Mastering the art of a perfect arch can be intimidating. How do you locate this elusive feature? Is it safe to tweeze around it? To get to the bottom of all our burning brow questions, we checked in with eyebrow guru Malynda Vigliotti (aka Boom Boom) of NYC’s Boom Boom Brow Bar for all the eyebrow-raising details.
Find Your Arch
Boom Boom says there are three steps to defining your brows. “The space between the brows should be equal to or a little wider than your eyes,” she explains. “Use a makeup brush or pencil to assess.”
1. Hold the makeup brush parallel to the side of the nose, where the brush meets the brow. This is where the brow should begin.
2. Now hold the brush parallel to the outside edge of your iris (the colored part of the eye). Where the brush meets the brow is where the highest part of your arch should be.
3. Extend the brush diagonally from the nostril, following the outside edge of the eye toward the brow. Where the inside edge of the brush hits is where the brow should end.
The Mistake You May be Making
When it comes to shaping your brows, Boom Boom says you may be making an all-too-common error. “Most people remove the hair on the brow bone before the arch to try to create an arch, but that’s a big mistake,” she says. “It creates the dreaded ‘rainbow brow,’ which is a very dated look. If you accidentally tweeze in to the arch, it brings it down instead of lifting it up.”
Maintaining the Arch
Because they’re such a prominent feature, brows require a certain level of upkeep. Boom Boom says to stick with less permanent solutions—think product—rather than taking matters into your own hands with a set of tweezers. “You really don’t want to touch your arch after a professional shaping,” she says. “Use Boom Boom Brow Boostier powder ($22) to fill in the brows so they look thicker and bolder. You can also use the matte side of the Boom Boom Push-Up Brow Highlighting pencil ($19) to hide stragglers in between visits.”
Trending Topic
While eyebrows are a highly personal feature (some people like a thinner line, others are looking for a more lush look), there are beauty trends you may choose to follow. “The trend right now is toward a longer brow with a straighter arch,” says Boom Boom. “It will make you look younger.”
