What do you do with your eyebrows if you don't want HD or slug brows?

[WhatamessIgotinto]

I'm 50, I would look hilarious with HD brows but I'm struggling to get them looking half decent. Any advice?

[CheeseEloise1]

Bigtillymint, Google Magic eyebrow stencils and it will come up - around £3 for 4 stencils. I use Tarte Dark Blonde powder and really lol eased with the results.

[Kr1stina]

I tint them myself and get them threaded when they need it . It's only nippy ( not painful and I have a very low pain threshold ) and the area is slightly pink for about 45 mins.

Plus a quick fill in with a pencil if when I do my make up .

[VeganCow]

you know that Gimme Brow stuff everyone raves about, I read a recommendation of a cheap dupe, and thought for £3 cant go wrong, if its shite at least i tried it.. Its bloody fantastic. I went for the lightest shade called light medium and glad i did. Unless you're darkish brunette to black hair, go for light.
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B016OCK0A2/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B016YJR1KC&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=ECPC4T694XT1XDVJ14NE&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[CopperPot]

Threaded and lightly tinted to medium brown so they have more definition but not HD

[bigTillyMint]

Ooh CheeseEloise, would you do a link please?!

CV, off to look at Maybelline - sounds like the Benefit one I tried in NYC, but you are obviously less heavy-handed than the girl that did mine!

knitknack, that's what I do, apart from the clear mascara. I think the main problem is finding something light enough for me as I am very blonde!

[knitknack]

I just use an eyeshadow (bobbi brown's 'taupe', which isn't taupe at all but more of a warm light brown), with a slanted brush, then brush through with clear mascara to keep it all in place (boots natural collection, about 99p).

My tip is to buy a lighter colour than you think you need... If you have any neutral eye palates, experiment with the browns and you'll see what I mean. I have dark brown brows, but if I use a dark brown powder I look AWFUL - like a clown! So don't buy an eyebrow pencil based on the makeup company's nomenclature: 'blonde', 'brunette' etc... In fact I find the 'blonde' ones are much more natural looking even though I'm not blonde!

Eyeshadow is def the way to go - I found mine when a sales woman at bobbi brown recommended it, and I stopped her because I assumed the colour would be too light! But luckily she convinced me and I've been using it ever since (about ten years now).

Good luck!

[CointreauVersial]

I've just bought a great little Maybelline kit - a wax, a mid-brown powder (with a cute little brush) and an under-brow highlighter. It isn't too dark on me, and adds some definition without the slug look. I'm trying to keep them in shape with the odd threading session.

It is the first time in my life I've ever touched my brows (I'm 49) but I was inspired by DD1 (15) who creates the most amazing eyebrows I've ever seen. Not fair!

[CheeseEloise1]

I got eyebrow stencils from EBay for less than £5. They are fantastic and let me have both brows shaped in the same way. I use brow powder from Tarte with a brush

[bigTillyMint]

Thanks Mango. I guess it depends on them being really well-shaped before!

[walkingtheplank]

I have very fast growing dark brown/black eyebrows so have to pluck everyday.

I asked a make up artist how to have neat eyebrows without looking like a WAG. She used a YSL brow pencil with integrated brush. Interestingly she chose the 'Ash' colour, the lightest one I think, on my dark brows. So, she pencil stroked the brow then roughed it up and smoothed back down with the brush. I think it makes them look great. I look tidy but not overdone.

[MangoMoon]

bigTilly the tint will only colour the eyebrow hair, so shouldn't look sluggish.

I'd go for a shade darker than your hair colour.

[TheCrumpettyTree]

I get mine threaded every two weeks. Costs a fiver.

[NewLife4Me]

I trim mine with rounded end scissors, as they are very long, then I pluck the out of place ones.
Usually do it once a week or fortnight.
If I'm really feeling lazy a month

[Toxicity]

Do any of you have any recommendations of anyone in London that does great brows - I prefer waxing to threading - thanks!

[bigTillyMint]

OP, I am the same age and wondering exactly the same!
I tried the Benefit Brow thing when we were in NYC and DD was buying make-up and I looked like a clown

AnchorDownDeepBreath same here! I usually use a lightish brown eyeshadow with a brush but I have been wondering about getting them tinted. I am so worried about them looking sluggish.
DD and her mates tint each others and they always look good, but they are all darker than me and as teens, can get away with dark HD anyway.

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

Brow satin!

[LordEmsworth]

I pay £20 for someone to come to my house to do my HD brows. They look fantastic, completely natural, not even a little bit slug like.

I used to get threaded & tinted, and I would not go back - the extra bits that the HD technique includes make a lot of difference. As the posters above said, HD brows are just a technique - it's not a "look" per se, you can ask for whatever look you want (darker / thicker / wider etc).

[Racheyg]

I agree with the previous post, hd is a process that most beauticians can do broken down in the steps and charge half the price.

I got hd once and it cost £45.00 and look no better than going to my beautician for a thread and tint for £11.00.

I also use a Mac eyebrow pencil ( lingering) which is about £15.00 but so worth it. Use sparingly thou, get a Mac girl to give u a demo before u buy.

[MangoMoon]

Agree Buttwing, HD Brows are just the brand - they are whatever you want them to be - personal to your face & eyebrow shape and personal taste.

HD Brows process, basically:

Tinted - if you want

Waxed - for basic shape

Threaded - to smooth the transition point between the waxed & non waxed fine facial hairs

Tweezed - any remaining stragglers

Brow make-up - if you want it

[echt]

I have extremely long eyebrow hairs, so every month brush them upwards with an old, wetted mascara wand and trim off the Denis Healey-esque excess. I keep the underbrow growth in line, and my beady eye on the single grey hair in there.

Nothing else as I'm lucky to have darkish brow hair and a naturally good shape. Thanks, mum.

[Judydreamsofhorses]

I get threaded every fortnight - yes, it's nippy, but it takes five minutes, and gives a great shape. I use Benefit's Browzings kit to fill in gaps, then brush into place with clear mascara. I don't pluck at all now, just go every second Friday to the threader in my lunch break.

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

I'm using a maybelline brow thing at the moment - it's powder on one end and pencil at the other. I like my brows done but find getting the colour right tricky and also as much as I love brow gel you need a separate brush and that needs washing daily.

I'm liking the thing I've got at the moment. I use the blonde one at the moment.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Omg don't get them threaded! It is the worst pain known to humankind, including labour and stubbing one's toe.

I am of your generation op. I pluck the ones in the middle and the stragglers underneath and use an eyebrow pencil gently gently small feathery strokes to fill in the gaps.

I was in Next today trying to find over the knee socks for dd. I was aware of a young member of staff working away hanging things up just out of my eyeline. She popped her head round the corner to ask if I wanted any help in a friendly way and I nearly jumped out of my skin so shocked was I by her HD brows!

[Buttwing]

I think there is a lot of confusion with hd brows, it just means having them shaped and tinted. Slug brows are when they've been over pencilled or have too much brow make up on. I have hd brows they just look neat and tidy.

[Threepineapples]

Occasionally have mine waxed and the weird straggly hairs removed, then try and keep the shape for a few months.

Mine are dark so don't see the point of dying or tinting. If I didn't pluck I'd have a superb monobrow.