Anyone else's brows looking a little unruly during lockdown? We feel ya!
Threading - the brow-grooming technique of gliding a sterile cotton thread across the skin to tease out hairs by the root - gives control and long-lasting results.
With threading, the hair shaft is pulled out of its root, meaning no more broken and in-grown hairs.
Advert
Mastering the technique is a fine art but the clean and sculpted finish is worth it.
Tyla enlisted the help of brow-care expert Suman Jalaf, the woman behind Brows By Suman, who shares her ultimate step-by-step guide to threading your brows at home.
Top tips before starting
Advert
1. Your cotton thread must be sterile and can be ordered from Amazon.
2. It's best to thread your brows after a shower as your pores will be open, which will allow the hairs to glide out easily.
3. Avoid threading during your period, as this can make you more sensitive to pain.
4. When threading at home, aim for minimal changes. Don't remove the hairs on the top of your brows if you've not had it done before. You don't want to mess around with your shape too much. Leave that to the professionals!
Advert
Preparation and guide lines
1. First, prepare by washing your hands with soap and water. Then cleanse your brows with an alcohol wipe or micellar water.
2. Next, use a brow brush to gently brush your brow hairs in an upward motion.
3. Now draw your guide lines to map out your desired brow shape. You can use a ruler for this, or a brow brush or eyebrow pencil.
Advert
4. Use a sharp eye or brow crayon to join the lines between arch, mid-length and tail. Mark out the space where you want the hair removed. This should be tiny, ranging from 1 millimetre to 3 millimetres depending on the width of your brows and how hairy they are.
Making the string
Advert
1. The length of your string should stretch from the tips of fingers to the crease of your elbow - it's the perfect length!
2. Tie a knot in the end to create a loop.
3. Hold the knot in one hand whilst you twist with the other hand 8 times and you have your hair remover thread ready.
Threading the hair
1. Ideally, it's better to have someone who you're living with help you by gently stretching the skin around the brows, laying their palms flat against your forehead and cheekbone.
2. You can apply a small amount of talcum powder to the brow skin which will help to remove any excess moisture and also make it easier to see the hairs, particularly fine blonde hairs.
3. You could also apply an ice cube, hold it against the area for 5 minutes to numb the skin, if you are finding the process uncomfortable.
4. You have to learn the motion first, from back to front, back and forth. Keep the string flat and taught against the skin but not too hard - you want to avoid nipping your skin. The triangle part of the thread is where you attack the hairs, moving in the direction of hair growth and twisting one hand back to remove the hairs from the root.
5. Do subtle, minimal tidying under the brows, above the eyelids and your brow tails. Don't overdo it!
6. You can always do the middle of the brows too, being mindful not to interfere with the edges of your brows on either side.
Aftercare
1. Once you're finished, your preferred aftercare with a cotton pad. Mine are ice cold water to close the pores, Aloe Vera, witch hazel or my personal favourite, pure rose water.
2. I apply a little castor oil before bed to moisturise, nourish and condition brows, nourish the hair.
3. Tame your brows by gently brushing upwards with a brow brush. I use bamboo versions that are environmentally friendly.
4. Do not apply makeup to your brows for 24 hours after threading as the skin is irritated and pores need to close.
Happy brow grooming, everyone!
Featured Image Credit: Brows By SumanTopics: Hair and Beauty