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If you’ve been floating through the TikTok beauty ether over the last month or so, you might have come across the term “brow blindness” in your scroll. The theory behind brow blindness is that you’re going about your business as usual with zero clue that your brow shape or color isn’t doing you any favors.
This might be a situation where you’ve been creating the same look you’ve done for years and your face has changed, where you’re following a certain trend that just doesn’t suit you, or simply that your brow skills could use a little work.
“Your brows are the part of the face that frames your eyes, and in effect, shapes your face,” says celebrity makeup artist Nina Soriano. “Creating a shape that frames your face is something that can really change the way you show up for yourself in the outside world.”
Brow mistakes happen to the best of us, but a tiny tweak here or there can make all the difference. We asked experts about the biggest brow mistakes people make, and what you should do instead.
Over-Tweezing Your Eyebrows
This was a common mistake made in the ‘90s. Today, we’re seeing a reemergence of this era’s beauty trends, and history is repeating itself. Tweezing and waxing is fine when creating a little more definition, but there’s a fine line between shaping your brows and removing too many hairs. And if you repeat this too many times, the hair follicle becomes damaged and the overplucked look becomes permanent.
“In these cases when you’ve found yourself with an over-tweezed brow, invest in a good serum that will encourage hair growth,” Soriano says.
Microblading the Wrong Shape
Microblading gone wrong is one of the biggest brow mistakes encountered by makeup artist Amber Kerns. Most commonly, people too heavily microblade or they get a shape that doesn’t flatter their face.
This is a semi-permanent treatment that lasts one to three years, so you’re stuck with the results once the treatment’s complete. Instead, Kern recommends figuring out a shape that looks polished but complements the natural shape of your brows—with less permanent repercussions.
This gives you room to figure out what you like and what works best for you. From there, you can seek out a reputable microblade professional and replicate the look you know works.
Going Overboard With Brow Product
There’s a certain level of finesse required when using at-home brow products, as well. Overfilling or harshly drawing with a pencil is a common issue, which ends up looking unnatural or creating a flaky or waxy finish. It’s all about balance.
“When filling in your brows with your favorite pencil or brow powder, I recommend filling them in slowly with soft, subtle strokes to avoid overly applying product to your brows. This also gives a more natural look,” Kerns says.
Not Realizing How Much Brow Hair You Have
If you have sparse-looking or lighter-colored brow hair, you may not realize how much brow hair you actually have, Soriano says. She suggests hitting up a brow professional to have your brows naturally tinted.
“You will be surprised at how much you have when the hair has been darkened,” she says. “Also, get them shaped professionally. Your brow stylist has the tools and the skills to measure out your brows and give them more of a symmetrical look.”
Aimlessly Following Brow Trends
It seems like there’s a new beauty trend every 60 seconds, and brows aren’t immune to the fluctuation of what’s in and what’s not. But just because a trend is taking off doesn’t mean it’s the best fit for you.
“It’s always fun to try and embrace new trends, but trends come and go, so I recommend not trying something super permanent, such as an extremely thin brow,” Kerns says. “If you are looking for a different shape or thinner brows, instead, try having them shaped subtly into the new look when you see your eyebrow expert. This can be done in one or multiple visits, instead of fully embracing the new look.”
Using an Unflattering Brow Color
You know how it takes some trial and error to find the perfect foundation match for your complexion? There’s a similar trial and error process required for nailing your eyebrow shade.
“I’ve often seen individuals using brow colors with the incorrect undertones,” Soriano says. “For example, say you have black hair, go for the shades that have more charcoal-black tones. If you choose something like brown, a lot of browns tend to have red undertones and reflect red under certain light and high can throw the balance of your brows off.”
The key is to select a color that’s closest to your natural brow shade and undertones, or one to two shades lighter or darker depending on the look you’re going for. Also, your brow hairs may not all be the same color, requiring one or two additional shades to get a natural look across the entire brow.
