How to Make Eyebrows Thicker

Co-authored by Alicia Ramos

Last Updated: February 12, 2022 References

Thicker eyebrows always seem to come back in style, since a strong brow can enhance your eyes and give your face a more youthful appearance. If you've spent your life plucking and waxing your brows, and now you want them to be thick, the first thing to do is stop right away and let the hair grow back in. Since hair removal practices can have a permanent effect, you may need to fill in the gaps using an eyebrow pencil or powder. In just a few steps, your eyebrows can look thicker.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Finding Your Best Eyebrow Shape

1
Comb your eyebrows.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Alicia Ramos
Skincare Professional
Expert Interview. 12 June 2019.} Use an eyebrow brush or a clean mascara wand to sweep your eyebrow hairs up and to the sides, from the inner edge to the outer edge. This will help you determine the natural shape of your eyebrows, so you'll be able to identify places where you'd like more thickness and places that need to be trimmed back.^{[2]
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2
Measure your inner brows. Take an eyebrow pencil or another straight object and line it up from the edge of your nostril to the inside corner of your eye. The place where the pencil passes over your brow is typically where the brow line should start. If your brow starts to the inside of this line, you may want to grow in the hair or fill it in. Repeat on the other side.
- If your brow starts to the outside of the line (toward the center of your nose), you have the choice to either pluck the hair outside the line or leave it in place for a fuller style.
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3
Measure your outer brows. Now take the pencil and line it up from the edge of your nostril to the outside corner of your eye. The place where the pencil passes over your brow is typically where the brow line should end. If your brow doesn't extend all the way to the line, you may want to grow out the hair or fill it in. Repeat on the other side.
- If your brow extends past the line (toward your temple), you have the choice to either trim the hair outside the line or leave it in place for a fuller style.
4
Find the arch in your brows. Face the mirror and keep your eyes starting straight forward. Hold the pencil to your face and line it up from the corner of your nostril right past the pupil of your eye. The end of the pencil should pass over the place where your natural eyebrow arch is located. Fill in the thinner ends of your brows. As you reach the arch, start adding less density. Repeat on the other side.
- Many people pluck the hair on the underside of the arch to create a more defined look. The choice is yours, but if you're aiming for a thicker look, you may not want to pluck anything but stray hairs in the area.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Filling in Your Brows

1
Select a brow filler. You have the choice to use an eyebrow pencil, powder or cream to fill in the gaps where your eyebrow hair is sparse. Choose a filler that is 1-2 shades lighter than your eyebrows, so the final look will be as natural as possible. If you don't have a special brow filler, choose a matching eyeliner pencil or eyeshadow.
- Powders will create a softer, natural look. Use an angle brush, and make quick strokes to mimic the shape of hairs.
- Pencils create a more defined look.
- If you have fair hair and want a bolder brow, choose a filler that's a shade or two darker than your eyebrows.
2
Outline your brows with pencil or powder. Use tip of the pencil (or a liner brush dipped in powder) to faintly and carefully outline the shape of your eyebrows. Use quick, light strokes to make it look more natural. Connect the three points you identified: the inner brow, the arch, and the outer brow. Make sure the line stays close to your natural brow so you don't end up with a "drawn-in" look.
- This may take a bit of practice, so don't be afraid to wipe off the outline and start over.
- Remember to use a light hand; even just a bit of color will make your brows look thicker.
3
Fill in the gaps with quick, short strokes. Use the pencil, powder or gel to go back and fill in the areas with sparse hair that fall inside the outlines you made. Make small dashes so that it looks more like natural hair. Take a step back to ensure that your brows look natural and evenly filled, and that both sides are the same shape and size.
4
Set the look with gel. Use a clear eyebrow gel to hold the powder or pencil marks in place so they don't wipe off during the day. Use an eyebrow brush to brush the gel through your eyebrows, then let it completely dry. The gel helps to distribute the color evenly and creates a beautiful final appearance.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Growing Out Your Brows

1
Stop plucking, waxing and threading. Many people are afraid to stop, since the grow-out period for brows can be a little uncomfortable during that awkward in between stage. Eyebrows can take up to six weeks to grow in, so you'll have to practice patience to get the thicker brows you want. Do what it takes to wait it out, since removing those hairs will never help you reach your goal.
- You may be tempted to pluck a hair here or there in order to keep things looking neat, but it's advisable to grow out all of your eyebrow hair to see what you've got to work with before you resume plucking or waxing.
2
Deal with the grow-out period. When your hair starts growing back in, it may have the appearance of stubble. If you're worried about how it looks, try the following trick to mask the baby hairs as they're growing in:
- Apply a layer of wet foundation or concealer over the hair that's growing in.
- Apply powdered foundation in the same color. The powder will stick to the moist surface and provide a double-layered masking effect.
3
Exfoliate your brows to stimulate hair growth.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Alicia Ramos
Skincare Professional
Expert Interview. 12 June 2019.} Thinning or patchy brows can be the result of overplucking. You can encourage your brows to grow back in by using a soft toothbrush or washcloth to gently exfoliate the area. Wet the brush or cloth and move it over your brows in a circular motion to stimulate circulation and improve growth.^{[4]
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4
Eat a diet rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. Protein, Vitamin B, iron, and zinc are all important to growing hair, even on your eyebrows. Look for foods high in protein, such as eggs, beans, and nuts. Foods like kale, spirulina, fish, and whole wheat can help you get the vitamins and minerals you need.^{[5]
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- You can always take supplements with zinc and Vitamin B if you're not getting enough from your diet.

Expert Q&A

Question

What's the best way to get a natural brow look?

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.

Karina Villalta

Certified Esthetician

Expert Answer

Use some products with a smaller footprint, like brow gel, to fluff them up. Brow lamination is another technique that's starting to become really popular. It involves repositioning the individual hairs so they lay in a way where it's more natural.
Question

How long does brow lamination last?

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.

Karina Villalta

Certified Esthetician

Expert Answer

The effects of brow lamination are typically good for around 8 weeks. Your results may be a little better or worse than that depending on how often you touch your brows.
Question

Are thick eyebrows more attractive?

Laura Martin
Licensed Cosmetologist
Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013.

Laura Martin

Licensed Cosmetologist

Expert Answer

Thick eyebrows are more in style than thin ones right now. Thick brows tend to emphasize bone structure.