Eyebrows: I NEVER had them done, and need advice...

[smkiya]

I've always considered myself low maintenance, but it's time for a make-over. I've been wearing bangs forever, and I'm ready for a change. I intend to wear my hair off of my face and start wearing my contact lenses more often. In the past, my eyebrows have been a nonissue because of the glasses and bangs. I've never, ever, ever, had my eyebrows waxed or tweezed and am very apprehensive about the whole thing. I actually like my eyebrows, but I know that they could probably be "cleaned" as my sister says. I am so apprehensive about the whole ordeal, and am afraid that my brows will be ruined and won't ever grow back. So my questions are....

Where is the best place to get them done? (nail salon, hair salon, etc.)
How often will I have to get it done?
I don't want anything drastic, and am not sure what the best look for me would be. What do I tell the person doing it?
How much should this cost?

If I missed a question or there are things I should know that as a novice I wouldn't think of, please enlighten me!

 

[IheartMickey]

I think the worst look on a woman is eyebrows that aren't maintained. Bangs and glasses just bring more attention to that area of your face.

I would ask friends and see where they go. I get mine waxed or threaded, the threading has always been better. And don't worry, they will grow back and fast. I have to tweeze my eyebrows at least once a week to keep them cleaned up.

 

[IheartMickey]

Oh, and if you live in an area with a Benefit brow bar (usually in Macy's) I would go there first. They are awesome. In NY it was $20.

 

[phorsenuf]

I would recommend getting them threaded. They come out so much nicer with a cleaner line. Plus it lasts a lot longer then waxing.

 

[MotifNumberOne]

I get mine done every 3-4 weeks at the same time I get a haircut. I just go to supercuts and they wax my brows, it costs $10. I got them threaded once and it was pretty uncomfortable, waxing isn't bad at all - not any worse than ripping off a band aid.

 

[LongLiveDisney]

Threading is amazing. I agree with a PP that it comes out much cleaner with no irritation as opposed to waxing. It pinches but it won't be much. You'll look great after. Go for it!

 

[phorsenuf]

I get mine done every 3-4 weeks at the same time I get a haircut. I just go to supercuts and they wax my brows, it costs $10. I got them threaded once and it was pretty uncomfortable, waxing isn't bad at all - not any worse than ripping off a band aid.

After the first few times of having my brows threaded it got better. It was the same way with waxing, eventually you get use to it.

 

[TotalDreamer]

In my experience the nail salon has done the worst job. I love the nail salon I've been going to for years, but I have thin skin and the esthetician there always rips skin off.

I got them threaded twice, but they gave me (and most people from reading reviews) a very generic rounded shape that isn't natural to me.

The best place for me is the Benefit Brow Bar inside of Macy's or Ulta. They outline your brows before waxing and are trained to do them so that the shape is correct for your face. I also have never left there missing skin lol

It's $20 which more expensive than the other two options, but I love the results and I don't go too often because I like my natural fullness and shape plus I've learned to tweeze stays. I wouldn't try to shape my brows or do major hair removal on my own though! Also just fyi - if it's your birthday week you get a free service at Benefit.

I think I have good brows naturally, but it's amazing the difference getting them done makes.

 

[mommasita]

I would recommend getting them threaded. They come out so much nicer with a cleaner line. Plus it lasts a lot longer then waxing.

Agreed. Waxing and threading both hurt. It does hurt less for upkeep IMHO. That, or we gets used to the torture.

I also think a nice brow changes a face.

 

[Janepod]

For the first time, I would go to a nice salon. They will shape your brows -- a cheaper place won't do that, they'll really only clean them up. So once the shape you like is defined, it's easy to go somewhere like one of the cheap nail salons and just have them wax the new hairs.

It really is a big cosmetic improvement for very little $ and pain. I just remember the early 1990s when it took off ... look at all the photos from before then. We were a mess!

 

[Tinijocaro]

I would recommend getting them threaded. They come out so much nicer with a cleaner line. Plus it lasts a lot longer then waxing.

Yes they turn out nice but OUCH!

 

[Minerva Mouse]

I just heard of threading, I actually youtubed it last week, because I had NO clue what my co-worker was talking about. To watch the video was CrAzY, I was totally blown away. It looked annoying, to say the least, but in the end the eye brows looked amazing.

I am WAY over due right now, and I no longer have eyebrows. I have bushes! It's really bad!

 

[badblackpug]

I just saw a makeover thing on TV that said brow waxing with a good shape can benefit your appearance as much as a mini face lift.

 

[SandrA9810]

I hated the upkeep of tweezing my brows, and I finally decided to get them waxed. I only do it in Texas because my aunt knows the couple that run the salon. Its painful the first time because of the anticipation but its really not that bad. Maybe a little red for 10 mins afterwards. There are creams to help the soreness. Its a million times easier to upkeep than the first time, so don't let the initial pain determine it.

I think she charges about $7 for brows only, and as long as I'm in town, I do it every 3-4 weeks.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I did threading once and was crying half-way through it. It was too painful to me.

Then, to add insult to injury, when I came home, my husband couldn't stop looking at me and said he hated how I looked. I'm not sure what went wrong!

He said I just looked TOO different and the shape wasn't flattering to me.

I just leave my brows alone now. I do have very thin hair and they are barely noticeable now.

 

[smkiya]

I just saw a makeover thing on TV that said brow waxing with a good shape can benefit your appearance as much as a mini face lift.

Wow. I'm really curious now to see the results.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I personally don't think I have terrible eyebrows. They are not huge or bushy and I don't have a unibrow or hair in between at all. I guess a "shape" or "clean up" is really all I need. I never really paid much attention to eyebrows on other people when I looked at or talked to them, so I have no real frame of reference. I'll go within the next week, and update you guys on the results!

 

[joviroxx]

If I had to choose between doing my eyebrows and getting rid of the gray, Id pick eyebrows every time. Its the one thing I do NOT put off. It really does make a difference.

I get them done about every 3 weeks and maintain them at home in between.

 

[mjkacmom]

I think I pay $15 at salon (waxing, facials, massages, nails)? I know it's a lot cheaper at an Asian nail salon, but they just throw you down and rip (and I'm blond, so I don't want any mistakes - I need to keep as much as possible). It's really not that bad - I go every 6 weeks. Honestly, I don't know of anyone who doesn't have it done, if they're over the age of 14.

 

[Buckalew11]

I do my own but I have had others do them for me. I wax them.

Eyebrows make a huge difference in how you look. I have a few clients who have overdone it in the past and have some strange shaped eyebrows and now they do not even grow back in! Ugh!! It gives them a permanent surprised look as well as other weird "looks."

I'd be sure to tell the person doing it that you want them "cleaned up" and nothing drastic, etc. Sometimes people do too much.

 

[Cinderella94]

Tell them that you just want them shaped.

I love getting my eyebrows done. It hurts for 2 seconds in the moment but then after that I think it really does make your face feel so much better and just cleaner.