When you enter a clinic to have a cosmetic eyebrow tattoo procedure, naturally you will have researched information to know what an eyebrow tattoo is all about and what benefits it will bring to you and what the potential risks may be.

You will naturally expect that a trained aesthetician or cosmetic permanent makeup specialist will offer you their eyebrow tattooing expertise in a professional and hygienic manner during the tattoo eyebrows operation and that the equipment used will be modern and the best available in your area.

So after you have had an initial consultation with your cosmetician and have been shown pictures of tattoo eyebrows and have selected what shape and color you want, you will probably leave the procedure in the hands of the experts. But eyebrow tattoo pictures and a Q & A during a brief consultation may not provide all you need to know.

Since you are about to have ink permanently injected under your skin that will last at least 5 years, and will be visible to everyone you encounter for a long time, and will be the first impression you give to the world, I suggest that you delve a little deeper below the surface of eyebrow tattoos.

An eyebrow tattoo is a delicate procedure that requires skill to do correctly and also requires the correct instruments, needles and equipment. It also demands the application of anesthetic to keep you comfortable before and during the operation, be it a topical cream or spray or some kind of anesthesia to dull the pain. Then, once you have received your permanent eyebrow tattoo you will need to be sure that your care provider has given you what you need to heal properly and that the brow region will not become needlessly infected.

Newly tattooed eyebrows need to be cared for and guarded from infection and it is also imperative that you return to visit your cosmetician at least once for a post-operation assessment of healing and perhaps even some touchups.

Permanent Eyebrow Tattoos – General Overview

I want to go through some of the procedures that involve this specialized field of tattoos for women and the types of products specific to the permanent eyebrows industry that are used so that you can be sure you are receiving the best cosmetic tattoo eyebrows that are possible. Don’t make the mistake of walking into a shop and saying, ‘tattoo my eyebrows, please’ and not know what you can have or what it will be like and then end up looking for a very expensive eyebrow tattoo removal clinic.

An eyebrow tattooing procedure can be very comfortable and trouble free if you know what to look for, what to ask, and have selected a clinic, tattoo shop or aesthetician wisely. Before I decided who would tattoo my eyebrows, I read as much information as possible and went to several clinics for consultations, first to have questions answered, and second, to view the facilities before scheduling an appointment.

A good clinic will give you a local or topical anesthetic that will numb the region where the tattooed eyebrow will be. This is essential because the micropigmentation needles will rapidly penetrate and puncture your skin in a very small area during an hour or so and this can be very shocking to that delicate area of the face and very painful without anything to numb the sensations. If a good anesthesia has been properly applied, you can expect to feel nothing more than a tickle, a slight bit of pressure or a little tug like plucking your brows, but without any sharp pain at all.

Cosmetic tattoos are different from artistic permanent tattoo treatments because your facial procedures will be done in a clinical environment and not in some dingy tattoo shop. The comfort level you should be offered (and must demand) should equal that which is offered at a dentist or a doctor’s office or with a plastic surgeon. Anything less is unacceptable.

Having a successful eyebrows tattooing procedure requires these 10 basic things:

• a well trained and experienced permanent makeup specialist or aesthetician
• a good sketch drawn onto your brow with the final shape YOU want
• the right pigments or ink color that will match your skin tone and hair color
• receiving proper anesthesia before the procedure begins
• the use of a modern rotary machine
• the right selection of needles for the right style of cosmetic tattoo
• numbing creams or anesthesia during the procedure to ensure your comfort
• proper application of aftercare products immediately following the procedure
• the right aftercare products at home to avoid swelling and infection
• a follow-up visit with your tattooing specialist a week or two after the procedure

The Anesthesia or Numbing Agent

Cosmetic tattooing and permanent makeup is not only for the brow. Many people schedule several sessions to have tattooed eyebrow procedures as well as to have eyes lined and lips enhanced with liner or completely filled in with color. Each procedure takes about 1 hour, however if a brow must be reconstructed after an illness or due to burns or if there are any other issues that complicate a tattooing procedure it will take longer.

In all cases a numbing agent will be applied to the area. This is how:

• The area will be cleaned and disinfected.

• Then a numbing agent will be applied using a sterilized cotton swab.

• It will take 15 to 20 minutes for the anesthesia to take effect.
• Then the anesthesia, if it is a cream, will be wiped away and the area cleaned and dried.
• After that, the eyebrow guide line will be drawn onto the brow area to be tattooed. This must be done quickly so the anesthetic does not wear off.

It is also possible that the aesthetician may draw the brow first, then apply a numbing agent. After waiting the same 20 minutes, it may be blotted and the micropigmentation may begin.

Most numbing agents are safe for eyes, eyebrows and lips and some creams are very smooth and effective especially those that contain about 4% Lidocaine made especially for eyebrow permanent makeup applications and other delicate facial procedures. There are also anesthetic ointments that numb instantly without the 20 minute wait. These ointments are also good to have applied during the procedure because in my experience one application for the entire hour is never enough.

Soothing and Numbing

Your aesthetician or eyebrow micropigmentation specialist may also use such things as tea tree oil or even just some aloe mixed with a sterile gel and some anesthesia containing Lidocain or some other numbing agent. The tea tree or aloe will help sooth and avoid excessive redness or irritation while the Lidocain will eliminate the pain.

Extra Anesthesia During the Procedure

During the tattoo procedure there is no reason to grit your teeth and endure if sensation begins to return to the area. I had one aesthetician who said it was normal that the area would become a little more sensitive 45 minutes into tattooing, but there is no reason to suffer. All that’s needed is a quick word or gesture to your specialist and she/he will apply an instant numbing cream or ointment.

It shouldn’t matter if the micropigmentation tattoo procedure is well underway, all good cosmetic tattooing centers will offer an instant numbing agent to help keep you comfortable and to allow the skin to relax and not get dehydrated as your aesthetician creates your permanent makeup eyebrows. The creams or ointments used should be water-resistant so it won’t matter if a little blood needs to be washed away midway through the operation, the anesthetic should still remain.

Anesthesia Spray – Lidocaine and Epinephrine

There is also a topical anesthesia spray that is very effective for after the skin has been broken with the needles. It’s especially great because it contains an agent that reduces swelling and it feels cool and gives relief midway through any procedure. If it’s not offered, and you begin to feel uncomfortable, ask for a spray to be applied. Make a note that you want Lidocaine and Epinephrine and any trained permanent makeup cosmetician will understand.

Avoiding Bleeding

If you tend to bleed, this may not only be uncomfortable and unhealthy but it may get in the way of the area where the eyebrow or permanent tattoo is being created. It is difficult to make fine details and use feathering techniques if there is blood. The artist or cosmetician also needs to follow the guide line that has been drawn onto the brow and too much blood or swelling or irritation may make this difficult. There is a special gel that can eliminate most of this. It is a coagulating gel that stops bleeding and swelling (specific for use during the creation of permanent tattoos) and can also be combined safely with any numbing cream or instant painkilling ointment. It also contains Epinephrine. Don’t forget to tell your cosmetician beforehand if you already know that you tend to bleed more than average so she/he can have the right products prepared.

Eyebrow Tattoo Needles

You may not need to know what tattoo equipment or what exact needle your cosmetic permanent makeup specialist has chosen, it may suffice to see her/him remove it from a sealed wrap and insert it into a rotating machine and know that it is sterile and disposable. However if you’re like me and like to know every detail of what is being done to your body and how everything works you may find the needle selection interesting and may even want to discuss with your aesthetician which needles will be used to achieve the desired effect on your new eyebrow tattoos.

One and Two Prong Needles

There are prong needles that are round and are used for adding filler to brows and for creating thick eyeliners and for lips. (Just a note: A lip tattoo is different from a lipliner or a full lip filling tattoo in that a lip tattoo is usually thought of as a decorative mark inside the lip and is done in an artistic tattoo shop, whereas a cosmetic tattoo for adding color to your entire lip is done in a clinic with special needles for tattoo makeup that are round and eliminate scaring on very delicate areas such as lip liner.)

There are also 2 prong round needles which ensure that ink or pigments are injected more quickly and evenly. The angle of the needle is also important and it is imperative that there is not a back suction of pigment and blood. Needles should all meet the standard of cosmetology and medical needles and be made of medical grade stainless steel, come in sterilized individual packs and be disposable. Any other kind of needles and you should seek a new eyebrow tattoo clinic. Modern eyebrow tattoo equipment should be sterile and/or disposable with no exceptions.

Three Prong Needles

There are also 3 prong needles which help skin to heal better because they have something to protect the sharp point and not bend or cause excessive bleeding and are also better for leaving fewer scars in delicate areas. These flat needles have a space for ink or pigments and this makes for smoother color and have a finer point, and therefore are best for eyeliner (and not tattooed eyebrows) because it can deposit more color in a finer line and therefore avoid some of the future fading problems. These specific needles (that are used in rotary machines other styles of modern tattoo equipment) are used to create the initial outline of a brow or for feathering techniques that make an eyebrow tattoo appear a little more natural as if it were hair.

Four to Seven Prong Needles

Yes, there are also 4 prong flat needles that function much the same as a 3 prong except they insert pigment even smoother and faster, however the ones most frequently used to fill in the eyebrow tatoo area (after having been outlined) are the 5 prong round needles. 6 prong needles are flat and again are better lipliner and feathering or creating the look of fine hairs. 7 prong round needles work in rotary machines to give strong lines and fill very quickly. This will depend on the size of the bow being tattooed and how fine or delicate the skin is and how the skin reacts to the pigmentation.

For all of these needles a small handheld rotary machine is required. There are also some small disposable sleeves that you may see attached to these machines to help the aesthetician grip better and to also avoid ink, pigment or blood splatter. If these sleeves are not disposable then you should make sure that you see the metal sleeve of the rotary machine having come directly from a sterilizer.

Eyebrow Shape with Stencils

Although the shape will have been decided before the procedure commences, it must be drawn or somehow applied to the brow area and remain as a guide for the eyebrow tattoo expert to use as she/he forms the brow with ink. Sometimes a pencil or brow marker may wear off or become less visible. You do not want your aesthetician guessing halfway through the procedure where to form the brow. One way to ensure that this does not happen is to ask if an eyebrow stencil is available. There are usually a dozen or more shapes that you can choose from and will be placed on your brow to ensure a perfect design. Sometimes an aesthetician will design one just for you if you discuss this in advance.

I can’t stress the need to do this pre-shape consultation with an aesthetician or to do some shaping through trial and error on your own brows with a pencil or with plucking technique, prior to anything else. Consult eyebrow shaping books and look at pictures and make a stencil yourself…anything…but get it right the first time so that you will never need to have eyebrow tattoo removal done because the shape was off. Your face is the canvas, the stencil or shape is the basis for the art that will take shape and it’s permanent and it’s on your face!

Eyebrow Tattoo Aftercare

Once the eyebrow tattooing procedure is complete it is imperative that your permanent makeup cosmetician apply a soothing and healing protective cream or gel to the newly tattooed area. Tattoo care is important right from the start. Remember that the region has had a needle inserted into the skin hundred of times and requires help repairing. It also needs something to calm the swelling that will occur but can be slightly minimized with a soothing cream, ointment or gel. You also want to protect the color which can begin to scab and crack and fall away taking the color with it. You do not want your new brows to flake away. So, your professional cosmetic tattooing specialist will apply a small amount of cream or ointment or gel using a soft cotton swab to the eyebrow or tattooed lips or eyes.

Now all that is left to do is to take a little cream home with you, listen to your homecare instructions carefully and wait.

Tattoo Care at Home

Don’t panic if your brows begin to itch and have scabs. Just don’t pick them off and don’t rub the region. It is best not to wash them and certainly don’t scrub them unless you want to repeat the entire procedure. If your permanent make up tattoo appears too dark, don’t worry too much. Eyebrow tattoos often look darker than expected for a few weeks, but they should fade. If you are unhappy with the shape or there has been a mistake or they are getting infected or the swelling isn’t going away after about 48 hours, you must call your aesthetician and also see if you may need an antibiotic. Also if the shape is a little off, you can get advice on how to pick off the scabs to eliminate some bad areas and have these retouched. Do not just go home and sulk if everything is not what you expected. Return quickly to the clinic where you had the permanent cosmetic make up done and immediately plan how to fix anything that is not to liking. It is best done early than late.

Give Your Brows a Month

In normal cases, the brows will heal in two weeks or so. Give it a month for them to be faded a little and totally lovely. That is why you should never have this procedure done anytime near an event where you must be in public for a wedding r special occasion. Plan your eyebrow tattooing procedure for an off season in your year.

Making the Decision

If you are reading this and have not yet made the decision as to weather you are going to go ahead with a cosmetic eyebrow tattoo or any kind of permanent cosmetic tattoo on your face, then here are some benefits you may want to consider. If you wear eyeglasses and your eyes are hidden from view and they are a light color and have little or no hair on your brows, then you might consider enhancing your brows to give your eyes some shape and zest from above the glasses. If you feel that your face looks dull or lifeless when you have little or no makeup then perhaps a little pick me up is in order.

Eyebrows can be enhanced with your own natural hair, eyeliner can be drawn on permanently with a tattoo around your eyes and your lips can be made full and splashed with color without having to spend hours a day or worry about waking up without your face. However the most common and popular procedure is the permanent eyebrow tattoo, which to set your mind a little more at ease, has been used successfully for centuries in Asia and only more recently has spread to Europe and the Americas. But don’t be frightened by thinking it is a new fandangle fad that is not a tried and true beauty technique that is well founded. The history of tattoos is part of the ancient oriental arts from China, Egypt, India and the middle east.

Many of the beautiful oriental women that western women admire for having delicate eyebrows and wispy long lashes and liner that extends away from the corner of the lashes have been enhanced by some cosmetic tattoo procedure. It is by no means a new art and will continue to beautify women’s features for a long time to come.

Temporary Eyebrow Tattoos

If you want to test what shapes may best suit your face shape and brow structure, it is a good idea to try temporary tattoo brows that are smudge proof and waterproof and will give you a good idea what to expect prior to a formal permanent tattoo procedure. Temporary tattoo eyebrows come in many styles and colors and are very cheap and can even be ordered online.

Temporary eyebrow tattoos are easy to apply and can cost as little as $10. there is also a pen available for #18 from Sephora that is waterproof and creates a temporary eyebrow tattoo or eyeliner that will give you an idea of what you can expect from a cosmetic tattoo eyebrows. However keep in mind that brows drawn on with a pen or a temporary tattoos are much inferior to those that are custom designed for you and are created with an eyebrow tattoo machine that will make eyebrows tattoos that mimic hair through feathering and fine hair mimicking techniques. If you like the results of what an inferior semi permanent eyebrow tattoo looks like then you likely be delighted with a the real tattoo.

Since eyebrow tattoo cost can be quite high (eyebrow tattoo price ranging from $400 to over $1,000 per procedure), having a sneak peek at eyebrow tattoos that stick on or can be drawn on in advance for a few dollars is well worth the time and effort. The eyebrows tattooing information that you may get from looking at pictures of tattoo eyebrows and seeing before and after shots and asking specialist how to tattoo eyebrows so you understand the procedure is not something you COULD do or MIGHT do if you have the time, it is a MUST do for anyone contemplating a tattoo. Please try some temporary tattoos and read the books available (I recommend some on this site). Please look at lots of eyebrow tattoo photos and watch some videos and search for tattoo eyebrows pictures online. Please ask the tattoo professionals as many questions as you can. You can also send me your questions or post them at the bottom of this article and will try to help, but it is best to discuss your specific concerns with someone in your area. I will soon try to include a list of professional permanent makeup experts and tattoo websites.

Permanent Makeup for Active Lifestyles

If you are like me and lead an active life where swimming and traveling are a part of your lifestyle, permanent make up and cosmetic tattooing can really make a difference. Also if you find that your eyes get watery in the wind or are very sensitive to the elements and make wearing makeup difficult, then permanent eyebrows and liner may be just the thing.

Many women are also very busy professionals and need to wear make up in their everyday life but are not adept at such things nor do they have an interest in drawing beautiful eyes and lips on every morning.

More Reasons For Permanent Cosmetic Tattooing

Other women have found that due to eyesight problems they simply forego makeup because they can’t see what they are doing or have shaky hands. These ladies need not worry if they have eyeliner and eyebrows permanently tattooed on and all they need is a touch of lip-gloss or a little powder on their nose and they’re good to go.
Another reason women opt to have permanent facial tattooing is because of allergies to commercial cosmetic products. Other ladies have had chemotherapy or have hair loss illnesses that have made them feel less feminine. These issues can be altered with cosmetic tattooing and can give ladies a whole new sense of self esteem.

You may just be sick of drawing eyebrows and eyeliner on each day and you want to treat yourself to a little something just for YOU. Try getting some liner done and then a lipliner and last a brow. Eyebrows are the most dramatic and therefore you can start slowly with a few other cosmetic tattooing procedures first to get your feet wet.

Selecting the Clinic or Tattoo Specialist

When you seek a clinic look for professionals who have experience with permanent makeup, cosmetic tattooing and micropigmentation or micro pigment implantation and derma graphics. There are pens, coils, rotary machines, and hand tattooing methods that all work well, but the best would be a rotary machine for eyebrow tattoos.

You can have your eyebrows enhanced a little or totally reshaped, you can have top and bottom eyeliner or just top or just bottom. You can have a little color deposited into your lash line just for a slight natural enhancement of color around the eyes and you can have a light lip line tattooed around your lips or have them totally filled in with pigment. You can also have scars made less obvious if they are in the eyebrow region and also have other cosmetic facial enhancements depending on what specialist are in your area.

Make sure that your professional aesthetician or tattoo artist is trained in their craft and have at least 40 hours of practice – more if possible. In the US there is a Society of Permanent Cosmetics. In other countries there are organizations that monitor the quality of these procedures by making sure the technicians or tattoo specialists are qualified and that the equipment is hygienic and modern.

Facilities can be tattoo shops in conjunction with piercing but must also have an eyebrow studio and/or a certified permanent makeup specialist who meets a standard and operates with international medical standards.

Hygienic, Sanitary Permanent Cosmetic Clinics

When you go to the aesthetic shop or clinic for an initial consultation make sure that the place is clean and that bedding or sheets are changed frequently and that in general the air is like a hospital or clinic and not like an underground tattoo shop where you would go to get a dragon tattooed onto your back. It is up to you to choose who will do this procedure. For you to be even better informed, go to list of permanent make up and cosmetic tattooing books that are available for sale through Amazon.

If you are unhappy with the results of your recent eyebrow tattoo or have had your eyebrow tattoo done when styles were different, or if the color ended up wrong or your technician or aesthetician or surgeon made a nasty blunder, or for whatever reason you are unhappy with your tattooed brow, there is hope to return to your natural brows.

Simply put, eyebrow tattoo removal is done in laser clinics that specialize in removing facial tattoos.

What’s involved in laser Tattoo Removal and how do I get started?

First, the clinic should run tests on what kind of pigment or ink was used before they even begin any kind of treatment. They spend a great deal of time (at least an hour or more), at the initial consultation determining how to best correct the situation and if you are even a candidate for the procedure or not. Laser tattoo removal is not for everyone.

The factors they take into consideration are your health history and the tattoo itself. It is evaluated and determined weather it is removable or not. It is not possible to do this evaluation by telephone or online. It must be done in person. You must also be at least 18 years of age, which I find a little strange because often I have read about girls who have their brows tattooed at age 15 or 16 and are not happy because they are too dark for their complexion at such a young age. However, you may not have them removed until you are 18. The fee for the initial consultation varies from clinic to clinic, but is not a free service because each case must be evaluated individually by a specialist.

So the price is usually about $50 and goes toward the cost of the removal treatment should you proceed. If you do not have the laser tattoo removal surgery the consultation fee is usually not refunded.

According to some patients who have had laser tattoo removal, some say all the ink or pigment was removed while others say the surgery only took away about 80% and the rest faded faster than normal over a period of time. If your eyebrow tattoo was of black ink it is the easiest to remove.

How does laser surgery remove the tattoo?

Laser surgery for removing eyebrow tattoos has come a long way from the days of dermabrasion, salibrasion and C02 lasers that often left scares or noticeably lightened the skin where the tattoos had previously been. Modern clinics will probably use Q-switched lasers, a laser procedure in which a beam of light is applied to the skin and absorbs natural melanin and tattoo pigments. Each treatment lasts about 30 minutes.

It is claimed that the chances of scarring is less then 5% using this laser tattoo removal system and even better if you carefully the doctor’s follow-up care instructions which will include things like how to keep the area clean and dry and out of the sun. The area where the tattoo has been removed should not be scrubbed and you should be provided with a kit, ointment and bandages, to take home and care for yourself.

Tattoo Removal Cost

There are many different prices but the range is from $250 to $900 per laser treatment. Remember that it may require several treatments (up to 10) to successfully remove a tattoo. Some clinics offer discounts if you buy packages of treatments in groups of half a dozen or more.

Will it hurt?

Yes, a little, somewhat like the snapping of a rubber band, but you will receive a topical anesthetic to numb the region. Most clinics promise to make you comfortable and give you as little pain as possible; some say you will feel nothing at all.

Side Effects?

There are normal side effects after a tattoo laser removal surgery such as blistering and crusting. Redness and crusting is normal for a week to two weeks after the treatments. That is why there is a long interval between treatments.

Eyebrow tattooing is a cosmetic procedure technically called intradermal micropigmentation that uses pigments or dyes or inks in a similar fashion that artistic tattoos are done. Using a needle inserted in a tattoo gun with ink or pigment, the doctor or aesthetician or tattoo artist moves across the brow with the vibrating needle and implants the color under the skin.

If it is only implanted in the top layer it is considered semi-permanent, if it goes into the second layer it is permanent just like any other type of tattoo. This procedure must be done by a qualified and reputable technician and under hygienic conditions. Since it is a tattoo on your face, in a most delicate area, it can be painful, and requires a local or topical anesthetic to be applied or administered.

Why have your eyebrows tattooed?

The wonderful thing about eyebrow tattooing is that it can correct flawed eyebrows, shape brows that are not to your liking, make absent or hairless brow areas appear to have hair, and accentuate the eyes and face, and with little effort an eyebrow tattoo puts an end to having to draw on eyebrows each day. It’s also possible to sleep and work and swim and awaken or come out of the water with perfect brows.

Reasons not to get eyebrow tattoos

Some concerns about the cosmetic tattooing or permanent make up procedures is that it is relatively expensive, it may not turn out exactly as you hoped and the color fades over time requiring eyebrow tattoos to be retouched every few years. You can develop infection, though very rare, and may have scares if you do not go to a good technician or doctor.

You may end up with a shape that is unnatural or a color that is so dark you can’t hide them with makeup. You simply may not like your new brows and the only way to wipe them off is with laser surgery. Although most women, about 70% who have had the procedure, are very happy with the results, you must consider that 30% of them were not happy at all.

Additional Eyebrow Tattoo Considerations

When selecting a cosmetician, aesthetician, doctor, nurse or artist to do your delicate eyebrow tattoos consider if they will have the expertise to make your brow look natural by using a feathering technique and the correct color pigments that will match your own hair and skin tones.

It is important for you to understand the eyebrow tattoo procedure. It is not a quick eyebrow fix for a special occasion. It will take weeks for your brows to heal and for you to have the necessary touchups until they are exactly as you want them. They may fade and/or be too dark or too thick or too thin and may need to be fixed over a period of a month or two.

So do not plan on having your brows tattooed a week before summer vacation because you want to go swimming and not worry about make-up. And do not do it just before an important meeting or an event like your wedding.

It is important for you to select your technician or beauty specialist or doctor with care because the affects of permanent eyebrow tattoos are exactly that – permanent!

When amongst your clients are stars like Oprah, Naomi Campbell and Sharon Stone, naturally your work hits the pages of People, Elle and Vogue and draws the attention of the business world in magazines like Newsweek.

• Where did it all begin?
• What’s behind Anastasia’s success?

It’s quite simple. Anastasia found the secret to perfect eyebrows.

Stepping back…back to the early years in Romania…

Anastasia studied some unlikely subjects for a women who would end up in aesthetics and beauty, however it was exactly such knowledge of mathematics, engineering, art and architecture that brought her to regard things like the Fibonacci numbers and the anatomical structure of the body (as depicted by Leonardo Da Vinci), and the golden ratio concept which is a mathematical equation used by artists due to it’s aesthetic proportions, and use them to create a formula for flawless brows.

With the knowledge of anatomical structure added to her aesthetic studies, once Anastasia arrived in California, she used the golden ratio to create perfect eyebrow shapes, as well as a line of natural beauty products to compliment her exclusive techniques. Now, in her Beverly Hills salon (and another in Brentwood, California), she offers unique skincare and perfect eyebrow shaping to her celebrity clients, and also retails her innovative beauty products and stenciling kits through exclusive shops like Nordstrom and Sephora, not only in the US but also abroad.

Anastasia Eyebrows

Thanks to the Anastasia stencils, even if you can’t go to one of her salons, you can still have perfect eyebrows for your face shape. The set she offers has the basic five shapes designed to create an ideal outline for any facial structure. For example, if you have small features, the petite arch will be the one you’ll choose. For sparse eyebrows, or ones that are too thin, then the slim high arch stencil will be best.

The medium arch is just the thing for those who don’t want a dramatic brow, but prefer a soft look that’s close to the eyes with a low arch. The high arch stencil is for those who need to open their eyes by widening the space between the eye and the bottom of the brow. The last stencil, which is the full arch design, is specific for ladies with larger features and a fuller shaped face.

With her product line including kits like Perfect Brows, Great Lashes, for just $35, you can have Anastasia’s secret Brow Definer, Brow Duality and Lash Lifting Mascara to create your own perfect eyebrows (and eyes). Even if you’re not a star, you can look like one, using the duality pencil for filling and defining, the brow gel to set everything in place, and the volumizing mascara to finish off the look.

Before we continue to show you the Anastasia Eyebrows techniques, and more of her beauty products, we hope you’ll enjoy viewing the story of how this remarkable woman achieved success.

Here’s the Story of Anastasia Soare Part One and Two:

As a prelude to more information, here’s a glimpse at what Anastasia does in her Beverly Hills Salon:

The Secret To The Perfect Eyebrow Arch

Symmetry is the key, and according to the Anastasia eyebrows laws, the ideal situation of the arch will be found by taking a pencil and holding it to the tip of the nose, and where the pencil rests on the brow is where the arch should be. We can see an example of using this technique on Oprah Winfrey herself, when Anastasia appeared on the show. Yes, Oprah is a fan of Anastasia and one of her clients. But not only celebrity eyebrows get the royal Beverly Hills treatment. According to O Magazine, several ladies received perfect shaped eyebrows by Anastasia during the 2003 Oprah Eyebrow Experiment, which is still available to view online in the February archives at Oprah . com.

Why do we specifically mention an event for getting the perfect eyebrow shape that happened over 7 years ago? To highlight that well-shaped brows are classic and timeless, not a faddish trend. If you look at the before and after pictures of the women who seven years ago received an eyebrow makeover, it could just as easily have been yesterday – the brow shapes are proportioned to the women’s faces not to a time period or makeup trend.

How To Make Perfect Eyebrows At Home

Anastasia doesn’t suggest that’s it a good idea to wax your brow at home, not because waxing isn’t a good technique, but because it’s very difficult to do by yourself. Naturally we agree that if you don’t have a good shape to begin with and don’t know much about waxing, then you should stick with eyebrow tweezers and a good mirror, along with an Anastasia stencil.

Step 1: Choose the stencil
Step 2: Using your eyebrow tweezers, pluck out the hairs that are outside of the stencil. Very simple.
Step 3: Apply After Tweeze Cream
Step 4: An angled eyebrow brush, which is provided in some of the kits, is then used to apply the powder duo to fill-in and contour.
Step 5: eyebrow gel can now be used to hold the brow in place.
Step 6: highlight the brow bone lightly and blend.

Eyebrow Products And Tools

The perfect eyebrow shaping tools are those that simplify the task. You need:

1. Tweezers
2. Scissors
3. Stencils
4. something to carry them in

Those are the tools and Anastasia eyebrows offers the top of the line kit with exactly those essentials for $45.

You can add some other tools and products, like angled brushes, a comb, some soft mascara-type brushes, a pencil sharpener, pencils, powders, eyebrow gel, post and pre tweeze gel, and brow bone highlighter.

If you want a more comprehensive styling kit that has tools and the products, then you’ll love Seven-Element Brow Kit which has the essential stencils, eyebrow tweezers, after tweeze cream, brow powder duo, clear brow gel, a pencil for highlighting, and an angled brush, all inside a neat little carrying case that keeps your tools organized. Choose your best brow color for the kit:

1. golden blonde
2. ashe blonde
3. medium ash
4. brunette
5. strawburn

For more information on other Eyebrow Makeup Products please view related posts. Get suggestions for Eyebrow Shaping With Eyebrow Gel in another article we offer in the series, and also make use of the suggestions found in Eye Makeup Tips, Eyebrow Pencil and Eyebrow Waxing.

We have a wealth of information on the perfect eyebrow shapes that are created with pigments instead of makeup – such as the Semi Permanent Make Up procedures offered in the UK, and the same basic techniques employed in what’s called cosmetic tattooing and micropigmentation in the US.

We leave you with the latest video by Anastasia Beverly Hills – Illumin8 Eye Shadow – Makeup That Works Like Skincare:

The best eyebrow gel on the market will not flake or clump, just hold your brow hair in place, and maybe also add a touch of color, as an alternative to an eyebrow pencil. It should tint your brows a natural color, which is why the Anastasia series may be right for you if you’re blonde or light brunette.

Ladies with light blonde hair will appreciate the eyebrow tint gel formulations, perhaps even the product made by Talika that has fibers to give a natural bit of fullness and little brown color.

The Talika light brown formula is ideal for blonds and those with naturally light hair. It costs about $35. If you have full, thick, or even bushy black or dark brown brows, the clear eyebrow gel will help with control and you probably won’t require a tinted or colored base, perhaps something like what Eyebrowz offers, and cost only about $6 a tube.

Isadora eyebrow gel is great for choosing a tint that suits you. The series called Color & Shape is a formulation that comes in 4 colors (soft black, soft dark brown, soft brown and soft cashmere), plus clear, and can be used on both fine or thick brows. It’s great because it’s fast drying and can be combed through the brow hair to leave a lustrous touch of color that doesn’t appear penciled or clumped onto the skin, it just sticks to the hair. It’s also a good choice because it doesn’t contain fragrances to irritate sensitive skin.

Colored eyebrow gel comes in some unusual forms, such as the combos offered by Revlon in the Brow Fantasy set, which includes a pencil to shape and define, even fill-in sparse areas, and a clear gel that sets and holds the brow color and shape in place. It costs about $7.50 for the duo and retails everywhere. Other eyebrow gels that are a little more expensive are the Diorshow Tinted Brow Gel by Dior for $17.50, and for the same price the Dior Backstage series of tinted gels that have a shimmer or highlight effect. Another is Laura Geller styling tools that are sold as a duo with tint and gel for just over $21, and the Paula Dorf products that are also a tinted gel for just under $20, but is hypoallergenic and not tested on our animal friends.

Products used just for styling eyebrows, which do not offer any color, are the clear items like Tweezerman BrowMousse, which is all natural and very affordable, costing between $8 and $10 depending where you shop.

How To Shape Eyebrows

The total length of your brow, no matter if it’s thick or thin, dark or light, arched a little or a lot, should be just a teeny bit longer than the length of your eye – from the inner edge that meets your nose to the outermost corner and extending just a little past the longest lash. This can be determined by holding an eyebrow pencil from the inner eye upward and then from the outer edge just a little past the lashes. Your brow hair should not extend onto the nose neither should the tip extend onto your temples.

Where should the arch be? The highest point of your brow should be directly above the iris. The iris is the part of your eye that has color, but in the case of someone with black or very dark eyes, the central point will be easiest to find by following the pupil upward. Again, hold a brow pencil in front of the center of your eye and mark a point above the iris or pupil.

Decide how thick a brow you would like and follow the natural line. Tweeze out the hairs that are out of the determined area. When tweezing, you should always pull the unwanted hairs in the direction that they are growing to get a clean extraction from the root.

Many people believe that the upper edge, along the forehead, should not be tweezed. However, when you see the gorgeous eyebrows of Asian women you may wonder how it is that they have a perfect line above the brow. That is because they tweeze or thread the fine hairs in that area, and therefore Western women should take note of this and do likewise. However, only tweeze the hairs that are not part of the thickest brow area to create a smooth line. What we mean is that the shape of the arch and the brow itself will be achieved from the bottom, tweezing the upper area is only to remove stragglers and fine baby hair to make a crisp upper line.

While you’re shaping the brow with tweezers, pluck individual hairs one by one or two or three at a time, but not big clumps that may leave a large hole in the brow if you should have misjudged where they originated or how they affect the shape. Tweeze slowly, pressing with your finger after you’ve plucked to ease the sting and to have a look at the shape you’re creating.

If you don’t trust yourself to determine your best brow shape, then do one of two things:

1. go to an eyebrow waxing salon and have your brows shaped professionally. This is recommended to get the FIRST shape if you have never done it, or if the brow is natural after months or years without tweezing. If you want to do it at home, then go to our post on Eyebrow Waxing to find out what you need and follow the detailed instructions.

2. choose an eyebrow stencil kit that has a variety of shapes. Place them on the natural brow and see which looks best. If you have very dark brows, use some white eye shadow or highlighter, and tweeze around, if you have blonde brow hair, you may find it easiest to color in the brow shape using a stencil and then pluck away the hair that isn’t darkened, especially the fine baby hairs that blonde ladies often have that are not very obvious but affect the smoothness of the brow line.

Eyebrow stencils like the Sephora Arch It Brow Kit, which costs $35, will give you everything you need: stencils, tweezers, brow brush, a colored powder compact and eyebrow gel.

If you have light brows, it’s good to get an eyebrow tint before the shaping. If you go to a professional salon that does waxing and tinting this will be automatic. If you’re doing it yourself, then get an eyebrow dye or tinting kit and do that first. Then shape them. By the way, if you aren’t familiar with how to tint brows, then read this carefully:

1. do not ever use hair color or hair dyes to tint brows.
2. if you need instructions and a full kit, then try the Godefroy eyebrow tint and shape kit that has stencils, dye and all you need to shape and color your brows. The kits cost between $12 and $14.

3. if you want to use something similar to what the professionals use, then get the Godfrey capsule colors and developer and mix your own. You’ll need a small brush (an old mascara brush works well), gloves, plastic mixing cups, wooden sticks for stirring and some diluted cosmetic peroxide to clean up the area if the color gets onto the skin. This is a long-lasting formulation that will tint your brows for about a month. Talika also offers a great tinting and shaping kit.

4. maintain the color with tinted eyebrow gel and keep small hairs plucked by tweezing once a week. Don’t over tweeze the main brow so that it becomes too thin, but do remove the fine hairs or stragglers regularly to keep a smooth look.


Moisturize the eyes and brow area daily. Conditioning eyebrow products that really work are products like the Talika Liposourcils, which help to restore strength and vitality and make hair grow stronger in about 28 days. Although it can take a few months to get healthy brows, the Talika series of eyebrow products do offer effective growth and restoration.



Talika is not your average French cosmetics company but a brand started by Dr. Danielle Roches while working on ophthalmology in the Hôpitaux de Paris.

What began as a natural cream to aid facial burn victims resulted in also finding a solution to re-growing facial hair using the same miraculous lipocils.



A tube of Talika Liposourcils eyebrow conditioning gel is not cheap at $40 for 10ml (.35 ounce) , but the plant extract used in this product has been tested and proven effective in stimulating growth and in making brow hair become healthier, thicker and stronger. It’s recommended to use twice a day for 28 days, and then maintain with an application once a day. It’s a natural product that does not cause irritation and is said to be safe for sensitive skin types.



Related eyebrow and lash products are also available, such as Talika’s Eyelash Renewal Kit, which costs between $58 and $68, and promises that in 28 days you can have stronger and healthier lashes. The kit includes an instant volumizing lash extender and conditioning gel.



Want to know how you can enhance your brows with an Eyebrow Tattoo instead of makeup? Then please read our numerous related posts, where we show alternatives such as Semi Permanent Make Up (as it’s often called in the UK), and Permanent Cosmetic Tattooing and Micropigmentation, with detailed information on the main forms of cosmetic tattoo, including eyeliner and Lip Tattoo procedures.



We provide are a variety of free beauty articles that deal with different cosmetic tattooing and make up techniques, both permanent and temporary. For example we offer tips on how to use Eyebrow Makeup to achieve your Perfect Eyebrows by using stencils and Eyebrow Waxing. We also deal with Facial Hair removal, give Eye Makeup Tips and review which are the best Eyebrow Pencil brands.

]]> http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/styling-and-shaping-with-eyebrow-gel/feed/ 0 http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/semi-permanent-make-up-versus-micropigmentation-permanent-cosmetic-tattoo-procedures/ http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/semi-permanent-make-up-versus-micropigmentation-permanent-cosmetic-tattoo-procedures/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:17:24 +0000 admin http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/?p=386 Semi permanent make up UK professionals like Louise Walsh, and Tracie Giles International, founder of the London Permanent Makeup Centre, offer unique make up treatments by qualified technicians to enhance women’s appearance with brow, eyeliner and lip liner treatments that promise ladies a relief from everyday cosmetic application. But the question is: what exactly do they offer? Is semi permanent make up and micropigmentation, and what many call permanent cosmetic tattooing, the same thing?


While there is no such thing as a “temporary tattoo” if a needle is used to insert pigment under the skin at any depth (unless it is the fun stick-on variety), when it comes to permanent makeup, cosmetic tattoo procedures, micropigmentation and semi permanent eyebrow make up, eyeliner and lip color, there are some variations that need to be understood before undergoing a cosmetic procedure of this kind.

Some of the confusion between treatments and terminology is due more to country and language differences than with the procedures themselves or the end results.



If you are in the UK, it will be very common to hear the term semi-permanent make-up, while in the United States you will likely see the terms permanent makeup, cosmetic tattooing, even dermagraphics or derma graphics. However, in both the UK and the US, you’ll find the term micropigmentation. The discrepancies are primarily linguistic, and the procedures are essentially the same, but aside from the perceptual connotations (where in the UK the emphasis is placed on the fading nature of the pigment versus their potential permanent nature stressed in the US), there are slight technical differences:

1. depth of pigmentation deposited under the skin
2. when and if touch-ups of pigment are applied


In both cases, when micropigmentation is involved, the state-of-the-art machines are identical, equipped with a single-use needle which breaks the skin and deposits pigment. In some cases where the term SEMI permanent make up is used, the pigment is deposited into the epidermis, and may be very light, therefore subject to fading much faster than a tattoo procedure that deposits the pigment deeper, and may be a darker or stronger color, therefore less susceptible to the natural fading process.

In both cases the skin is broken, pigment is deposited and the effects are “permanent” although subject to eventual fading, yet leaving traces of pigment under the skin, more or less visible, for X period of time or even forever.

Due to the fading, in both cases (from sun, wind, chlorinated water, sea salt, air and even facial cleansers), and the way in which each body reacts to the pigment, touch-ups are required either to maintain, enhance or make the makeup more permanent.



When it comes to those seeking PERMANENT cosmetics, a second or third micropigmentation procedure can be performed very soon after the initial one, almost immediately after the area has healed. A second or third procedure can set the pigment into the skin in such a way that fading will take 5 or more years (in some cases women have eyeliner that remains visible for 7 to 10 years), and therefore the procedure is considered permanent. Why? Because the pigment, although not so bright as when initially done, will remain in the skin indefinitely.

In the UK, it’s common to have a semi permanent procedure that’s done only ONCE (without immediate touch-ups) and therefore it seems less permanent. It is common for women in the UK to get eyeliner, lip liner or eyebrow tattoo touch-ups about a year and a half after the initial procedure, because by that time the light epidermal pigmentation has faded substantially, and to maintain the rich color, a second application is necessary. A year or two after that, another application may be done, which is why the industry in the UK has chosen to emphasized it’s less than permanent nature, since it requires touch-ups to make it permanently visible. But that is also true of the cosmetic tattooing procedures in the US, just that the second procedures are usually done within a month or two of the initial application and therefore fading takes a longer period of time and the permanent nature of the makeup is stressed.

Let’s be clear. If the skin is broken and pigment is injected with a needle it’s a form of tattoo, be it light or dark, deeply penetrated or lightly planted in the epidermis, retouched or not retouched.



The only true semi permanent makeup will be treatments that tint the skin. These types of makeup will wear off in the natural course of the skin’s renewal process, which takes about a month. These may be eyeliner tinting procedures that last a few weeks or a month, henna eyebrow shading, lash tinting and even lip blushes that are done superficially and do not, at any point, break the skin of the patient. They may be offered at beauty salons in conjunction with facials, eyebrow waxing or shaping procedures or even where professional artists do bridal makeup and offer photographic sessions. These services, although necessitating artistic skill, do not require the expertise of a technician who is qualified to use high-tech equipment with needles, offer anesthetic to numb pain, take into account a patient’s medical history, or implant pigment under the skin in the sensitive areas like the eyes, the lips and the brow.



How long will Louise Walsh semi permanent make up last?

1. Louise Walsh states that her brows, lipliner, full lip color, and “smudgeproof eyeliner” will last up to 5 years. She offers a touch-up session after a month of the initial one.

How long will the procedures offered by Tracie Giles last?

2. Tracie Giles states that her procedures can last many years and she offers some reasons why an exact time is not given. Factors that determine the longevity of the permanent or semi permanent procedures, and how quickly the color fades, are your skin type and how much expose to the elements your face receives. However, Tracie Giles, as most other micropigmentation specialists in the UK, recommends refreshing or retouching the area once a year or once every year and a half.

We invite you to watch: Tracie Giles Q&A’s on Semi Permanent Make Up – Part 1

Tracie Giles Q&A’s on Semi Permanent Make Up – Part 2

Professional Technicians and Semi Permanent Make Up Training UK



One of the top training centers in the UK is the Finishing Touches Semi Permanent Make Up Training School and Supply Company. They are located in Haywards Heath and on Harley Street and naturally offer procedures to clients and training to those who wish to learn. Their micropigmentation technicians are certified in the UK at the national NVQ 4 standard, and their technicians undergo a testing/assessment system that is very thorough.



If you’re looking for training, or searching for an expert i to have semi permanant make up done, but you’re not situated near Finishing Touches, or where either Louise Walsh or Tracie Giles offer services, then you can get a list of specific technicians, who are highly recommended, by going to the Finishing Touches “Find Technicians” tab and there you’ll find professionals listed by county. For example:


1. semi permanent make up Essex – Claire Smith is a certified graduate of Finishing Touches Training Center who now operates from her clinic in Brentwood, Essex.

2. semi permanent make up Hampshire – Catrina Valentine is a trained cosmetic tattoo technician who works from Botley, Hampshire. Also, Lydia and Andrew Smith provide cosmetic tattoo make up from a company named Call of Beauty in Romsey, Hampshire.

3. semi permanent make up Kent – in the County of Kent, choose your most suitable technician from a list of professionals in Ashford, Beckenham, Canterbury, Gravesend, Tenterden, Tunbridge Wells, Westgate-On-Sea, and Whitstable. However, Hazel Everest is a professional who offers both medical and cosmetic tattooing services through Abbey Lodge Health and Beauty at several centers: (a) Beckley, East Sussex, (b) Tunbridge Wells, Kent, (c) Tenterden, Kent, (d) Ashford, Kent.

4. semi permanent make up Surrey – Belinda Hayle offers expert permanent makeup services in Surrey and several other locations. Her clinic offers cosmetic tattooing, eyelash extensions, permanent makeup, corrective reconstruction of the areola, and scar camouflage amongst other things for which she had received national media attention in Vogue and Surrey Health and Beauty.

5. semi permanent make up East Sussex – permanent makeup specialist Nerissa Martin offers lip tattoo, eyeliner and eyebrow tattoo procedures from a salon/clinic called Bright on Beauty, located in Brighton, East Sussex.


A clinic, a beauty or waxing salon, centers that offer permanent electrolysis and places that specialize in beauty treatments such as microdermabrasion, natural eyelash extensions, eyelash tinting and other cosmetic enhancements, often offer eyebrow tattoo micropigmentation services and permanent cosmetic procedures for the face and body. There are plastic surgery clinics that also provide micro pigmentation after certain types of reconstructive surgery.



Genuine semi permanent eyebrow make up, lip liners and eyeliners that last longer than a day but less than a year (in fact less than a month) are not very common, and beauty centers that offer such services are not readily found. We continue to investigate if there are practical options that use organic dyes to tint the skin as an alternative to the tattooing methods we’ve been discussing.



Although there are long-lasting makeup products that last 24 hours or a little more, we can’t find any solution that’s better, when it comes to lips, than what Tracie Giles offers and is called the Lip Blush or Lip Tint treatment.



These treatments are rejuvenating and not just about adding a lip line in the form of a tattoo around the mouth. In fact the system is designed to add soft shading to the entire lip as well as a contour and a volumizer. It’s very natural looking, achieved only after assessing how to improve each individual patient’s lips. The border is added with the machine that can give shape or enhance the natural form, then they are filled with a feathering blush, and made fuller and poutier. The lip enhancing procedures start at about £400, are considered safe and hygienic, performed in a clinic, and the results are astounding. It’s silly to search for a “less permanent” procedure when what Tracie Giles’ clinics offer is so affordable, natural-looking and last over a year (or several years depending on touch-ups).



For more information on permanent cosmetic tattoo procedures in the US, especially for those considering an eyebrow tattoo, please see related posts.

We offer information on Eyebrow Tattoo Removal, and Potential Problems With Eyebrow Tattoos as well as Eyebrow Pencil suggestions for the ladies who have opted not to have permanent makeup.

Need to know how to do Eyebrow Waxing?

Need recommendations regarding Facial Hair Removal?



We have posts dealing with this subjects as well. There are also Eye Makeup Tips for those who wish to create natural looks with shadows and soft liners that are not permanent.

The art of the cosmetic Lip Tattoo is addressed at length in the post titled A Guide To Lip Micropigmentation, which discusses what the procedure entails and even potential problems that may arise and suggestions for successful aftercare.



If you’re a professional cosmetician, micro pigmentation technician, permanent or semi permanent make up specialist or a medical expert in areas that pertain to microdermabrasion or reconstructive techniques, we welcome your impute and suggestions.

If you’d like your clinic or services featured in one of our posts, please feel free to send us information on what you offer and we’ll be delighted to do a review and consider recommending you to our readers.



Those who have had cosmetic makeup procedures are encouraged to write to us tell us about personal experiences, and we welcome permanent makeup before and after pictures if you wish to include them.

We welcome questions pertaining to related issues such as eyelash extensions, eyelash tinting, permanent mascara or other unique beauty treatments.



*Note: We strongly suggest that everyone interested in permanent makeup get acquainted with the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals, the American Academy of Micropigmentation and the International Micropigmentation Association.

]]> http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/semi-permanent-make-up-versus-micropigmentation-permanent-cosmetic-tattoo-procedures/feed/ 0 http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/how-to-apply-eyebrow-makeup/ http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/how-to-apply-eyebrow-makeup/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 15:57:19 +0000 admin http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/?p=340 Kim Kardashian eyebrow makeup and glamorous looks by Hollywood makeup artists (Mario Dedivanovic and others) are a combination of several product lines and the artist’s talent, not to mention the natural beauty of Kim, who, as we’ve seen on the cover of Life & Style Magazine, can go without any makeup at all.

When Kim Kardashian is glammed up, one of her makeup artist’s has told interviewers some of the products he likes to use are the Ardell false eyelashes and sometimes the MAC ones when he needs individual pieces. He also uses some items from the Smashbox line of cosmetics, especially concealer, and his own invention called Eye M Glam through the Giella line (which we can’t seem to find online any longer).



When asked about getting makeup to last longer, the professional Hollywood makeup artist said what many of us know – powder keeps everything where it aught to be. Setting the overall look with a powder finish and then using a fine mist spray is always a good tip.

Makeup For Eyebrows

When it comes to the brows, it depends which Kim we’re talking about: the exotic dark brow gal or the sexy blond lady from 2009. Let’s look at the lighter brow choice first. Kin says that she began using the Anastasia Beverly Hills eyebrow makeup from Sephora when she went blond.



The best eyebrow makeup that Anastasia makes is sold through several online shops if you’d like to buy it. For example you can shop at Amazon, Nordstrom, or directly from Sephora, and find the complete eyebrow pencil makeup kit that includes stencils, pre-tweeze brow gel, eyebrow filler powder, a matte eyebrow pencil called Eye Light, and a tube of eyebrow gel to set the finished look. (By the way, the Anastasia line of cosmetics is cruelty free.) The complete kit costs about $85, but you can buy the individual items like the duo eyebrow pencil and gel set for just $22, or the famous Perfect Brow Pencil (by Anastasia) for the same price. All the compacts with duo powder colors are also available for $22 and you can choose dual colors that have a combination of Brunette, Medium Ash or Ash Blond.




When asked about what Kim uses to shape and define her darker natural brows, Kim told interviewers that she uses the walnut colored eyeshadow made by MAC. She uses the powder to fill-in with some color and then the eyebrow pencil to define and shape.

Each of the latest MAC eyebrow makeup items cost just $15, whether you choose the Impeccable Brow Pencil, the Penultimate Brow Marker, the Eye Brows self sharpening brow definer, the eyebrow gel called Brow Set, or the Brow Finisher which is a wax tool for the final grooming procedure.

Before Shaping Brows Or Putting On Makeup…1…2…3…



No matter what you do to your brows or how you apply your makeup, the first priority is to have beautiful radiant skin.



To keep your skin fresh and healthy, one of the products Kim Kardashian endorses is the PerfectSkin line of cleansers. In fact, more than just cleansers, the PerfectSkin treatment is about nourishing the skin with vitamins and antioxidants in a 3 step formulation that offers a cleanser, balancing toner and moisturizer, with little extras like a repairing mask and an eye cream, sold in a kit for just $39.90 through the makers of PerfcetSkin.

Now you’re ready to learn how to do eyebrow makeup…



You have fresh, clean and well moisturized skin. You’ve got your eyebrow makeup supplies for shaping, drawing, filling-in and setting the brow. You have a brow comb, a mirror, your perfect colors, eye shadows or brow powders in the right shade for your hair color, a perfect brow pencil, and a tube of eyebrow gel. You may also need some tweezers, a stencil or just your own beautiful natural shape. Let’s get to work:

1. If you have not already shaped your brows using a stencil that works with your face shape, do so now. Tweeze the small hairs and leave a smooth upper and lower eyebrow edge. For instructions on how to tweeze and create the perfect brow go to the post called Eyebrow Gel to learn how.

2. Your shape is done. Now set up your vanity table with all the things you’ll need:
3. Two or three shades of eyebrow powder (or the shadows you prefer) in different tones. If you have dark brows, use two shades that are lighter and if you have blonde ones, then use two colors that are just a couple degrees darker.

4. Choose a very sharp pencil to add some feathered-type strokes in the brow, lightly and not too dramatic – brush as though you were drawing a feather line where the tip vanishes.

5. Now take a brush and add some of the lighter color, again, light strokes. Blend into the hair. Don’t rub into the skin. Drag the brush outward to create a line to the outer edge.

6. Add a darker shadow or eyebrow makeup powder to give darker defining points, always working from the outer edge and proceed toward the eye/nose area. Use powder to enhance the thickness and brush against the way the hair grows to give volume, if the brow is thin. Now take a brush and stroke up and out, the way the brow should naturally be growing. You can use a brow comb or a mascara brush (very clean) and blend the colors.

7. You can create the illusion of larger eyes that are open and bright if you give just a little more space between brow and eye – and if you darken the upper part, above the iris, a little more, making it full, the difference will be more pronounced.

8. one way to add color is to lightly tap and stroke the color along the well-formed arch. Leave the edge somewhat wispy but do not go too far beyond the eye. Even dramatic makeup does not require a long wispy tail. Save the long tails for Japanese and Chinese opera singers.
9. Do not choose too dark a color as the base if you are blonde, and if you’re a brunette, go a shade or two lighter than your natural hair color. If you’re blond, it’s good to use a variety of shades to get a natural color effect because blonds seldom have only one color of hair throughout. Don’t just choose a brown and draw a line and brush a little, because it will look fake. Fluff the hairs and dust them with a slightly darker shade and then accent with highlighting tones and brush out to smoothen the hairs, then set with gel.


Is there waterproof eyebrow makeup?

Yes. Even if you don’t go the permanent eyebrow makeup route, such as getting a cosmetic tattoo (which is waterproof) you can have brows that stay on by using the professional formula sold through Sephora by Makeup Forever called Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector which comes in a tube. It’s actually a cream that can be used to define the brow shape, fill sparse areas and keep color true even when exposed to conditions that normally would cause make up to run, such as intense heat, perspiration, and water itself. It comes in four colors and costs about $19 a tube.



Although waterproof eyebrow makeup is a form of long-lasting brow enhancement, it is not what people in the UK call semi permanent eyebrow makeup. Semi permanent and permanent eyebrow makeup is in fact a form of micropigmentation which is like getting a tattoo – a cosmetic procedure that requires some forethought since the pigments are deposited into the skin and therefore remain there for an indefinite period of time, including forever. For more information on how to get eyebrow semi permanent makeup done in the UK or details regarding cosmetic tattoo procedures in the US, please refer to the related posts titled: Semi Permanent Make Up Versus Micropigmentation / Permanent Cosmetic Tattoo Procedures, and the article called: Cosmetic Lip Tattoo Procedures – A Guide To Lip Micropigmentation, for information on other types of permanent facial tattooing procedures.



If we haven’t answered your specific beauty related question in this post, please see one of our other topics, including Eye Makeup tips and suggestions on Eyebrow Waxing and Facial Hair Removal using home depilatory equipment.

If you need more detailed information on Eyebrow Gel products available and even where to get the best Eyebrow Pencils, please read the suggestions in our numerous free information guides.

We leave you today with a special treat: a visit to Anastasia Beverly Hills with Kim Kardashian where she gets her blonde brows done by Anastasia herself! Enjoy!

And here are some bonus videos to watch: The series with Hollywood makeup artist Stephen Moleski called: Kim Kardashian Herself Makeup Tutorial.
Here are parts ONE through Four:

]]> http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/how-to-apply-eyebrow-makeup/feed/ 0 http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/cosmetic-lip-tattoo-procedures-%e2%80%93-a-guide-to-lip-micropigmentation/ http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/cosmetic-lip-tattoo-procedures-%e2%80%93-a-guide-to-lip-micropigmentation/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:09:30 +0000 admin http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/?p=287 The American Academy of Micropigmentation, headed by Dr. Dixon, offers advice on lip micropigmentation, commonly known as a cosmetic lip tattoo, and is one of the primary sources for information on facial pigment tattoo procedures, how to take precautions against lip infection, common allergic reactions, and how to promote lip tattoo healing. The American Academy of Micropigmentation and The Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals, headed by Rose Ann Cloud, are the sources for permanent makeup and cosmetic tattooing information for women who wish to investigate a procedure and for professionals who wish to become certified in the field.


*Note: The information in this post is NOT about decorative inner lip tattooing procedures, but about a form of permanent makeup using lip pigment coloring for a natural-looking enhancement – like lip liner. The information contained herein does not replace advice from medical professionals or members of the Academy of Micropigmentation or the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals, or from certified technicians, but offers a beginner’s guide to help those unfamiliar with permanent make up tattooing procedures.



Common Permanent Makeup Concerns

One of the most common questions asked by women in the United States, who are contemplating permanent makeup procedures, pertains to lip infection and allergic reactions. In part this questions arises frequently because of a highly publicized problem a few years ago with a product called Premier Pigments True Color Concentrates.



To clarify the situation, Sandi Hammons, the founder of Premier Pigments, voluntarily recalled that particular line of permanent makeup pigmentation, despite the fact that the product was known to cause a reaction in a very minute segment of the women who had received a lip tattoo using that cosmetic tattooing concentrate. However, since it has been removed from use, and most professional micropigmentation specialists use both inorganic and organic pigments that are tried and tested within the industry, the risk of an allergic reaction is quite small. (There is no such thing as government approved or FDA tested tattoo pigments, but the industry itself takes great pride in being extremely conscientious, offering patients the best quality pigments available on the market. Consider that the science of creating tattoo pigmentation is not new but rather an age-old art that began long before there were regulatory bodies for product control.)



Nevertheless, anyone undergoing any type of cosmetic tattoo procedure runs some risk, and there are times when cosmetic tattooing is contraindicated, such as for those who take certain medications like blood thinners or those who may suffer from hay fever and regularly take antihistamine prescriptions. Also those who are on beta blockers for blood pressure and have severe dry eyes may find that eyeliner procedures are not advisable. Those who are diabetic must also be aware of the potential risk of infection and may find that healing is delayed. Anyone on painkillers or any form of narcotic medication should consider the increased risks of having a cosmetic procedure. Those who use valium, or other tranquilizers, may also have an adverse pigmentation reaction with melanin in their skin.



It may be wise to consult a physician regarding the possible effects on color alteration of pigmentation if a women is on any hormone replacement therapy. Also, certain antibiotics, like tetracycline, which induce skin sensitivity, may be contraindicated prior to a procedure. Likewise some arthritis medications may cause adverse reactions.

Problems With Lip Tattoo Aftercare Ointments



There may be risks, as Dr. Dixon states, from an allergic reaction caused by the aftercare ointment or product that is applied immediately following the procedure, such as Bacitracin. However, a none medical expert may not be able to distinguish the difference between a temporary reaction to an ointment and a sever allergic reaction to the pigmentation that could develop long after the tattooing is completed.



If a woman, who is contemplating having a cosmetic tattoo procedure, knows she is not a risky candidate, is not on any medication, is generally healthy, has been assured that her professional and experienced technician is using lip pigments that are safe, then the last concern will be about the ointment or soothing aftercare lotion that will be applied. If a patient would prefer that Bacitracin not be used, this option should be discussed in advance with the professional cosmetic micropigmentation specialist to see if a product like A&D might not be better. Although A&D does not contain an antibiotic (just vitamins), it does offer the moisture necessary to aid the area from drying or peeling excessively, and also protects the newly tattooed skin from foreign elements like small particles of dirt and bacteria. You may also choose to use a product like Tattoo Goo or Tattoo Lube or just a simple formulation made from natural Aloe Vera gel. Remember that extreme complications and severe allergic reactions are rare. The vast majority of professional permanent makeup procedures, done in hygienic conditions with trained technicians who use quality machines and single-use needles, are successful.



Getting Specific: What is a Cosmetic Lip Tattoo?



As stated above, this is not about inner lip tattoo designs, but about a cosmetic procedure that injects pigment into the skin to accent, outline or fill-in the lips with a color. The most common procedure is the tattoo lip liner, which simply adds a bit of color to outer edges of the lip. Often ladies find that this is all that’s required to eliminate having to use liners and lipsticks, and with just a touch of gloss the lips look finished. Some women choose to have a blush added all over the lip, others use a dark fill, others a blended feathered look that gives a natural softness to the entire area.

Why Choose A Permanent Lip Tattoo



It is said that a woman’s age shows up more around the mouth than the eyes because the lips tend to get less full over time. Also small cracks may begin to appear on the outer lip area and sometimes lipstick bleeds and looks less becoming. There are so many factors that cause lips to appear smaller and less luscious as ladies age, things like the natural changes in the body’s hormone balance, sun exposure, chapped lips, active lifestyles and even illness. Although tattooing a lip liner does not necessarily correct the effects of sun damage or aging, it can make the lips look fuller and therefore give the face a more youthful appearance overall. It can also define the mouth in a way that looks very natural, especially if soft pigments are chosen and an expert technician uses the right techniques so that the liner does not look tattooed. However, immediately after receiving the liner, a patient will notice that the line may be darker than desired. Will a lip tattoo fade? Yes. Within the first few weeks, as the area heals, the line will most certainly fade and look more natural.



Lip micropigmentation is a delicate procedure and due to the nature of the lip tissue and its reaction to pigments, a liner can appear very dark or very light during the healing process, so patience is required to see what the final result will be. In many cases, because permanent cosmetic specialists use great care not to apply TOO MUCH pigment, the results may be a tad too light once healing is complete. Therefore a second retouching application may be needed to add a bit more color. Most specialists offer the initial application and one touch-up for the initial price and that is usually all that’s required to get the desired results. Remember that it’s always better to have your technician err toward a lighter application, and have to add a little color later, than to have a permanent tattoo color that’s too dark.

Lip Tattoo Aftercare Suggestions



As with all permanent makeup procedures, the aftercare is very important. Since it’s normal for lips to feel dry and chapped, moisturizing is one the most essential aspect of the aftercare process. Sometimes there can be slight bruising, and some areas may look bluish, but this is not usually due to the pigmentation but an effect of the tattooing process and should go away during healing.

We’ve talked about fading and retouching, and about areas that may be too dark initially and fade over time, but…



How Long Does A Lip Tattoo Last?

Lip tattoos, like all permanent makeup applications, are considered “permanent”, however that does not mean they will retain their initial vibrant color or richness forever.



In general, lip permanent makeup tattoos stay looking great for 2 to 4 years, although some women say they last for as long as 5 years. The factors that will affect lip tattoo fading are sun, wind, salt and chlorine exposure, and how well the lips are moisturized. Ladies who swim in chlorinated pools or the sea on a regular basis, or those who ski and are exposed to cold, wind and other natural elements, and may frequently have chapped or dry lips, will find their tattoos don’t last as long, or stay as bright. A good sunscreen and regular application of moisturizers, which all women should do anyway, will not only prolong the life of the liner but will maintain more youthful looking lips overall. Nevertheless, no matter how great a job is done, lip tattoos fade over time, as do all tattoos and all permanent makeup applications.

The Actual Cosmetic Lip Tattoo Procedure

Kelly H. Kim, a certified microdermabrasion specialist, member of the ASPM association, a professional permanent makeup technician and a talented aesthetician (who works in Costa Mesa, California) offers her clients full lip color / lip liner procedures. She explains that this procedure is called by different names, such as dermagraphics, micropigment implantation and what we’ve already mentioned: micropigmentation.



The first question ladies often ask is: do lip tattoos hurt? The answer is yes, but not as much as you might think because a topical anesthetic is applied during the procedure. It might sting or pinch or feel irritated, even sore, but with a good anesthetic to numb the region isn’t what you would call really painful. (Naturally this depends on your tolerance, but in general qualified technicians make the procedure very comfortable.)

Although the eye area is delicate (and may seem more uncomfortable), the lip area is usually a bit more tender. Of the three procedures, eyebrow tattoo, eyeliner and lip liner, the lips are often considered the most sensitive.



Immediately following the tattoo procedure, there may be a stinging sensation, and later tightness and dryness, but it’s more uncomfortable than it is painful, and doesn’t last very long with proper aftercare and a good moisturizer. Dr Dixon also recommends that a cool pack can be used afterwards to help relive the stinging.

Getting A Lip Tattoo

If you want some great information, view the Permanent Makeup Tips by Dr. Dixon, which will help any lady deice if getting a lip tattoo, or other cosmetic proceedure, is right for her.

If you choose to get a lip tattoo, or an eyebrow tattoo or eyeliner, make sure to choose a trained, experiences technician or permanent makeup specialist, preferably someone certified by either The American Academy of Micropigmentation or The Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals (which also has an international division), and assure yourself of getting the quality care you deserve before, during and after your procedure.



Tracie Giles And The London Centre of Permanent Make

If you’re in the UK and want a great pair of lips, visit Tracie Giles, famous for using what is called the Blush System.

This is about lip contouring and adding a full, but soft, blush of color all over the lips using a special feathering and shading technique that’s natural and unique to each lady.

Some of the services that come with these lip enhancing procedures include lifting, defining, adding volume and even rejuvenating as well as giving them a permanent makeup outline and a filled-in glow of color. The cost of getting Tracie Giles to enhance your lips with luscious full color starts at around £400. Check into the many gorgeous pampering treatments and beauty enhancements offered by Tracie Giles and also The London Centre of Permanent Make, which is located at #1 Harley Street, London.



*Note: In Australia, visit the Sydney Permanent Makeup Center on Great North Road, Five Dock, New South Wales, where you’ll find certified technicians and experts in cosmetic tattooing who use the latest in lip liner and color blending techniques.



How Much Do Lip Tattoos Cost in the US?

Before getting too excited about having permanent makeup done, you may be asking: how much are lip tattoos? Can I afford this kind of luxury?

Although prices vary depending on your specialist and the area where you live, you should never go shopping for bargains when it comes to permanent cosmetic procedures.



Lip micropigmentation experts like Dr Dixon, and certified professionals she recommends, will charge between $700 to $1,000 depending on what is involved. For example a full color lip tattoo will cost around $770 if you consult the center that Dr Dixon runs in Oahu, Hawaii. Lip liner and shading is also about $700, and what is called an extension lip line costs about $100. These prices include up to 3 appointments which you will require for consultation, the procedure, and the touch-ups and aftercare to get the perfect look.



There are clinics that charge more, and those who offer procedures for less, and the key to determining what is the right price for you isn’t to hunt for the cheapest place with special offers online, but to go in person to the best, most experienced technicians and cosmetic tattoo professionals, in the most hygienic centers in your area and see for yourself what is offered.

Nancy LaTouche, a certified member of the Academy of Micropigmentation and the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professional’s, who now acts as a permanent makeup consultant, and recommends the services of Dr. Laura Reed, from Artistic Cosmetic Solutions in Garden Grove California, states that it’s wise to pay at least $400 to $600 for a procedure. The reasons are simple. How much a lip tattoos costs is related to the quality of the work offered. Cheaper prices may well mean what Nancy calls “substandard work”. (Thanks to Nancy and Artistic Cosmetic Solutions, we show you some images of her client’s lips after their micropigmentation procedures healed. Thanks Beautiful Ladies!)

To download a free booklet by Dr. Dixon called: Look Like Yourself…Only Better, follow this link:

http://www.wakeupwithmakeup.com/literature.htm



There are many centers that specialize in semi-permanent lip color and makeup, which makes some women ask: are lip tattoos permanent? and….

What About Semi Permanent Makeup?

Let’s clarify what we’re talking about in this post: Tattoos. And all tattoos use pigments or inks that are injected below the skin and become permanent. A tattoo will not wash off after a few weeks or months. They fade over time, but the outline will probably last a lifetime.



On the other hand, there are tinting methods (which DO NOT use tattoo technology) to color the skin in a semi-permanent fashion, but these techniques of makeup application do not break the skin to add the color, they are temporary treatments like dying your lashes or hair.

Are they a good means to test if a tattoo is right for you?



In general, they can give you an idea of what shape and color you would like, and also what it’s like to wake up with your make up already on, but tinting or semi permanent beauty enhancing treatments will never be able to give you a clear view of how a tattoo will react on your skin, how the pigments will interact with your natural melanin or skin undertones, or how well you will heal. The two procedures are totally different.



If you would appreciate more information about other permanent makeup and cosmetic tattoo procedures, such as Eyebrow Tattoo, please browse the series of related topics. We have a vast amount of information including article like: Eyebrow Tattooing – What The FDA and Doctors have to Say, and Potential Problems With Eyebrow Tattoos. We also discuss Eyebrow Tattoo Removal techniques that really work, such as the newest laser methods that break down the pigment particles without abrasion. We frankly present important information for every woman to consider who is contemplating a micropigmentation procedure in the article entitled: Permanent Makeup Is It Right For You?



For the ladies who decide against tattooed brows, and will stick with pencils, we offer some good advise on shopping for specific beauty items in the post called: What Happened To the Models Prefer Eyebrow Pencil?



Part of women’s beauty, weather permanent makeup is part of their life or not, is waxing. So we offer a Guide to Eyebrow Waxing and show what kits and supplies are available and provide a detailed description of the procedure so you can do it at home, or know what to expect from your aesthetician. There are also some other Facial Hair Removal tips offered in another related post that discusses depilatory systems on the market that are designed for delicate areas like the face.

Even if you have permanent eyeliner, eyebrows tattooed perfectly in place and gorgeous fully tattooed lips, you may still want some Eye Makeup Tips, especially how to use eye shadow to achieve natural looks with neutral and subtle shades that enhance your skin tone without looking artificial.

]]> http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/cosmetic-lip-tattoo-procedures-%e2%80%93-a-guide-to-lip-micropigmentation/feed/ 0 http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/what-happened-to-the-models-prefer-eyebrow-pencil/ http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/what-happened-to-the-models-prefer-eyebrow-pencil/#comments Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:11:25 +0000 admin http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/?p=265

The Models Prefer Automatic Eyebrow Pencil is no longer available under the brand name Models Prefer, but is now called the ybf Transforming Eyebrow Pencil Duo that’s sold through HSN. It may be a very little thing, but the perfect eyebrow pencil can make a huge difference to a busy woman’s day, and not being able to find the one that was exactly right can be frustrating. So, here are the details about this revolutionary product that has women finally happy with penciling in their brows.

Women Claim It’s Still The Best Eyebrow Pencil



First of all, the eyebrow pencils from ybf come in a set of two. Each has a dual end with one side being the pencil with your brow color and the other end being a brush. This is important because one of the problems of getting a natural looking brow is grooming the hairs and smoothing the color into the hairs. The second problem that this special duo ended pencil solves is that of drawing natural looking strokes onto areas with sparse hair. The color and shape of the pencil, to say nothing of the consistency that’s just soft enough to be manageable, allows the user to apply feathered strokes, which are shorter and softer than just a strong line like what happens when a regular pencil is used. What’s also great about this ybf pencil eyebrow creation tool is that the color itself is formulated to have a variety of color intensities and a range of shades by simply applying more or less pressure and thereby matching your natural color. It’s almost like a SMART pencil.



Stacey Schieffelin’s Fabulous Little Pencil

If you wonder who makes it and where you can learn more about this fabulous little pencil set, then look up Stacey Schieffelin, the Ford model and makeup expert who has founded ybfstacey, and has added to her line of products items that really work for busy women. She also has a booklet with some practical makeup application tips that you can download for free.

A Less Known Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil

It’s easy to go shopping and find the Maybelline Define-A-Brow Eyebrow Pencil and see it’s a funky design and has some great features. It’s a self-sharpening mechanical pencil with waterproof color that comes in natural shades to suite a wide range of hair colors and skin tones.



It can also be used in conjunction with brow gel to set and groom the eyebrows expertly. The brow comb at the end of the pencil isn’t very practical for anyone with very fine or sparse hairs and that is a huge drawback to this pencil design. Many ladies end up having to use an old mascara brush to groom their brows because a comb just isn’t fine enough to really brush fine blond or soft brow hair. So, although the Maybelline color selection is great, and it’s a waterproof eyebrow pencil, it’s not a total winner due to the less than effective brush tip.



Compare another less well-known line of cosmetics called Pür Minerals®.

They also have a very funky design with pencils in almandine, coco, golden and natural shades that are all waterproof, but the brush at the end of the pencil is perfect for grooming. Have a closer look.



It’s also affordable retiling for just $17. The Purminerals products can be bought easily online at Zappos and other trusted cosmetic retailers. We suggest giving it a try coloring your brows is not just about color, but shape and grooming. Use the brush to eliminate traces of face powder that sometimes get caught in brow hairs, and use it also to blend more than one shade of color. If you have an auburn eyebrow pencil and a slightly darker one, you may want to belnd the shades to achieve a natural multi-color effect. Remember that hair is seldom all one color, be it on our heads or on our face. Natural strokes, lightly feathered, two or three colors blended and a good brush can make all the difference between having fake looking brows or natural ones.



Grey Eyebrow Pencil For Men

Although most colored pencils for brows are used by the ladies, some men use a grey eyebrow pencil to define their brows and use a small brush to groom them. One of the best is the item called Monsieur Brow Definer Pencil by Jean Paul Gaultier, with the grooming brushes separate. These are masculine cosmetics and are harder than the ones used by the ladies. They can be used to add a little color to an otherwise full brow, or to slightly darken light grey hair on the brow of gentlemen. The grooming brushes are not feminine and are very practical in simple black tubes.

Eye and Eyebrow Tips – Coloring and Shaping with Powder or Tattoo Ink



If you are looking for eye makeup tips that include how to achieve a natural looking brow using stencil and powder kits, or if you need ideas on how to define your eyes by eyebrow waxing techniques that shape and bring out your best features, or if you are seeking a more permanent solution with an eyebrow tattoo procedure, then please browse related topics. We also discuss facial hair removal and laser treatments as well as IPL and home depilatory devices, and we offer advice regarding who can use such home hair removal equipment and who cannot. We offer in-depth articles on permanent makeup procedures, eyebrow tattooing, and show you the benefits and the potential consequences as well as honestly discuss the benefits and drawbacks of laser eyebrow tattoo removal.

]]> http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/what-happened-to-the-models-prefer-eyebrow-pencil/feed/ 2 http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/a-guide-to-women-and-mens-eyebrow-waxing/ http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/a-guide-to-women-and-mens-eyebrow-waxing/#comments Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:38:03 +0000 admin http://eyebrow-tattoo.com/?p=226 Kits, Tips and Best Wax

Complete eyebrow waxing kits with strips and lotions for about $15; the best facial wax or soft cream wax for about $13; hemp wax for about $11; starter kits with waxing pot included for under $60 and pots alone for around $49; everything you need to create perfect brows at home. Step by step eyebrow waxing tips and recommendations for where to buy the best products available online.

What You Need To Get Started



What you need to do eyebrow waxing for men or women is basically the same. We’ll discuss brow shaping techniques for ladies and how to wax for gents later in the post, but first here’s what you need to have on hand:

1. witch hazel or some form of cleansing astringent (never use alcohol)
2. an eyebrow pencil, stencil kit or shaping materials
3. some Vaseline
4. a microwave, an electric pot, or a wax heater (called a Wax Warmer) to melt wax and keep it soft and easy to spread
5. the wax
6. a spatula or two
7. thinly cut linen or cotton muslin waxing strips
8. natural oil, preferably macadamia or almond oil, but baby oil will do or Wax Off
9. a soothing balm, light tea tree oil, Aloe Vera gel or redness reducing salve
10. a mirror with good light and a comfortable position where all your tools will be handy


Note: If working in the bathroom, remember you will probably need an outlet where you can plug in your wax pot, which we highly recommend, however you can also do it at the kitchen table and use the microwave, or sit at a vanity. We suggest that beginners cover the table, counter or vanity with a cloth that they don’t mind tossing away afterwards. If hot wax spills on furniture or counters it may be very difficult to remove and may stain because waxing formulas contain oils that easily penetrate porous surfaces.

Where To Get The Supplies You Need

Before you can do anything, you’ll need to go shopping and we recommend doing so online. Gigi carries a complete line of waxing products and kits that are affordable and very practical. Some require strips and others don’t. Here are some of the items we suggest and you can buy easily at Folica.com:



1. GiGi Strip Free Honee Wax Microwave Kit – this is a complete kit that does not require muslin strips because the wax itself will harden sufficiently to pull off on its own. This wax is gentle for facial use and is specifically created for those who do not have a waxing pot and will warm the wax in the microwave. You will get an 8 ounce jar of wax, which they call Honee, 2 ounces of astringent lotion for prior to waxing, an after wax product called Wax Off which works to remove excess wax and may replace the need for oil, a 2 ounce bottle of Slow Grow which helps to impede the re-growth of hair, and also they include a 2 ounce bottle of concealer to minimize redness. The kit also comes with 10 applicators, or spatulas in two different sizes. This kit costs $15.99 (We have included step by step instructions to follow the end of this post)



2. The GiGi Mini Pro Kit – This is a very comprehensive kit to get you started and do things as professionally as possible without having to go to a salon. Here is what you get: a wax warmer 9in other words the little waxing pot that melts and warms the wax), 14 ounces of soft cream wax, the necessary applicators in assorted sizes that will be ideal for the brow area and other regions you may want to wax, a total of 60 natural muslin strips in two different sizes, a pre-waxing cleanser called Pro-Hon Lotion, the necessary after waxing cooling gel, a cleanser called Sure Clean, the after waxing redness concealer, a post epilation lotion and some handy little tools where you can rest the applicators as you work. The complete kit that includes the wax warmer costs just $59.95. We recommend this kit because the average professional eyebrow wax costs about $15 to $20, so you will have paid for your pot and kit in just 4 waxes.



The supplies in this kit will last a long time, but when you do need more wax, the GiGi Gentle Facial Honee, which comes in a 14 ounce jar, and is specific for facial hair removal, costs just $13.50. And the other best eyebrow waxing formula which is the ultra soft GIGI Honee Creme Wax, which is easy to work with because it melts at a lower temperature and is especially great for sensitive skin, comes in a similar jar for just $13.95. You can choose the SOY Cream wax for the same price and is also recommended for sensitive skin types.



Replenishing astringents and lotions is also easy because the large 16 ounce bottles of cooling gel and other products are not expensive, most under $9 or $10. You can also replenish your supply of muslin strips and applicators or spatulas with small kits that are under $5, also through Folica.com. The cheapest ones are by a company called Satin Smooth, which also makes a good starter kit.



3. Satin Smooth – This company has a series of kits, starting with a all-inclusive eyebrow waxing kits for professionals for around $133, which include a professional style double wax warmer and all the lotions, creams, balms, waxes and strips you could need, as well as an instructional DVD that offers not just eyebrow waxing tips, but detailed instructions for depilation of other body parts.



However, if you can’t afford to invest in such a complete kit, the Satin Smooth collection also has a really affordable body and eyebrow waxing kit that costs just under $36. In that kit you get a small wax warmer for beginners, a 14 ounce jar of soothing vitamin E based honey wax, a special pre-wax cleanser, a residue remover, a soothing Aloe gel for after waxing and a few extras like a skin nourishing formula and some accessories. It’s a good deal and gets you started with everything a guy or gal could need to do their own brows.

Now that you have your supplies, if you are a man, or a woman waxing a man, skip to:
- Step By Step Instructions For Eyebrow Waxing Men and Women (below)

Eyebrow Waxing For Women – Starting with The Shape

The same basic techniques apply to both women and men, but the difference will be in the shaping and contouring of the brow before the waxing begins.



The ladies will want to take a moment to decide the shape they wish to achieve. An eyebrow stencil kit is the best way to start if you have not already begun shaping your brow. If you do not have a stencil, you can get one easily at Lovely Skin called the Form-A-Brow Kit by Senna. The complete kit costs $43, but you can buy just the stencils by Senna or Colorescience for just $10, also through Lovely Skin. It’s worth the investment to get the first shape right because waxing is not like shaving. The hair tends to grow in less thick after a few waxings and therefore your shape will eventually only need a little upkeep and not a total re-design. Using the Senna kit and colors you can begin to accent the hair by darkening them so you know what shape you’ll get. Or you can use an eyebrow pencil or gel to color the area you want to keep.



If this is your first time waxing your brows you’ll want to keep the color on the brow as a guide, however, in future, when you are more sure of yourself, and have a basic shape created, you can skip this step and go straight to disinfecting the brow area. Again, for first timers or those who are bit unsure of what they are doing, you can add a teeny bit of Vaseline, using a cotton swab, only to the hair area that you wish to keep. Be careful that the Vaseline does not get on any of the hairs you are about to remove. This will act as a fail-safe should a little wax get out of hand, so you won’t totally ruin your brow if wax were to spread in such a way that you pull out the entire brow…oops! But this won’t happen if the basic shape has a little Vaseline on it. Don’t use oil because it might run. We suggest petroleum jelly that will be easy to control with a cotton swab.




Note: Whether you are a professional studying the best waxing procedures or an individual wishing to do a professional job of waxing yourself, you may want to consult a great book called: Beauty Therapy: The Basics by Maxine Whittaker, Judith Ifould and Debbie Forsythe-conroy. And another helpful manual for ladies who want to treat themselves to the best at home is: Natural Beauty: Pamper Yourself with Salon Secrets at Home by Laura DuPriest, wherein amongst other things you can find a recipe to create wax and instructions on how to keep unwanted hair away for long periods of time.

After The Shape Is Decided

You have your shape. You’re protected against mistakes with a little Vaseline. Now we’re ready to proceed with:

Step By Step Instructions For Eyebrow Waxing Men and Women



1. The Wax preparation – If you will be using the microwave version of wax, remember to remove the lid, cap or plastic disc from the bottle or jar. It can take about thirty second to heat, but check each bottle or jar because it will depend on the kind of wax and the size of container. If you are using the GiGi Strip Free Honee Wax Microwave Kit, the wax provided is harder and thicker than the cream varieties. You will have to warm it initially for thirty seconds. Then stir it with an applicator stick, then keep heating and stirring every fifteen seconds or so until it’s like thick honey or molasses. Just be careful that you don’t overheat it and make it too hot for the skin. If you do, wait till it cools a little. Test a little on the back of your hand or wrist before applying to the brow or any other sensitive skin area you wish to wax.

2. Pre Wax Cleansing – Using an astringent like witch-hazel or one of the lotions you have in your kit, like Pre-Hon Lotion, cleans the area you will wax. If you have applied Vaseline to the hair you don’t want to remove, then be careful not to do the entire brow, just the skin to be depilated.
3. Direction Of Placing the Wax On The Hair To Be Removed – It is very important that you place the wax that is on your spatula uniformly going in the same direction as the hair is growing. In other words, the hair will be pressed flat and down and not standing up. Always apply wax in the direction that hair is growing. Look at the area carefully to see how it is growing because not all hairs are the same. In the brow it may be slightly upward and out.
4. The Actual Moment of Waxing – If you are using the Strip Free Honee Wax, then you will let the wax cool on your brow. You will sense it cooling and becoming pliable…not hard, and this may take around thirty seconds. If you’re using a cream or regular wax that requires strips, then you DO NOT wait for it to cool, but apply a small muslin strip immediately, pressing down in the direction of the hair growth and pull back in the opposite direction as fast as you can while holding the outer skin very taunt. Immediately press down on the waxed area with your thumb or finger to stop the stinging. If you have used the strip-free version, you will have waited for the wax to cool and then you’ll pull the wax off in the opposite direction the same as if you used a strip. Press down afterwards.

5. You should have removed the majority of hairs in the region. You will see them stuck into the wax or on the muslin strip. Do not re-apply more wax even if you see you have missed a few hairs. You can tweeze strays afterwards so long as the majority are gone.
6. If you have almond or macadamia oil you can apply a liberal amount to the brow area and use a soft cotton pad to remove all the wax residue stuck to your skin or remaining brow hair. If you have the GiGi products, then now is the time to use Wax Off. Be gentle, but please be sure to remove all the wax.
7. With all the wax cleaned off, now you can apply a little after waxing cooling gel, or some Aloe gel or even fresh Aloe Vera.

8. If you want you can finish off with the Benzokal Skin Concealer which will reduce redness. It is totally normal if you have redness or some bumps for a few hours in the area where you’ve waxed. It’s best to do your eyebrow waxing a day before any event because it could take 8 or more hours to look and feel normal.
9. If you’ve purchased a kit by Gigi that included a Slow Grow product, then you can use this after you shower the next time. Don’t apply right after waxing. But you can use it each time you bathe or shower. Just a little in the waxed area….not on the hair you want to keep.

10. When your brow area has stopped stinging, take a mirror and some tweezers and get the little stray hairs that didn’t come off with the wax. And now rest a moment. Don’t go out in the sun or go to a tanning bed appointment. Don’t get a facial immediately afterwards either, and wait a while to shower or wash your face. Try not to put makeup for a little while. The area will be sensitive for a while. Let it breathe.
The final eyebrow tips – coloring and tinting

If you have a beautiful shape, but your brows are very light, you may be interested in making the shape you have just created be semi-permanent by tinting your brow hair.

There are easy ways to do so like using the Godefroy Shape & Tint kits that only cost about $7. And if you buy one of these kits before you do the waxing, this is a good idea because waxing after a tint job is better. It leaves a defined color line and eliminates some of the tint that may get on the skin. You also will have the perfect shape and the stencils and waxing strips that come with the Godfroy kits. Try natural black, auburn, medium brown and jet black….Or use the Godfroy lightening kits if your brows are too dark. The lightening kits are a bit more expensive, around $16.

For more eyebrow shaping ideas please consult some of our related topics, including permanent makeup and eyebrow tattoo procedures. We also offer advice on where to get eyebrow pencil and gel products, and which is the best, as well as offering eye makeup tips and ideas on home facial hair removal, including laser and IPL devices.
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