Eyebrow shaping is not just a trend but an art form, one that has held significance across cultures and historical periods. Whether your face is oval, round, heart-shaped, or square, there’s an eyebrow shape that perfectly complements it. But how do we navigate this intricate world of arches and angles? The key is to learn about different eyebrow-shaping methods and understand which ones are best suited for your unique face shape.
In this guide, we’ll explore various eyebrow shapes and the face shapes they flatter the most. From straight to high arch, soft arch, S-shaped, and feathered eyebrows, we’ll provide detailed descriptions and tips to help you achieve your best look.
Understanding Different Face Shapes
Every face is unique, yet they can be broadly categorized into seven common shapes: oval, round, square, heart, diamond, long, and rectangle. The shape of your face can influence which hairstyles, glasses, and, most importantly, which eyebrow shapes will look best.
- Oval: Typically considered the most balanced and proportional face shape, the oval face shape is slightly longer than it is wide, with a rounded jaw and forehead.
- Round: Round faces are as wide as they are long, with fullness at the cheeks and a rounded chin.
- Square: Characterized by a broad forehead, wide cheekbones, and a strong, angular jawline, the length and width of a square face are typically the same.
- Heart: Heart-shaped faces have a broader forehead that gently tapers down to a more pointed chin. The widest part of the face is located at the forehead, while the lower portion narrows towards the chin, creating a distinctive heart-like shape.
- Diamond: Diamond faces are narrow at the forehead and jawline, with the widest point at the cheeks.
- Long: Also known as “rectangular” or “oblong”, these faces are longer than they are wide, with a square or rounded jaw.
- Rectangle: Similar to the square shape but longer, rectangle faces have a strong jawline, broad forehead, and wide cheekbones.
To determine your face shape, you’ll need a measuring tape. Measure across your forehead at its widest point, across your cheekbones (from the outer corner of one eye to the other), from your jawline at its widest point, and from the tip of your chin to your hairline. The measurements will give you a sense of your face proportions and help you classify your face shape.
Most Common Eyebrow Shapes
Straight Eyebrows
Straight eyebrows, as the name implies, have little to no arch, which gives them a straight appearance. They can make the face look more youthful and innocent. This eyebrow style is quite popular in East Asia, but it has also gained popularity worldwide due to its natural look.
High Arch Eyebrows
High-arch eyebrows have a pronounced and defined arch, making them the perfect choice for those seeking a dramatic and contoured look. They help to visually lift the face, making them ideal for people with oval or long face shapes. The high arch creates an illusion of a shorter face, balancing out the features perfectly.
Soft Arch Eyebrows
Soft arch eyebrows feature a subtle, less dramatic arch, providing a natural and understated look. These brows offer an easy-going yet refined appearance that suits nearly all face shapes. Soft arch eyebrows best suit round faces as they add a slight elongation to the face, providing balance and structure.
S-Shaped Eyebrows
S-shaped or curved eyebrows feature a soft, angled peak giving the brow a slight curve or ‘S’ shape. This type of brow can help to soften stronger, more defined facial features, adding a feminine touch. They’re particularly flattering on heart-shaped faces, as they can help balance the wider forehead and narrower chin associated with this face shape.
Feathered Eyebrows
Feathered eyebrows are characterized by their natural and slightly bushy look, mimicking the appearance of natural hair growth. This eyebrow style is about embracing and enhancing your natural brow shape and texture. It’s particularly flattering for those with square face shapes as the soft, feathered lines can help to balance and soften the angular lines and strong jaw associated with this face shape.
Eyebrow Shaping Techniques
Now that we have discussed different eyebrow shapes and the face shapes they suit best, let’s look at how you can achieve these styles.
- Tweezing: This is the most common method of shaping eyebrows at home. It involves using a pair of tweezers to pluck out unwanted hairs one by one.
- Waxing: This method removes multiple hairs at once and can create a clean, defined shape. However, it should be done by a professional to avoid any mishaps.
- Threading: This ancient technique involves using a thin cotton thread to remove unwanted hairs. It offers precision and is considered less painful than waxing.
- Microblading: This is a semi-permanent technique that uses a small blade to create hair-like strokes on the skin, giving the appearance of fuller, well-shaped brows.
- Eyebrow Tinting: This involves applying a semi-permanent dye to enhance, shape, and define your brows.
- Eyebrow Pencils and Powders: These are used for filling in sparse areas and defining the shape of the eyebrows. They come in various shades to match different hair colors.