The Power of Brows

Eyebrows have been around for our entire existence. The incredible journey of trends with eyebrows alone is one commanding a walk down memory lane. A broad look at where we came from may help make sense of how you and your brows got to where you are now. Can I get an "AMEN" for all the 80's babies who tweezed lines as brows ( but they never came back)?! We live, and we learn, isn't that what they say? But, as we continue to dive into the history and the power of brows, we will see that, in some cases, we didn't actually "learn".

According to Birdie, an online Beauty editorial, eyebrow styles can be dated back to the 1920s when they were "thin" and even "pencil thin." This fad took over as the theme for the '20s and '30s. Then a transition to the 40's when soft, fluffy, and natural brows started grazing the cover of Vogue magazine. Who can argue Marilyn Monroe had a significant part in how brows changed everything in the 50s with her bolder arch and darker brow. It was both feminine and sultry. The 60's "Mod" transitioned back to a skinner brow, and the eyebrows were almost an afterthought as eye makeup took center stage. One (iconic) name, "Twiggy." In the 70's disco era, brows somewhat remained an afterthought. However, no one could have pulled off the 80s better than Brooke Shield. Full and fluffy never looked so good! People were inspired and are still today referencing and wanting her brows! Unfortunately, we didn't learn our lesson that skinny and arched were not flattering, so we repeated that again in the 90s. But we still hadn't learned the lesson and went even thinner! If you will, close your eyes and imagine Christina Aguilera. Say less, right!?

We have indeed come so far! The years leading up to now have encompassed many other trends, arriving today, where we groom our brows using products and services, i.e., lamination or, as some call it, a "lamy," to create our unique statement with our brows. Others may enhance their brows with a tint for a (usually) darker, more dramatic effect. The permanent makeup route is also one that has now taken over the brow industry. You hear many different terms in reference to permanent makeup, like Ombré brow, micro shading, powder brow, etc. This, too, is an ever-evolving service demanding attention.

If I could throw in my favorite era of brows, it's right now! We have never been so advanced and capable of obtaining so many different styles and looks with products and services for our brows! Who could have imagined that brows would be (are) such an essential piece of our daily routines? They are an accessory—an expression as well as a conversation piece.

But what will you do with your brows if you have never paid attention to them? What if you have been tweezing for your entire adult life (save "plucking" for reference to chicken feathers) but are unsure what you're tweezing? Or maybe you have had that one horrible experience where you left with uneven or, worse, a missing eyebrow. Understandably, you want to avoid exploring that area of your body, or anywhere, with wax again. But if we look at the brow and what it can do to shift or adorn your complete look, we notice that it commands attention to your stunning eyes. Your brows are more important than you may think. They create balance and bring harmony and symmetry to your face shape. They allow personalized expression in a world of emojis and avatars.

When it comes to a professional offering a brow service, there are some things you should know and consider if you're doing this for the first time, have moved to a new area, are looking for a change, or have had a bad experience and are trying to get back out there! My advice when looking for a new professional is two parts. Part one, do some research! Social media is a fantastic tool to dive deep into a portfolio of before and after pictures and other photos to get a better vibe of this professional and their style. (Always remember that pictures don't always clearly represent work or professional integrity). For example, omitting redness. After receiving a brow treatment, it's almost unrealistic not to expect some redness. It may look prettier, but it creates a false perception. Suppose you have never had waxing performed before, and your skin turns red. In that case, you may question normalcy or the professional. This is why I believe it is vital for the provider to discover your history and explain the procedure, possible side effects, and expectations. Its preparedness.

Part two of finding the right professional is something we often do. It is simple, compliment someone! I think it's genius mixed with a compliment to ask someone with great brows where they get them done. You can't alter real life, so seeing someone in the flesh with great brows will be a total win in your pursuit of the ideal professional. Bonus, by default, you will make someone's day.

You have found the spot! The homework is complete (for now)! You have reviewed and analyzed the pictures in great detail, got all the good vibes, and the word-of-mouth referrals made you comfortable and intrigued! Appointment scheduled! What can we honestly expect out of a brow appointment? One, we have to be open to receiving feedback and advice. Understand that it could be a process to get what you desire or to achieve a particular look. Trust the provider you've decided to be on this journey with, ask all the questions you want, and don't feel bad about it! Let's focus on a simple brow wax/tweeze/cleanup. It seems excessive, but I promise you, I can have all this information gathered and processed to proceed with the service in about 2 minutes! Keep reading to prepare for your next wax appointment, and look to your provider to review these with you.

Here is what to expect BEFORE a brow wax:

• A thorough consultation

• Reviewing of any prescription or topical acne medications

• Asked if you use retinol

• Express any complications from past experiences

• Also, expressing if you have any skin sensitivity/concerns

• Make sure you avoid the sun before your appointment. Sunburned skin can cause lifting to occur

During the wax, you can expect the following:

• Brushing and analyzing the brows

• Trimming of long or unruly hairs

• Wax is applied in sections, using either a hard or soft wax (with strips). The provider should be equipped after a consultation to know which wax to use for your skin type

• Tweezing to fine-tune the shape

• Removal of wax using the appropriate provider-selected aftercare

• Depending on the service, fill in using makeup or styling of the brows

Post Wax, you may experience:

• Some pink or redness is normal; expect it to dissipate in 1 to 24 hours. Ice can help relieve redness.

• Some itchiness is typical and caused by a histamine reaction in the body. Cortisone cream can relieve this. TIP: take a non-drowsy Benedryl 30 minutes before future appointments.

• Tenderness around the waxed area.

• Some may notice "skin lifting" if they have susceptible skin, have not disclosed the use of certain medications/topicals, or if you are dehydrated. A&D ointment can relieve this, and it would be best to have a tweeze-only plan for future appointments.

You should also know the following:

• Avoid touching the area post-wax, causing germs or unsanitary exchanges.

• Some providers or clients will put concealer/makeup on the area to camouflage redness which can cause some skin types to break out. Typically waiting at least 4 hours is best practice.

• Plan to keep up with your wax or tweeze appointment every 4-6 weeks. Keep track of how long you can go before you feel they have lost shape and schedule future appointments accordingly.

• If you are growing your brows or notice your next appointment is too far away, DO NOT TWEEZE yourself. Doing so can disrupt the growth cycle, affecting getting a clean and efficient wax at your next appointment.

• Avoid sun or sunbathing for 24-48 hours post-wax.

• Avoid heavy sweating for 24-28 hours post-wax.

• Do not go swimming for 24-48 hours post-wax.

• Avoid steam, saunas, or hot baths for 24 hours.

That's a lot! However, considering all that goes into brow waxing, we can respect the experience and art a little more. The provider you go to should be able to express and cover all of these things with you, especially if it is the first time or first time with that particular provider. Then we must appreciate and trust the provider for delivering best practices for excellent results with your brows.

If you've never done anything with your brows or you have but are nervous, I challenge you! Be encouraged that change is good, and change is growth! Even if we are referencing "just" brows. A slight shift in your everyday look and gearing towards a change may nudge you to step out and try something else you have wanted to do or maybe even inspire someone else! And no one will be mad at you when you look in the mirror a little longer at your beautiful vessel adorned with perfect brows. Warning, you may actually feel like yourself. That's quite powerful.