Bold and beautiful, thick eyebrows make a statement the way very few other features can. Whether they’re worn au naturale or paired with a striking makeup look, thick brows define your features and command attention.
And with thick-browed beauties like Cara Delevingne, Dua Lipa, and Lily Collins to look up to, it’s no wonder people everywhere are putting down their tweezers and embracing their natural brows.
But if you’re not a naturally bushy-browed babe, don’t sweat it: we have some tips for bolstering hair growth with growth serums, common beauty products, and, of course, makeup. No matter if you have naturally thick eyebrows or naturally thin ones, this guide will help you celebrate your natural eyebrows while embracing the thick eyebrow trend as much as you want.
So, You Want To Thicken Up Your Brows
There’s no question that full, thick eyebrows are beautiful, and thankfully they’re now getting the attention they deserve. But while the tweezers may be on leave for now, it’s important to note that makeup trends come and go, and that embracing your natural eyebrows is key.
So if you have full brows, rock ‘em. And if your eyebrows are on the thinner side, you’re still just as stunning. But if you do want to get the look and try out the bold brow trend, there are a few methods you can try out to either actually promote hair growth in your eyebrows or give the appearance of thicker eyebrows.
If you’ve already stopped plucking your eyebrows as frequently (or stopped plucking altogether), you might consider using one of the three most commonly-used methods for growing thicker brows. These methods are investing in specialized hair growth serums, using common beauty products and oils for off-label brow boosting, and mastering brow makeup for a quick fix.
How to Get Thick Eyebrows with…Hair Growth Serums
Eyebrow hair growth serums stimulate the growth of your eyebrow hair using peptides, or short chains of amino acids, that help promote healthy hair follicles. Products like DERMADELLI’s Lash & Brow Regrowth Serum even contain caffeine and other plant extracts to jumpstart your eyebrow’s natural growth, and moisturizing agents to nourish your eye area.
While many formulations are meant to be worn on their own, if you can’t stand the idea of choosing between your brow makeup and using a hair growth serum, then LASHEM’s All Eyes on You Eyelash & Brow Enhancing Serum is for you. This double-duty lash and brow formula can be worn under makeup, so you can grow and thicken your eyebrows as you go about your day.
The bad news is, brow regrowth doesn’t happen overnight. No matter which product you use, you’ll have to use it regularly (at least once or twice a day, depending on the instructions) to see an increase. On the bright side, using either of the LASHEM and DERMADELLI products will give you visibly healthier, thicker eyebrows in just two to four weeks.
How to Get Thick Eyebrows with…Common Beauty Products
These products might not be marketed as eyebrow-thickening agents, but they feature key ingredients known to boost hair growth and nourish skin. In fact, many of these are products you might already use as part of your skincare routine–who doesn’t love multiple uses out of a single product?
One of the most versatile makeup products that doubles as an eyebrow thickener is castor oil. This oil is packed with antioxidants and omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, not to mention vitamin E, all of which boost hair growth and nourish your skin. BRIOGEO HAIR CARE’s B. Well Organic + Cold-Pressed 100% Castor Oil is not only cold-pressed to ensure no nutrients are lost in production, but it’s certified organic and fair trade, too. You can boost your brows while boosting the world as well!
To use castor oil to promote thick eyebrows, simply dab a small amount over your eyebrows using a Q-tip or a spoolie. Sweep the castor oil up, mimicking your eyebrow’s natural hair growth, until your brow is fully saturated.
Another great option for getting thicker eyebrows is aloe vera. Aloe Vera are most commonly used for soothing dry or damaged skin, but its naturally regenerative properties mean it’s a great option for stimulating hair growth as well. To get the most out of your eyebrow-thickening aloe vera, apply a small amount to your eyebrows. Leave on for 30-60 minutes, then rinse with warm water to remove.
How to Get Thick Eyebrows with Makeup
If waiting isn’t your thing or you want thick eyebrows ASAP, your best bet is makeup. While achieving a natural thick eyebrow makeup look does take some practice, once you master it, it’s super simple to recreate and gives you the bold and bushy eyebrows of your dreams.
There are so many different makeup products available today that darken and define your brows, and some even have the added benefits of growth-stimulating ingredients. What product you decide to use really decides on your own personal preference and the type of look you’re going for.
If you want a buildable, stay-put brow, begin with an eyebrow wax to fill in any sparse eyebrow hairs and set with a powder eyebrow pigment of the same colour.
For a quick-and-easy brow-building makeup you can use on the go, eyebrow pens. This product includes a spoolie (for brushing and shaping your eyebrow hairs) on one side and a pigmented angled tip on the other, so you can get bangin’ brows wherever, whenever.
If you have slightly more time to spend building up your eyebrows, reach for an eyebrow pomade or gel.This smudge-proof product dries matte and sets eyebrow hairs beautifully, so you won’t have to worry about shine or strays throughout the day.
The specifics of how you get your fuller eyebrow look will depend on which product you decide to use, but in general, there are only three basic steps to build on when creating your eyebrow look.
Step 1: Brush
Brush up your eyebrow hairs using a spoolie. Brushing your brow hairs up makes it easier to see any gaps in your eyebrow hair that you might want to fill in, and makes sure your eyebrow hair will be untangled and not clump when you apply product.
Step 2: Define
If you’ve never filled in your eyebrows before, we recommend using either an eyebrow pencil, like in a color one to two shades darker than your own. We find it easiest to start building our brow shape from the middle of our eyebrows, using light, feathery strokes that mimic the natural shape of your eyebrow hair. Begin sweeping the pencil or brow brush (after dipping it in powder) up and out towards the tail of your eyebrow, or the outer edge near your temple, tapering to a point as you go. To get a good idea of where you should end your color, hold your eyebrow pencil or brush at an angle at the outer corner of your eye, mimicking the line your lower lash line would follow if it were extended. Where your pencil or brush meets the end of your brow bone is the farthest you’ll want to draw your eyebrow for a natural look, but feel free to take it farther if you’re after a more dramatic or statement look.
Go back in with your pencil or powder and angled brush and begin filling in moving towards your nose. Again, unless you’re after a super bold, graphic brow, you’ll want to keep your strokes light and soft the closer in you get to your nose, so that you’re left with a gentle gradient that mimics your natural eyebrow hair.
Step 3: Set
If you used a powder and brush, you’re all set to jet off with your defined brows. But if you’ve used a pencil or some other product, like an eyebrow pomade or gel, you’ll want to go back in with a pressed powder or setting gel to lock in the eyebrow you’ve created and minimize the chances it smudges during the day. We recommend MAC COSMETICS’ Brow Set for a natural, stay-put finish to your brows. This is also a great time to sculpt out a defined brow arch or add in sporadic darker strokes to make your drawn-in eyebrow look more like real hair, especially if you choose to use a setting gel or powder slightly darker than your natural eyebrow hair.
All brows are beautiful, and whether have thick, thin, sparse, or full eyebrows, everyone should embrace their natural beauty.
That being said, if you’re set on bolstering your brows, be prepared to take care of them, and be patient with the process (it could take a while!). While makeup is the fastest method to thicken your eyebrows with the least amount of commitment, it’s always great to give a little extra care to your eyebrow hairs and nourish them with products and oils. No matter if you choose to use one method or all three, your brows are sure to be bushy, bold, and beautiful!
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