Eyebrow Grooming 101

The hottest trend of the season, one that should transcend seasons in fact, is nicely groomed eyebrows. Whether big or small, a clean set of eye treatments are the perfect accessory to any makeup look or wardrobe. In order to master the perfect brows you'll need a few basic tools.

Basic Tools

• Tweezers  -- Once you have gone to a pro to have your eyebrows properly shaped, the next step is to keep them maintained chez vous. That's right, you have to keep your brows tame between salon visits (you should do a spot check every three days or so). By having a professional cosmetologist do them first, you can be sure that you won't over tweeze (a major faux pas) or tweeze your brows into the wrong shape. If you feel that paying for someone to fix you up first is going to put a strain on your wallet, check out this very informative guide on How To Shape Your Brows by Paula's Choice.
• Note: Be VERY CAREFUL about plucking your own eye brows without any professional help. Sometimes excessive plucking can lead to permanent hair loss. Always go one hair at a time. Pluck, then step back from the mirror to ensure that you are not over plucking on one side. When brow hairs grow back, sometimes it takes a long time. Should you feel like you might have over tweezed and want your brows to grow back faster, try Talika Eyebrow Lipocils , a product meant to help stimulate eye brow growth.
• Spooley Brush  -- Also known as an eyebrow brush  or eyebrow comb , you'll need one of these any time you want to pluck or paint. Use it to brush the eyebrows up and outwards before checking for stray hairs or bald spots.
• Lighted Mirror  -- Having a vanity mirror with lights help you easily detect even tiny hairs. Otherwise, opt for a compact mirror that you can bring with you nearby a window. The more light you have, the easier it will be to find strays.

Filling in the Gaps

One of the hardest things to do if you have skimpy brows is to make them appear full again. You may naturally have sparse or light brows, or you may have gone overboard with the tweezer. No matter, these days makeup manufacturers have invented a slew of products that are there to make your life easier. Here are the products to try as well as a little how to on giving skinny brows some umph.

Use a clean mascara wand  or an eye brow comb  to comb brows up and out. This allows you to see what needs work. Sephora Professional Brow and Lash Comb  Lorac Spooley Brush  Vincent Longo Brow/Lash Comb  Tarte Lash Comb  Laura Mercier Travel Size Brow Grooming Kit Brush	An eyebrow pencil  used with short, light strokes will fill in any gaps. Make sure to choose the color that best suits your eyebrow shade and don't draw beyond your natural brows. Bourjois Precision Eyebrow Pencil  Dior Powder Brow Pencil  Lorac Creamy Brow Pencil  L'Oreal Brow Stylist Shaping Pencil  Origins Fill in the Blanks  Pantina Brow Whiz	Use a brow pomade  or cream shadow  to give the brows overall color and fill in spots. Brush it on with an eyebrow brush  to get even coverage. After applying to the thickest part of the brow, gently brush through with a comb. Bare Escentuals Essential Brow Color  Lorac Brow Wax  Anastasia Brow Pomade  Vincent Longo Bi-Brow Powder Pomade	After evening out the color, use a clear brow gel  or colored one to set the brows in place. Clean up any spots outside the brows with a Q-tip  and makeup remover . Anastasia Brow Gel  Cover Girl Natural Lash and Brow Mascara  Stila Brow Polish  Paula Dorf Brow Gel  Bourjois Brow Mascara

Great Kits

Everyone is loving the new brow kits. They make shaping and maintaining brows a breeze. Here are some of the most popular.

Anastasia Brow Kit	Benefit Brow Zings	DuWop 'Browwow' Brow Kit	Jane Iredale Super Shape Me Eyebrow Kit	Lorac Brow Kit

i.d. bareMinerals Essential Brow Kit	Sephora Arch It Brow Kit	Tarte the Tool Box	ModelCo Eye Browz	Paula Dorf Brow Stencil Kit