do I pluck my eyebrows too much?? (hideous pic)

[runningLou]

I am blonde and fair skinned but have dark eyebrows. Used to have a bushy monobrow when a teenager, felt self conscious and started plucking eyebrows at 16. Been doing it for last 20 (gulp!) years without thinking but now wondering if it's really ugly? Occasionally try to grow them out but lose courage at horrible stubbly stage and pluck them madly! What should I be doing?

Could you lightly rub a bit of oil/vaseline/eyebrow gel through them to smooth them out while you wait for the re-growth?
I'm envious that you can grow them back - I over-plucked mine years ago, realised and tried to grow them back, but they won't co-operate! Have been hoping for a miracle for several years now (am 53). They're perfectly fine, just not as thick as I'd like, especially when I see DD with her lovely strong thick ones.
Might try the castor oil thing, although not sure it can wake the dead!

Castor oil promotes growth.

I had a fringe cut in, whilst growing my eyebrows back, then once I had an acceptable shape, grew the fringe out. Might be worth considering if they are bothering you

Can I at least pluck the middle section to avoid monobrow??
What type of powder are you meant to use to define them? Am an absolute novice on eyebrow grooming never done anything other than tweeze them (too much!)
Just had a shorter hair cut but no fringe as my front hair just frizzes up!

Go to a benefit counter, get Browzings. Ask them to apply for you. Yes you can pluck the middle bit.

Find your nearest HD brows technician. Mine has totally transformed my face! Super natural looking now, from an overplucked 90's tadpole shape

To answer your Q op- No I wouldn't even pluck centre bit. Honestly, just try and step away from tweezers. It'll be worth it if you can wait as long as possible.

No, don't touch them! You are doing really well. They look loads better already.

I feel your pain!!! I over plucked mine for years and in a spate of "I look a mess" I put the tweasers away and it's hard but getting better!

Just think once they are grown back you can have them shaped and will look a million dollars :)

When I said powder, I've just used a tiny bit of eyeshadow before. Just enough to give a little bit of depth and shape but not obvious.

Don't even touch the middle - leave all of the brows for about 6 weeks minimum, then go to HD Brows technician.

I would book in with an HD Brows technician for the first week of June, that's about 6 weeks growth.
Don't touch them at all for the whole of this month.

I would personally pluck the mono and would also pluck the very low down ones so you start achieving a shape. I don't think most people look good with these HD brows or too much eyebrow pencil. You can always see the real brow through all the pencil

AlwaysBeYourself, HD Brows is just the brand name.

A common misconception is that 'HD Brows' are the thick, drawn on, fake looking brows - they're not.

An HD Brows technician will work out a shape that suits your particular face & also that you're happy with - they then wax, thread & pluck to achieve that shape.

You don't have to get the heavier drawn on look if you don't want it.

Thanks for that Mango I just thought that HD brow meant what it said, high definition eyebrow. So brows that are over dark and pencil/shadow on top.

Clinique do a fantastic eyebrow pencil that would be a great 'filler in' til they grow back.

Always, to be fair I don't like the drawn on look at all so always ask for them not to do the OTT powder etc at the end.

The shape though is great, and then easy to keep to that shape yourself afterwards.

Mango

OP I just checked - the Clinique eyebrow pencil is Instant Lift for Briws in Soft Blonde.
It was recommended in Style and Beauty Mumsnet.

Thanks for that eyebrow pencil recommendation, will be trying to get hold of one of those!
Bit confused as to whether to pluck centre and stray hairs but think I'll try and leave it another week so natural shape is clearer.
There seem to be quite a lot of bald patches in the bit closest to the centre where it's meant to be thickest so am hoping I haven't plucked those sections to death over the years!

Agree. Leave them alone and let the beautician do the threading.

Oh god, I've realised from this thread that I over pluck mine now. I'm literally 20 years out of date.

I used an eyebrow pencil for the first time ever today, I looked really different. I read grazia. I have outspoken friends. How have I never realised?

You're a few steps ahead of me whirly, I don't even know how to use an eyebrow pencil!!
I'm not only 20 years out of date but totally ignorant!
Did you just pick a shade and draw on yours?

Well I say eyebrow pencil, but it was a Barry m chunky eyeliner one in a nice rich brown and it did the trick fine. I wasn't heavy handed, just a light sweep on each side has made a real difference

Ok it's been over 3 weeks now and still so patchy! Will the bald patches ever grow back in?! Am thinking I will end up with a narrow shape anyway after all this, as there are bits where I think those years of plucking has just killed the hair.

It's fine - they're coming in brilliant!

Your eyebrow hair has maybe gone fairer over the years anyway - I'm dark brunette and have always had mine tinted because they're too light for my hair.

I got the semi permanent eyebrow tattoos last November so stopped the tinting etc & was shocked to find out that I have a lot of grey/white/very fair eyebrow hairs now.

I left mine around the time you started leaving yours and went for a threading & tint a couple of days ago for a tidy up and the difference is amazing.

I would book in for HD Brows now (for end of May/beginning of June).
When you're there, tell them you'd like a good shape & tint but no make-up at the end.
You'll be surprised with how much they've actually grown in, honestly!

They just look patchy now because they're not groomed at all.

Stay strong!!