Eyebrow-sculpting made easy

I HAVE a bald spot on my right eyebrow, the result of either (or both) of the following incidents: When I was 6, I fell on a bicycle and gashed the side of my head, leaving a scar where brow hairs never grew again. A year before that, I was left alone with a razor and shaved my eyebrows.

Whatever the reason, thankfully a little brow pencil camouflages this bare spot. You can tell how much time I spent getting ready by the looks of my arches. If they look seamless, that means I’ve had a few minutes dotting on my trusty Lancôme Le Crayon Poudre (in Taupe).

Whenever I groom my brows at home or have them professionally shaped, I can only go two ways: Full to sculpt in such a way that the bald spot is easy to fill in and blends with the curve; or very thin to remove all tiny hairs surrounding the “hole” to give the illusion that my brows start a few millimeters lower than they do.

Complicated, I know.

I got in touch with Roberta Abad, owner and managing director of the local Strip and BrowHaus (tel. 8569140, 5013998) franchises to get the scoop on the latest innovations in eyebrow maintenance, along with some arch tips to help achieve your best brow shape. (I, too, could use all the help.)

What are the best eyebrow shapes for women?

Each eyebrow shape is never identical, like haircuts, there can be a trend (bobs may be in or long hair), says Abad. [The] same thinking applies for eyebrows [so] there are really no “no-no” eyebrow shapes.

Tell us about your unique BrowHaus Blueprint System.

“The BrowHaus Blueprint System employs grid technology, [wherein] we structure brows in perfect form and symmetry,” she explains. “Every face is a unique terrain with differing bone and muscle definition. With the system, any face shape-round, oval, heart-shaped or square-is taken into consideration.”


Perfectly balanced

Abad explains that one’s eye shape, chin or lip are all factored into the equation, along with rules of height and diameter, peaks and angles are considered to achieve perfectly balanced and proportionally shaped eyebrows.

Can you share tips on how to shape your own eyebrows at home?

Same as hair, you need to brush it to keep it in place, says Abad, who recommends using the BrowHaus Titanium Kit, which packs in a pair of tweezers, Brow Perfecting Wax and Defining Brow Powder and mini angled brush.

“First, define your brow by sweeping the Brow Perfecting Wax over your eyebrows using the kit’s mini angled brow brush,” she instructs.” Next, fill in bald areas with the Defining Brow Powder. This sets the wax and gives a 3D density [for] a more defined brow line.”

What is the best way to groom brows?

“It’s a tie between threading and tweezing,” says Abad, who talks about the Brow Construction service at BrowHaus – a combination of the two hair-removal and shaping methods. “The idea is to really shape and clean the eyebrow area. Depending on the hair type, we may need to thread if [fine hairs are] all over the place and tweeze [they’re] short and stubly.”

Abad says they do not shave or wax arches at BrowHaus, as these are not precise techniques. “One wrong move can wax off too much hair and leave you with unruly, or even shapeless, eyebrows. Our philosophy is about precision and giving you eyebrows that look like work of art,” she explains.

What can clients expect once they go to BrowHaus?

“Our idea of eloquently designed brows was borne from the artistic thought processes of BauHaus – the prestigious German architecture and design institute. Their philosophy is to keep the functionality of a design but also adding a touch of style to it,” explains Abad.

BrowHaus technicians all undergo “boot-camp” training, focusing on quality control and customer service. “We are constantly developing and upgrading our treatments, services and products to provide the best possible experience for our customers.”

“[We] live and breathe eyebrows, lashes and everything about the face,” narrates Abad. “As the old saying goes, ‘Your face is your fortune,’ that’s why we’ve decided to bring you the solution for all your brow problems. You can enjoy tidy brows that have shape, volume and panache.”

Mariel Chua is the former beauty editor of Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, and Ok! Magazine Philippines. Ask a beauty question at http://BeautyintheBigApple.com or visit her blog at http://NyMinuteNow.com.

(Image courtesy of BrowHaus. Original Inquirer article link here.)