Brow Shapes & Brow Mapping

Dana Depta • 10 February 2022

5 Important Tips for Getting the Best Eyebrow Shape 

When it comes to eyebrows, the most important part is the shape. Eyebrows play a huge role on your face. They’re not just there to protect your eyes; they convey emotions and frame your eyes. When the shape is not right, it can make you look angry, sad or surprised. 


When you're getting permanent makeup/ semi permanent makeup (or microblading), a great shape is crucial as it's going to be there for some time. 


When I first started doing permanent makeup, I had a client that made a suggestion that I should ask clients to bring a photo of the shape that they want. Now, while this may be a good idea for some, for others it can lead to false expectations. Faces are not the same and eyebrows are certainly not. You won't get Cara Delevingne brows if you currently have Angelina Jolie brows. We are not miracle workers, we are tattooists. 


With that being said, we can enhance the brow, we can create the illusion of better symmetry and we can certainly fill those bad boys in- leading to a fuller, well shaped brow. 


But... you have to remember- it IS a tattoo. This can mean that as it ages, it may change colour slightly and the pigment particles will spread. It will also fade (for most people) over time. What you see on day one is probably not what you see after several years.


Before your artist tattoos them, your brows will be mapped ( drawn to your proportions). If you want to make sure your brows look as good as they can for their entire lifespan, check out the few tips we have for you to go in with:




1. Eyebrows are sisters, not twins. 


Your face is usually not 100% symmetrical and so while we strive for perfection; it is usually not going to be the case when it comes ro eyebrows. Plus, if your brows are not naturally symmetical, it looks kinda weird if you tattoo them like that.  Many artists will tattoo above the right brow to make it symmetrical with the left (which is in most cases, higher up on the face).  This is something that many clients regret.


If you have been checking out your eyebrows and hate how unsymmetrical they are, don't worry, not many people notice it. There's ways to even them out slightly, but don't go shaving one off to match the other.


2.     Don’t go too far beyond the natural brow.


Permanent makeup/ semi permanent makeup is a tattoo. If you already have a good brow shape and just want it to look fuller, then don't change the shape. Permanent makeup is designed to enhance your features, not replace them. If you have no hair, keep the shape and colour conservative. You can always add to it!



3.   Start small.

You can always add, but it’s difficult and expensive to remove. Start smaller and add at the touch up. 


4.     Stencils are a no no.

If you book an artist that traces a stencil to create your eyebrow shape, this is a big red flag. Faces are different and stencils are not designed for your face shape. I once had a removal client that when I saw her, I thought ‘why does she want removal?’ Then she turned so I could see both brows. They both had the perfect shape, but the stencil was put on crooked on one side. Always make sure your artist measures your face and draws the shape on.


5. Make sure that you are completely happy before starting.

I preform allot of eyebrow removals for badly done permanent makeup. You wouldn't imagine how many clients I've had that have said to me, 'I trusted that they knew what they were doing'. 


Would you let a tattoo artist tattoo a wonky shape on your arm? No way! So why let someone tattoo your face when you're not totally happy with the way it looks?


The shape that is drawn onto the skin will be the template of what the artist will use. This should look clean and even. There may be lines drawn all over your face, which can be distracting, but you'll need to look past that. Some artists will use the inside of the line drawn or the outside- so it's good to ask. In most cases, the shape will also look bigger than it turns out, but it shouldn't go betond the natural brow shape.


Does the shape compliment your face? Are you happy to wear this shape for many years?

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