If you learn how to prep your eyebrows for waxing, you’ll have a much better waxing experience. Good preparation can save you some pain. It can also get you a better result.
To prep your eyebrows for waxing, clean them thoroughly and outline your desired shape with eye/lip-liner and dust your skin with powder. Avoid strong heat for at least two days before waxing and do a patch test.
Is Waxing Good Or Bad For Eyebrows?
Assuming you follow the correct process, waxing is neither good nor bad for eyebrows.
It will irritate the skin for a while but the irritation will, however, quickly subside. In fact, it will generally be completely gone in just a few hours.
Regular waxing on a long-term basis may or may not lead to the hairs growing back lighter and/or weaker. If hairs do grow back, they will be completely healthy.
It is, however, important to note that waxing your eyebrows badly can do serious damage to both your skin and your hair.
In the short term, it can burn your skin although usually not enough for you to need professional medical help.
In the long term, it can damage the hair follicles to the point where your hair will not grow back at all.
Importance Of Prepping Eyebrows Before Waxing
There are two main reasons why it’s important to prep eyebrows thoroughly before waxing:
1. Makes waxing easier
It is important to prep your eyebrows as it makes the process of waxing quicker and easier. That means it’s less painful.
In particular, if you remember to powder your skin before waxing your eyebrows much less wax will stick to it. This will do a lot to reduce the pain of eyebrow waxing.
2. See better results
Preparation will generally mean that you get a better result. You’ll see exactly where you need to wax and where you don’t.
You’ll also be able to decide if eyebrow waxing will be able to deliver the results you want on its own.
In some cases, you may also need to thread, pluck, or trim your eyebrow hairs. You can also dye your brows before waxing as this will give a better and more defined result.
How To Prep Eyebrows For Waxing – Step By Step Guide
If you go to a salon, they will prep your eyebrows for waxing for you. If, however, you decide to wax your eyebrows at home, you will need to prep your eyebrows for waxing yourself.
Here are the steps to follow:
1. Stay away from strong heat
Strong heat will dry out your skin. It may even burn it. It’s therefore advisable to stay away from the sun as the heat can be bad for your brows, particularly if you plan on waxing them.
The damage will make them more sensitive. This will make waxing your eyebrows a lot more painful than it needs to be.
If you must go out in the sun, always wear a visor, peaked cap, or brimmed hat.
Also, put on sunscreen. Stay away from saunas, sunbeds, and any other source of strong heat.
2. Do a patch test
If you go to a salon you’ll most likely have to do a patch test for waxing. It is therefore also sensible to do one at home, especially if your skin is sensitive.
3. Have supplies ready
If you’ve decided to wax your eyebrows at home, it’s important to get all your supplies together before you start.
Items you will need:
- Home waxing kit/pre-waxed strips/cream wax
- Wax warmer (if using cream wax)
- Cleansers or soothing lotion
- Tweezers
A home-waxing kit is essential. That means you’ll need to decide between pre-waxed strips and cream wax.
Pre-waxed strips tend to be easier to handle. Cream wax, however, is often kinder to your skin and can give a better finish.
You’ll also need pre and post-wax cleansers and a post-wax soothing lotion (or non-fragranced aloe vera gel).
It’s advisable to have a pair of good tweezers at hand in case you need to deal with any hairs that get missed by waxing.
If you’re using cream wax, you’ll also need a wax warmer, wooden applicators, and Pellon strips (or muslin strips).
4. Put your hair up
Make sure all the hair on your head is well away from the eyebrow area. This is particularly important if you have bangs.
Don’t rely on styling products. Use scrunchies, ties, and/or pins.
5. Cleanse your skin thoroughly
You need to make sure that your skin is completely free of any makeup or regular dirt.
If you’ve been wearing makeup it may well take a double-cleanse to get your skin totally clean. Don’t exfoliate.
6. Define the eyebrow shape you want
If you go to a salon, you will need to communicate what you want from your treatment to your beautician.
Usually, the best way to do this is through photos. If possible, bring at least one photo and print it out.
That way the therapist will be able to see it throughout the process.
If you’re waxing your eyebrows at home, then you need to take care of this yourself.
Start by deciding what shape you want to achieve. Then comb your eyebrow hair so that it’s tidy but in its natural shape.
If necessary, trim or pluck any random hairs. For example, if you only have one or two hairs above your nose, plucking them is probably going to be quicker and easier than waxing.
Finally, use an eye/lip liner to create the shape you want. This will act as your guideline to show you what parts of your eyebrows to wax.
Just as importantly, it will show you what parts of your eyebrow not to wax.
7. Dust your eyebrows with powder
Dusting your eyebrows with powder helps to remove excess wax from your skin and hair. It also helps to protect your skin from the wax.
8. Check the temperature of your wax
Always check the temperature of the wax on your hand or arm before you apply it to your eyebrow.
A wax burn on your hand or arm will hurt. A wax burn in the delicate eye area will, however, be a whole lot worse.
Should You Wax Eyebrows At Home?
Whether or not you should wax your eyebrows at home depends on what your priorities are.
Waxing your eyebrows at home will almost certainly cost less than going to a salon.
You can also wax your eyebrows whenever you want. You’ll never have to work around when a beautician has an appointment available.
On the other hand, waxing your eyebrows yourself isn’t as easy as it sounds.
To begin with, you’ll only be able to see out of one eye. You’ll also be limited to the reach of your own hands.
A beautician will have the use of two eyes plus total freedom of movement. They’ll also have had a lot more practice.
Aftercare For Waxed Eyebrows
Immediately after you have your eyebrows waxed, you need to care for your skin appropriately.
Follow these tips for optimal aftercare:
1. Only apply light, non-fragranced products
In a salon, your beautician will probably apply cortisone cream. At home, you can use aloe vera gel and/or facial mists. Cold compresses are also very soothing.
2. Wait until skin is no longer red
You should wait until the redness has completely gone before you apply regular skin-care products, makeup, fragrances, or fragranced products.
Redness means that your skin is damaged. Products will then penetrate much deeper than usual.
This will almost certainly cause irritation and may even lead to infection.
3. Avoid heat
Try to avoid strong heat for at least a couple of days after you’ve had your eyebrows waxed.
If you absolutely must go out in it while your skin is still red, protect it with a visor, cap, or (brimmed) hat.
Once the redness has gone you can and should use sunscreen. It’s even better if you also wear a visor, cap, or (brimmed) hat.
Grooming waxed eyebrows
The best advice for grooming waxed eyebrows is – don’t.
Just leave them to grow back until you’re ready to wax your eyebrows again.
If you really feel the urge to tidy them up then trim them. Trimming just cuts the hair where it emerges from the skin.
This means that any mistakes will fix themselves fairly quickly.
Only thread or pluck if you’re really sure that a hair’s growing where it’s not wanted.
Before you decide, comb your eyebrows and fix them in place (e.g. with Vaseline).
Then stand about two feet away from a regular mirror (i.e. not a magnifying mirror). Then decide if a particular hair really is a problem or if you can leave it for a pro.