4 Sneaky Tricks to Faking Thicker Brows

by HALLIE GOULD

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Photo: Imaxtree

Unless you’ve been living under a rock since Cara Delevingne took her first step on the runway, you know good brows are a thing. But not every woman is naturally blessed with such legendary, bushy eyebrows. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that my brows are the feature I spend the most time perfecting.

Because of this realization, I decided to tap celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose—who has painted the faces of Lupita Nyong'o and Scarlett Johansson—to give up all his secrets.

Keep scrolling for every brow hack you’ll ever need.

Repurpose Your Products

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“If you don’t have that much hair, then you’re going to have to build it. You can cheat by brushing the hair up a bit and applying Covergirl’s Natural Lash Mascara in Clear ($5) and Aveda’s Controlforce Firm Hold Hair Spray. But find the right balance. If you overdo it, it’ll flake off.”

Related: Eyebrow Gurus Share Their #1 Tips for Perfect Brows

Use a Super-Fine Pencil

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“To fake a full brow, it’s all about precision. You have to keep the shape soft; that way, it looks like real hair. Use Lorac’s Pro Brow Pencil and begin filling your brow in with feathery strokes along the top and bottom, but be sure that it looks like part of the hair, instead of weird lines sticking out. The finer the pencil, the better.”

Related: How to Choose the Right Eyebrow Pencil for Your Coloring

The Right Brush Is Your Best Friend

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“If you already have a decent shape, fill it in from the top and bottom with a long-wearing brow gel. I love Lancôme’s Sourcils Gel Waterproof Eyebrow Gel-Cream. Afterward, follow the width of the brows with a pointed-angle brow brush like Giorgio Armani’s Applicator Eyeshaper Brush.”

Related: I Do My Own Eyebrow Tinting—Here’s How

Pick the Correct Shade and Blend

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“Picking the right shade makes a big difference. It’s not so much about using your hair color’s exact shade, but more about harmony. If you have jet-black hair, dark black brows will be too harsh on face. Go with taupe-y gray. With red hair, a red pencil will read too fake, so mix some reddish-brown into it. Taupe is better for blondes to add definition. Remember to blend out the color with Q-tips Cotton Swabs after applying so it’s never too harsh.”

Related: Are You Making This Simple Eyebrow Mistake?


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