How to Hide or Fix a Shaved off Eyebrow

Co-authored by Bia Rehman

Last Updated: June 20, 2022 References

Whether it was a dare or the slip of a wrist, you shaved off your eyebrow and now you're not sure what to do. Should you try to even things out by shaving off the other one? (Answer: No, don't do that!) How long will it take to grow back? And what can you do in the meantime? Don't worry--you have a few options to hide your eyebrow and grow your hair back as quickly as possible.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Drawing Your Eyebrow with Makeup

1
Choose an eyebrow pencil and powder that is similar to your natural coloring. If you still have one of your eyebrows, this might be a little easier--just match the pencil to the shade of your eyebrow hair. Otherwise, use your hair color as a guide. If you are a brunette or a redhead, look for a color that is one shade lighter than your hair. If you are a blonde, try one shade darker.^{[1]
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- You can't substitute eyeliner for an eyebrow pencil in this case. You are literally drawing on your eyebrow, and eyeliner is too likely to smudge and ruin the illusion.
- Use the same method to choose powder, but don't get too matchy--if the colors are a little different, it will add more dimension to your drawn-on brow.
- Feel free to mix brow powders or eyeshadows to get the right color or simply add more depth to the look.
- Avoid anything with sparkles or shimmer, as this will look unnatural.
2
Dust the area with translucent powder. Make sure your skin is clean and free of any excess moisturizer. As your skin releases natural oils throughout the day, your makeup can begin to slide or will smudge easily. The powder will help absorb the oil and also give the makeup something to cling to so it stays put on your face.
- Use a soft, fluffy brush to disperse the powder.
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3
Use eyebrow powder or eyeshadow and a stiff, angled makeup brush to etch the shape of your brow. The application should be very light, just a vague suggestion of an eyebrow. You can use your other eyebrow as a guide for where your missing brow should begin and end.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Bia Rehman
Licensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 8 November 2021.} Otherwise, there are a few tricks you can use to figure it out.
- Hold a pencil against your nose. The edge of the pencil that is closer to your eye marks where your brow should start. Don't go any further inward than this line.^{[3]
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- Keep the pencil held against your nose but pivot the tip so that it points to the outer corner of your eye. This should be about a 45-degree angle. That is where your brow should end.^{[4]
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- The arch should be right above the outer edge of your iris (the colored part of your eye) if you are looking straight ahead.^{[5]
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- If you make any mistakes, just use a cotton swab to wipe off the makeup.
4
Use a very sharp eyebrow pencil and begin drawing little hairs in gentle, upward strokes. You want to follow the shape you created with the brow powder or eyeshadow and use short, feathering strokes that look like actual little hairs.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Bia Rehman
Licensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist
Expert Interview. 8 November 2021.} It is important to keep the pencil very sharp, so make sure you stop to sharpen it and keep that fine tip.
- Don't press too hard or draw your strokes too dark. It will look more natural if you draw your eyebrows in several layers of light strokes.
- Again, use a cotton swab to fix any mistakes.
5
Set your eyebrows by dusting again with translucent powder. For extra staying power, use a makeup sealer or lacquer that will protect your brows from moisture and from your own hands (it would be a shame to accidentally wipe off all your hard work). You simply paint this clear product over your brows and allow it to dry. It may look a bit shiny, so go over it with another layer of powder.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Hiding Your Eyebrow

1
Experiment with bangs. If you've ever wondered what you would look like with bangs, now is the perfect time to give them a shot. Cut them long enough to cover your eyebrows, but not so long that they are in your eyes.
- Try side-swept bangs if you've only lost one eyebrow. You can keep your bangs pretty long and leave your undamaged brow visible.
- If you're not prepared to cut your hair, you can buy clip-in bangs to wear until your eyebrow grows back.
2
Part your hair with a deep side part, which can give the appearance of side-swept bangs. If you are missing part of your right eyebrow, make the part on the left side of your scalp. If you are missing the left eyebrow, part on the right. Wet your hair and then use a fine tooth comb to part your hair right above the highest point of your eyebrow.^{[7]
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Research source} Comb your hair across your forehead to hide your missing or partially shaved brow from view.
- Use a little hairspray to keep your part in place.
3
Buy eyebrow wigs. It may sound strange at first, but you can find natural looking eyebrow wigs that glue either over your sparse eyebrow or right to your skin if you shaved off your entire brow.
- Eyebrow wigs come in a variety of colors and stay put, even when you wash your face, but are easy to remove with oil-based makeup removers.
- High-quality pairs can be used for up to six months--plenty of time for your brows to grow back.
4
Wear a baseball hat and pull it down low over your forehead to hide your eyebrows. Make sure the hat is snugly on your head pull the bill down, toward your nose, until it covers your eyebrows. Make sure your school doesn't have a policy against wearing hats in class. If your teacher tells you to remove your hat in front of everyone, it will draw more attention to the fact that you were embarrassed and trying to hide.
5
Don't hide it and laugh it off. This actually happens to a lot of people, sometimes by accident, sometimes intentionally. It might look a little funny for a while, but so what? This is a temporary situation, and you'll look like yourself again in no time. Just acknowledge what happened--yes, I am missing half of my eyebrow--shrug it off, and move on.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Stimulating Regrowth

1
Stimulate your hair follicles by gently massaging the area. This will assist with circulation, which makes sure your hair follicles are nourished. Your body relies on essential vitamins and proteins to build hair cell by cell, and improving blood flow to your eyebrows can help ensure your cells get what they need.
- Use the tips of your fingers to rub your brow with gentle, circular motions.
- Try massaging your eyebrows twice a day--once in the morning and once at night. You only need to do it for a few minutes.
2
Rub castor oil on your eyebrows. The omega fatty-acids are said to nourish cells and assist in hair growth, while also strengthening and moisturizing the hair. It is easily absorbed into the skin but should not block your pores and cause breakouts.
- Castor oil is sticky, so you may want to dilute it with a little coconut or almond oil. Dab some on your finger and then massage it into the area where you shaved your eyebrow.
- If you don't have castor oil, try a little extra virgin olive oil, which is supposed to have a similar effect.^{[8]
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3
Invest in an eyebrow or hair growth serum to speed up the process. Your eyebrows grow in a three to four month cycle. You may see some regrowth right away from hairs that were about to emerge before you shaved your brows, but it may take several months for your brows to fully grow out. By applying a growth serum to your brows, your hair will be in the growth stage longer than normal, or it may believe it is always in this stage.^{[9]
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- Most growth serums must be applied daily for at least a month before you see any results, and the growth will not continue once you stop using the product.^{[10]
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4
Eat a protein- and vitamin-rich diet to help your brows grow. Providing your body with the building blocks of hair (proteins) plus vitamins that help with circulation and cell-repairing antioxidants may speed up hair growth. Hair growth stalls and can enter a resting state when you don't have enough protein, and hair can even begin to fall out if you don't get enough vitamins.^{[11]
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Research source} Make sure you get plenty of these foods:
- Greek yogurt, lean meats (like chicken and turkey), eggs, and nuts for protein.
- Sweet potatoes, carrots, and mangos for vitamin A.^{[12]
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- Eggs, almonds, wheat bran, salmon, low-fat cheese, and avocados for biotin (a B vitamin) that is hugely beneficial to hair growth.^{[14]
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- Spinach, kale, broccoli, and Swiss chard for vitamins A and C.^{[15]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How do you fill in a missing eyebrow?

Bia Rehman
Licensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist
Bia Rehman is a Licensed Esthetician and Makeup Artist based in Austin, Texas. With more than 11 years of experience, she specializes in bridal, special event, and editorial makeup that highlights natural beauty. Bia attended cosmetology school in Houston, TX, and received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from The University of Houston.

Bia Rehman

Licensed Esthetician & Makeup Artist

Expert Answer

Start with a brow pomade to draw the shape of the brow. Then, apply brow powder to fill in all the gaps. Set your brows with a brow gel to keep the brow hairs in place.
Question

How long would it take for a 11 year old child's to grow back?

Community Answer

About one month to grow and two months to be what they were before you shaved them.
Question

I plucked my eyebrows too thin. What should I do?

Community Answer

Use a pencil or eyeshadow to shade the area and make your eyebrows appear thicker.