Bad brows come in two flavors: over-plucked or unkempt, and neither are looks we can get behind. Luckily, one of our favorite fall beauty trends is a strong, daring eyebrow. And a few designers kick-started our inspiration, among them Prada's thick, drawn-in brows and Balenciaga's pastel-dyed brows (gorgeous!). Both looks are magnetic and lure the spotlight to the eye in a dynamic, surprisingly simple way. In fact, the bold brow for fall isn't just for makeup artists: It's something we can all get in on. For a more wearable, nuanced look, take a cue from The Row, Valentino, or Gucci and carefully pencil in a dark, classic eyebrow shape that still captures the essence of the trend without any of the runway shock-value. Hilary Foote, Benefit's Global Brow Expert, says to keep it simple by filling in your brows with a slightly darker shade than your hair color. "This contrast gives your brows great definition without looking too dramatic," Foote says. "Your brows should always be one or two shades darker than the hair on your head." Here, we eyeball the brow products that should be in your makeup bag, and show you how to use them.
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The Tip: For ladies who need a more thorough brow makeover, try these comprehensive kits to shape, color, and define all at once.
Prada fall 2010 image via CoverGirl/Pat McGrath.
The Tip: When it comes to plucking, no one offers a more precise tool than Tweezerman. Remember, one pluck goes a LONG way, so go one hair at a time and examine both brows after each pull to ensure you're not going overboard. For help in the symmetry department, try brow stencils.
The Tools:
Tweezerman Graffiti Slant Tweezers, $25, available at Smallflower.
Anastasia Brow Stencils, $20, available at Ultra.
Tweezerman Graffiti Slant Tweezers, $25, available at Smallflower.
Anastasia Brow Stencils, $20, available at Ultra.
The Row fall 2010 image via The Row. Valentino fall 2010 image via Valentino.
The Tip: For fuller-browed ladies who prefer not to pluck, a good brow gel is the best for shaping and giving more natural brows extra definition. Use a well-sharpened pencil to lightly fill in where brow hair might be sparse.
The Tools:
Maybelline Define-A-Brow gel, $6.99, available at Amazon.com.
Giorgio Armani Eye Brow Defining Pencil, $27, available at Giorgio Armani.
CoverGirl Brow & Eyemakers, $2.17, available at Drugstore.com.
Maybelline Define-A-Brow gel, $6.99, available at Amazon.com.
Giorgio Armani Eye Brow Defining Pencil, $27, available at Giorgio Armani.
CoverGirl Brow & Eyemakers, $2.17, available at Drugstore.com.
Gucci fall 2010 image via CoverGirl/Pat McGrath. Valentino fall 2010 image via Valentino.