How to fill in your eyebrows, step by step
Find the brow shape that suits your face, pick the right shade, fill natural-looking brows with a pencil or gel, and keep them in place all day.
Brows frame the whole face, and a small change in their shape or colour changes your entire look. Natural-looking brows don't need years of practice, just the right order of steps and the right tools.
Map your brow with three points
Use the brow pencil as a ruler and hold it against your face to find three points:
- The start: a straight line up from the side of your nose.
- The arch: a line from the side of your nose through the middle of your eye while you look straight ahead.
- The end: a line from the side of your nose to the outer corner of your eye.
Mark each point lightly. They outline your brow before you begin.
Pick the right shade
An easy rule: if your hair is dark, go one shade lighter; if it is light, go one shade darker. True black suits thick black brows, while a very dark brown looks softer on most dark brows.
Fill with small strokes
Start in the middle of the brow and work towards the tail with short, light strokes in the direction the hair grows, like real hairs. Leave the front of the brow until last and keep it lighter, because a heavy start is what makes brows look drawn on.
Pencil or gel?
- An angled brow pencil: for precise shaping, the tail and small gaps.
- A creamy brow filling gel: for sparse brows that need more fullness, with even colour.
- A clear setting gel: adds no colour, it grooms the hairs and holds them in shape.
Brush and blend
After filling, run the spoolie through the whole brow to soften the strokes. This simple step is the secret of a natural look.
Set the shape
Brush the hairs up and out with the clear setting gel and let it dry for a minute before touching your face. Your brows stay neat for longer, even in UAE heat and humidity.
Common mistakes
- Identical brows: brows are sisters, not twins. They only need to match in style.
- A hard outline above and below makes brows look drawn on.
- A shade that is too dark, especially at the front.
From Ahla
The AHLA Dual-Ended Eyebrow Pencil has an angled tip for shaping and a spoolie for blending, in 6 shades. Pair it with AHLA Eyebrow Filling Gel in 5 shades from black to blonde, and the Clear Eyebrow Setting Gel for brows that stay neat all day.
