I lost my hair to Alopecia when I was fifteen and I lost my eyebrows four years later. I used to have really thick eyebrows, so when I started getting bald spots it hit me hard.
It was super-important to me to get good at drawing them, but it didn’t happen fast. In fact, I had to really work at it. I definitely wasn’t a natural! The whole thing was a bit of a nightmare actually, but as a model I was lucky to get lots of help and guidance from some wonderful makeup artists, which I am sharing with you right now, in this post.
Yes, I’m passing on the tricks of the trade to you. I’m sharing the inside track on the best eyebrow products, as recommended by industry professionals, and I’m going to show you how to apply them for an editorial-grade look. With a little bit of help, you’ll soon be creating natural look brows that really pop – whether you’ve completely lost your eyebrows, or you’ve got a bald spot or two.
Product recommendations
I asked the best beauty bloggers and makeup artists to give me their top eyebrow products for people with hair loss, and I’ve also included my old faithful – the Illamasqua Eye Brow Cake – as a point of reference.
Watch Amber try out the best eyebrow products live
Amber wears Brunette Betty
I'd never used Urban Decay before, but this product enjoys a lot of online recommendations. It has a crayon on one end and the other end is a blade – like a marker – which is always good for definition.
It’s got a really nice texture that goes on smoothly, giving a natural shape to the brow. It also has a good colour. I love the way the blade/marker is a lighter colour and the crayon’s a bit darker. This really helps add depth and texture.
One thing I would say is that I have to be very gentle, not heavy handed, with the marker because it comes out quite heavy. So, use really gentle hairstrokes and you’ll get a great result.
The Brow Blade gives a beautiful natural brow. Well done Urban Decay. You made a great product there!
Kevin Aucoin Precision Brow Pencil
Amber wears Brunette
I've used this before and it's fantastic. The colour is absolutely beautiful. The crayon’s really thin which is great for precision and look. And from what I can remember, it stays on all day. The only issue is there is something a bit sticky about the way it rolls on – I’d like it to go on a bit more fluidly.
In the end it's all really about preference and how you like to draw on your brows – if you want precision and a long lasting look, I would definitely recommend it.
Mac the Shape and Shade Brow Tint
Amber wears Spiked
This hybrid product comes with a marker and a shadow so you're getting two products for the price of one.
The shadow doesn't really work when you don’t have eyebrows because there is nothing for it to go on to, so it looks a bit heavy and thick. You have to be really careful and delicate with the hairstrokes because the colour is so dark. If you're trying to draw your eyebrows for the first time, maybe this isn't the product for you.
But the eyebrow marker is wonderful. It does look like real brows; they are really feathery, and it’s so precise it looks like I've got micro-bladed eyebrows!
It's even stronger and darker in colour than Urban Decay so just be really gentle, or maybe go for a lighter colour.
A wonderful product, with beautiful precision, that may need more careful handling if you’re a beginner.
Amber wears Brown
I've been recommended this product by every single make-up artist I’ve talked to and I love all Glossier’s other products. So, I'm very excited to try it.
It's definitely the thinnest I’ve tried so it gives a fine, delicate hair stroke, which is fantastic.
The Brown is a little bit dark so I would probably layer it with little “dub” hairstrokes on top of a lighter shade, for a really feathered look with added texture. I’d maybe also experiment with it in a lighter colour to see what that's like.
Another pro is that it’s definitely waterproof. I took each of the eyebrow products off with a little cleanser on a cotton pad, and it’s the first one to not come off in one stroke. So, this would be a great one to use if you want to keep your eyebrows when you’re swimming!
This is a wonderful product if you want to add hair strokes on top of the brow you’ve created, for added texture. And it’s waterproof. I adore it.
Amber wears Number 3, Warm Light Brown
This one is a crayon with a brush, which is handy.
Sometime crayons can be a bit sticky but this one goes on really easily. The colour is beautiful too, and it has an easy-to-use twist-up tip that doesn’t need sharpening.
It's cheap and cheerful in terms of pricing, and it claims to stay on for twelve hours – which makes it very good value for money.
A great budget option with beautiful colouring and practical application.
Illamasqua Eye Brow Cake and Mac Small Angle Brush
Amber wears Stark.
This is my good old faithful powder. I’ve been using it for years, applying it with a Mac Angle Brush. You could use the Mac brush, or another angle brush – the important thing is to go for the thinnest one you can find.
The brush gives a lot of precision. It's also really soft on your skin, unlike quite a lot of crayons which can be a bit tough and tug your skin.
The Illamasqua colour is really perfect; a beautiful rich brown that really suits my complexion.
Start with a bit of “lickage” (technical term!). Lightly lick the brush to get a little colour on the brush and then build that natural brow, defining the shape with small delicate hairstrokes.
The key to natural looking eyebrows is to change up the strokes. Make some larger than others – some longer, some shorter, some wider, some thinner. This helps break it up – otherwise it can look too uniform, a bit stripey, and unnatural.
Don’t worry if you don’t get it right first time and it all goes a bit wonky. I can't tell you how many years of practice it took me to get the technique, and I still find one eyebrow is always so much easier than the other!
I've had this particular eye shadow for around three years. Some of the crayons and markers don't not so long, so this is a great money saver.
Still my favourite!
My recommendations
I am in shock! I didn't realise there were so many amazing products for eyebrows. They're all really wonderful and I definitely recommend every single one. You just need to experiment and see which works well for you.
My personal number one is still the Illamasqua – the one I’ve been using for ten years! The colour’s great and the precision is good – something tells me it’s always going to be number one! Love it!
Urban Decay Brown Blade: I love the crayon and the blade; I think you're getting a really good thing for your money. The crayon is smooth, and the precision of the blade is fantastic.
Kevin Aucoin Precision Brow Pencil: This one is really good for beginners because it’s so easy to use. And it lasts a long time; I’ve had mine for a couple of years.
Glossier Brow Flick: Because it’s so dark and precise it’s a great extra layer, adding real depth, real “pow” to your eyebrow look. A nifty addition to your makeup bag.
Mac the Shape and Shade Brow Tint: This one is wonderful when you know how to use it. It’s dark in colour and a lot comes out so you just have to be careful. Alternatively, try a lighter colour than you would normally go for, for a less intense look.
Benefit Precisely, My Brow: A great price, with a practical twist-up tip.
I hope you find this tutorial helpful. Please remember that drawn eyebrows take a while to master. It took me several years to get good at it, but I hope this video inspires you to give it a try and that it makes it easier for you.
I’d love to see pictures of your look – please share them with me and the lovely Hair Free community on Instagram #hairfreelife.
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