma botched brow job. Trust me!
Those are my waxing tips for at home, if you have any questions, leave them in the comments!
Xo,
Kendra
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Unfortunately, I have blepharitis so waxing my eyebrows isn’t even a consideration. I admire you that you can do it. Ouch!
I’ve always been afraid to wax myself. I fear I’ll screw it up!
Loving these hard waxes. They make doing brows so much easier.
I have waxed my own but I stick to tweezing now. Great tips!
There is no way I could wax myself, but you did an amazing job!
I burned a spot on one eyebrow so I don’t dare do it myself anymore.
Your book was so amazing and I refer to it often. I think the hardest part of the eyebrow waxing is pulling it off without swearing and jumping up and down. This tutorial is excellent.
You make it look so easy! I wish I were brave enough to wax; I only ever tweeze.
I’ve never waxed anything – it’s a little scary to think of putting that on my eye, but it seems to do a great job for you. Maybe I’ll try a professional waxing first…
I groom my brows often although I don’t wax. LOL on nike brows!
I wax my legs and I used to get my brows waxed. I might try this since all I do is tweeze right now!
Great tips, Kendra! I usually pluck mine, but when there’s too much I opt in for wax strips. I should try this method some day.
This was such a helpful post!
I prefer threading to waxing. I had a “specialist” really screw up years ago at a salon with wax and haven’t waxed my brows since