How to Get (or Fake!) Thicker Eyebrows

Fuller arches are so sexy right now, but not everyone is blessed with a set. Fortunately, it's easy enough to get the look with a few tricks and the right products. These are some of our favorites—like a great push-up bra for your brows.

The Inspiration

We spotted this model backstage at the Spring 2011 DKNY runway show. While her makeup looks fresh, it's her full brows that give her that extra-special, come-hither something.

Pencil Them In


NYC brow artist Hibba Kapil uses this brow pencil to outline the shape of the brows. Then, you just have to fill them in.

Origins Fill in the Blanks, $15, origins.com

Pick a Powder


You can use a powder to make your brows look lighter or darker, depending on your hair color, what you're wearing and the thickness you're going for. This set is a major splurge, but you get three shades, brushes and tweezers.

Chanel powder, $65, chanel.com

Try a Brush


For an overall darker look, dab an angled brush into powder and then wiggle it into your brows, following their natural shape. Brow artist Amy Kernahan developed this dual-ended version that you can also use to brush your brows into place.

Angled Brow Groomer, $24, amykernahan.com

The Right Tools

Yes, you want fuller brows, but they shouldn't be crazy-bushy. Use a sharp tweezer with an angled tip to ensure that you only grab the hairs that pop up outside your arch.

Tweezerman Mini Slant Tweezers, $10.99, amazon.com

Growth Potential


Step away from the tweezers! If you've overdone it, it's time to try a brow conditioner. This one contains all sorts of nourishing ingredients to help bring back the plucked hairs in a matter of weeks.

RevitaBrow, $71.99, amazon.com

Hold 'em in Place


Brow guru Eliza Petrescu says that after you fill them in, it's majorly important to set your brows with a gel if you want the look to last.

Brow Shaper Gel, $25, elizaseyeshop.com

The Whole Kit and Kaboodle

For the girl who wants it all—thicker, fuller, darker—but needs a little hand-holding when it comes to DIY, this kit comes with instructions from Too Faced creator/makeup genius Jarrod Blandino.

Too Faced Brow Envy Kit, $35, amazon.com

Put the Tweezer Down

A pluck here, a pluck there, and the next thing you know your tweezing ritual has robbed you of most of your eyebrows. What’s the deal? Focusing on a tedious task is mesmerizing in its way, and it also lets you feel more in control of your life- which help ease larger worries. But there’s a good reason for sparing your eyebrows:

Full brows frame and accentuate your eyes, so you can get away with wearing less liner and mascara. If your eyebrows are sparse, your first move is to let them grow in gradually, one row at a time. That requires patience. Brow hairs can take about three to nine weeks to sprout. To ease the awkward transition, fill in gaps with a pencil or powder that matches your eye brow color. You can try L’Oreal Brow Styliste Professional brow shaping too valued at $10.
Once brows have grown in, get pruned by a pro. Tell her you’re looking for a brow shape that flatters your face and ask her to leave them full but polished. Afterward, limit your DIY touch-ups to no more than once a week, rather than every morning. Resist the urge to pluck just one more hair and soon you’ll have broken your tweezers-happy habits for good.