Perfectly groomed eyebrows can transform your face in minutes by playing up your beautiful facial features and framing your eyes. On the flip side, misshapen eyebrows can overshadow the facial features, and make you look tired or old. Moreover, the wait for the brows to grow back again can be excruciating.

There are many ways in which one can shape the eyebrows and remove unwanted facial hair. Methods like plucking, waxing and threading are popular. All these methods of shaping the eyebrows come with their own set of pros and cons. Here is a lowdown on each technique along with their good and bad points that will help you not only get but also maintain the perfect eyebrows.

Eyebrow Waxing

Eyebrow waxing is extremely popular and available at all major salons. This method of eyebrow shaping entails spreading a thin layer of wax over the area which has unwanted hair using q-tips or cotton balls, while holding the skin taut. Thin cloth strips are placed on top of the wax. The epilating strip is then rubbed in the same direction that the wax was applied. The strip is then pulled in one rapid motion to remove the hair and the wax. Now firm pressure should be applied with your hands to the waxed area. Remove any stray hair with tweezers, and clean the wax off your skin using baby oil. When using hot wax make sure that the highest-quality, low-temperature wax is used

Apart from strip wax for eyebrows, there are also the no-strip wax products. Apply the no-strip wax to the area from which the hair has to be removed. Wait for the wax to harden before pulling it out in the opposite direction to remove the hair.

Things to Note:

Do not apply liquid wax on the same area twice as the waxing can make the skin sensitive, and reapplication of the hot wax can lead to rashes.
Close the eyes during the process to prevent any wax from going into the eyes.
If the wax falls on the lashes, use petroleum jelly and eyebrow comb to remove it.
Avoid waxing if you are taking acne medications, birth control pills, hormone replacement medications or antibiotics that can make the skin extremely sensitive.
Avoid using strong exfoliaters on the face before waxing as it can make your skin turn red and scabby

Waxing Pros

Gives you beautiful, defined eyebrows, and curved, polished arches.
The wax strips easily grab the fine hair.
Conveniently available at salons.
The pain, and the time taken is significantly less as compared to threading where small patches of hair have to be yanked out.
The hair takes a long time to grow back - approximately two to four weeks.

Waxing Cons

Some people are sensitive to waxing, and may develop rashes or other skin problems after getting it done.
The skin around the eyes is thin, and continuous stretching and pulling can be tough on it.
Inexperienced stylists can ruin the shape of the brows by spreading the wax on hair that is not supposed to be removed.
To wax your eyebrows, you will need wax, strips, a heater, applicators and wax remover.
Waxing can have side effects for people who are on certain medications or have certain health complications.

Eyebrow Threading

Threading is a hair removal technique that originated in the Middle and South East. In this method, hundred-percent cotton thread is twisted and rolled around. The esthetician puts the thread in her mouth, and pulls it taut to accurately remove each hair. The unwanted hair is then entwined around the thread, and yanked out of the hair follicle. It is necessary for to hold the skin tight while the professional removes the hair. Unlike popular notion, threading does not involve removing individual hair but rather removes patches of hair in a go due to the thread.

Threading Pros

This method of hair removal is great for people with sensitive skin as threading does not pull or stretch the skin.
People on acne medications or blood-thinning oral drugs can use this method of hair removal without having any side effects.
Depending on the skill of the salon professional, the time taken would be somewhere between fifteen to twenty minutes for both brows.
It is reasonably long-lasting as the hair is removed from the follicle.

Threading Cons

It is very difficult to find skilled threading professionals.
The thread needs to be positioned and maneuvered in straight angles to grasp the hair and remove it. It is thus very difficult to achieve the same degree of detail as waxing the brows.
If the salon professional is unskilled then the hair might be broken before it is removed from the root. This can lead to quicker growth. Moreover, inexperience can also lead to uneven brows, ingrown hair and not to forget, lots of pain.
When the eyebrow is threaded, there might be multiple passes with the thread over the same area. This can cause irritation and skin reddening due to friction.

Both the methods of eyebrow shaping with their individual good and bad points, give you beautiful, groomed brows. What you choose would depend on your personal preference and needs. Before shaping the eyebrows, discuss with the professional about the technique along with the shape that you want, and whether it would suit your face or not.

Article Courtesy: Beautisecrets.com