This article was co-authored by Erica Coates. Erica Coates is a Professional Makeup Artist and the Owner of Erica Nicole Beauty based in the Washington D.C. metro area. With more than 14 years of experience, she specializes in creating and personalizing makeup looks and skin prep for makeup. Erica received her cosmetology training from the Bennett Career Institute.
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Using a razor to shape your eyebrows can give you the same look as waxing or tweezing, but without the pain. First, you will need to purchase an eyebrow razor with a small blade. Then you can shave your eyebrows into a shape that flatters your face.
Steps
Using an Eyebrow Razor
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1Purchase a razor made specifically for eyebrows. A standard razor will not give you detailed brows, and can be dangerous to use near your eyes. Instead purchase an eyebrow razor, whose small blade will give you the brows you desire.
- You can order an eyebrow razor online or purchase one at your local beauty supply store.
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2Use a small amount of shaving cream. You will get a closer shave if you apply shaving cream to the area of skin surrounding the eyebrow. Try starting with a dime-sized amount, and use more if necessary. Try applying the shaving cream when you get out of the shower.
- Only put shaving cream over the part of your eyebrow you want to shave. Use a cotton swab to wipe away any excess shaving cream so you can see what you're doing.
- You can also use vaseline or a moisturizer to help prep the skin.[1]
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3Hold your brow skin taut. Use your non-dominant hand to hold the skin around the eyebrow taut. This will help you get a closer, more detailed shave. Then use your dominant hand to begin shaping your eyebrow.[2]
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4Shave under your brow in the direction of hair growth.[3] It’s important that you stroke the razor in the same direction that your eyebrows grow. If you use the blade in the opposite direction, you can nick your skin and possibly create ingrown hairs. Instead, gently stroke the razor in the direction that your eyebrows grow. Also, avoid shaving above your eyebrows or they could look unnatural.
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5Check your progress frequently. You should check your progress in a mirror as much as possible. It is easy to accidentally shave off too much of your eyebrows. To prevent this from happening, step back and look in the mirror after completing each section of eyebrow.[4]
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6Wash your face after you finish. Once you are done shaving your eyebrows, wash your face with a gentle facial cleanser. This will help remove any remaining shaving cream or oils from your hands. Do not apply moisturizers to the freshly shaved area, as this can clog pores.
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7Maintain your brow shape by shaving weekly. In order to maintain the look of your newly shaped eyebrows, you will want to shave them regularly. Try shaving about once a week, or more if your hair grows quickly.EXPERT TIP
“It can take a few months for shaved eyebrows to completely fill in, but you should notice substantial regrowth after about 6 weeks.”
Laura Martin
Licensed CosmetologistLaura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist -
8Consider waxing or tweezing. While you can effectively shape your eyebrows using a razor, the hair will grow back quickly. This means you will need to shape your brows more often than if you wax or tweeze them. If you’d like longer lasting brows, try tweezing or waxing your brows instead of shaving.
- You can also use multiple methods. Use tweezers to pluck out thick, dark eyebrow hairs, and use a razor to shave off smaller, lighter hairs.
Shaping Your Brows
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1Line up your brow’s inner edge with the center of your nostril. Try taking a pencil and placing it along the center of one of your nostrils. This will help you see where the innermost edge of your eyebrow should be.[5]
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2Make sure the arch peaks just past the outer edge of your iris. The iris is the colored part of your eye, and it can serve as an excellent guide for figuring out where your eyebrow’s arch should peak. The arch of your brow should peak about 1/8 inch or 3 millimeters past your iris’s outer edge when you're looking straight into a mirror.[6]
- Keep in mind that your iris moves when you look around.
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3Taper the brow. You should maintain a uniform thickness from the inner edge of the eyebrow up to the arch. Once you reach the arch, you can begin tapering the brow thinner until you reach the outer edge of the eyebrow. You can also keep your eyebrows at the same thickness throughout if tapering doesn’t seem right for you.[7]
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4Don’t let the outer edge of the eyebrow droop. The outermost edge of your eyebrow should not dip below the level of your eyebrow’s inner edge. Keep both edges of the eyebrow on the same level. You can also let the outer edge sit a tiny bit higher than the inner edge.[8]
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5Trim long eyebrow hairs with scissors. Use a comb to brush your eyebrow hairs up. Then, trim any hairs that extend out of your eyebrow shape. Brush your eyebrow hairs down and do the same thing.
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6Ask a friend to help you. You will be more successful at shaping your eyebrows with a razor if you ask someone to help. A friend or family member can help you determine the best brow shape. They can also alert you if it looks like you are shaving away too much of your eyebrows.[9]
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I tweeze my eyebrows?Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistBegin by using a white pencil or powder to trace the desired brow shape. Work slowly, stepping back often to look at the overall shape you are creating. Grab the hairs as close to the root as possible and pull them out in the same direction as the natural growth pattern. -
QuestionHow do you get rid of a unibrow?Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistYou can tweeze or wax the center of your brows to separate them. You may also want to consider permanent hair removal for this area. -
QuestionHow long does it take for eyebrows to grow back after being shaved off?Laura MartinLaura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.
Licensed CosmetologistIt can take a few months before they have completely filled in, but you should notice substantial regrowth after about 6 weeks.
Things You’ll Need
- Eyebrow razor
- Eyebrow tweezers for plucking (optional)
- Electric face razor (optional)
- Mirror
- Shaving cream or gel
References
- ↑ Erica Coates. Professional Makeup Artist. Expert Interview. 25 February 2022.
- ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3626596/How-men-groom-eyebrows-using-mini-razor.html
- ↑ Erica Coates. Professional Makeup Artist. Expert Interview. 25 February 2022.
- ↑ http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/hair/advice/a9170/eyebrow-rules-081313/
- ↑ http://nads.com/nads-hair-removal-blog/how-to-shape-eyebrows-at-home
- ↑ http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/hair/advice/a9170/eyebrow-rules-081313/
- ↑ http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/hair/advice/a9170/eyebrow-rules-081313/
- ↑ http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/hair/advice/a9170/eyebrow-rules-081313/
- ↑ http://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/hair/advice/a9170/eyebrow-rules-081313/
About This Article
Before using a razor to shape your eyebrows, buy a special eyebrow razor. The smaller blade is safer to use near your eyes and will give you more control when shaping your eyebrows. To get a closer shave, apply some shaving cream to the area. Use your non-dominant hand to hold the skin around your eyebrow taut to get a more detailed shave, then use your dominant had to begin shaping your brow. Stroke the razor in the same direction that your eyebrows grow to avoid nicking your skin. Shave a small amount at a time, checking your progress frequently so you don’t accidentally take off too much. When you’re done shaving, wash your face with a gentle cleanser to remove any remaining cream or oil. For more tips from our Beauty co-author, including how to maintain your newly shaved eyebrows, keep reading!