Letting your brows grow out during lockdown? Make sure you read this A-list brow guru's advice first
When it comes to maintaining our brows at home, we've got used to the reality of plucking, waxing and even attempting threading if we're feeling brave. But for some of us, we've used lockdown 3.0 as a chance to let our eyebrows completely grow out. Why? As we all know, it's all too easy to over-pluck and end up with brows that are slightly too arched or a little too thin, and once that's happened, it's hard to get them back to the shape you had in mind without having to put up with stragglers for weeks on end.
If you've been letting your brows do their thang or want to sacrifice your brow appointments forever, we've called upon Sal Cikikcioglu, celebrity brow expert known for his incredible brow shaping and styling abilities as well as for anticipating the latest brow trends, to help with all things regrowth.
And it seems the world is desperate for his advice; one of the most-searched questions relating to brows is how to grow your brows out quickly. "It’s no surprise that as a brow stylist, it’s a question that I get asked constantly," he said. "I’ve worked with a number of clients who have over-plucked their brows in search of that perfect arch and are now struggling to grow them back."
Step away from the tweezers
Sal says while it’s incredibly tempting to keep plucking when you’re maintaining your brows at home, his number one tip is to step well away from those tweezers. "If you’ve already over-plucked or you were one of those 00s girls, there are a few solutions. Brows are big-business for cosmetic brands and there are a vast array of products that can help you achieve a fuller, natural look; even for avid pluckers."
Invest in a brow regrowth serum
"One of the hottest products right now is brow regrowth serums, which are designed to target follicles and promote the regeneration and growth of the hairs. These products are by no means a quick-fix solution, you’ll need to use them religiously, morning and night. I’ve used many serums myself and they do work – it takes a few months but it’s well worth the wait," he says.
His advice? "Leave the product in the bathroom next to your toothpaste to remind you to apply. Rapid Brow is one of the best I’ve used. For a more budget-friendly option, castor oil will help hair growth on your brows, it helps strengthen the hairs and will make it easier to style them, but will take a lot longer to get your desired re-growth."
Use a brow pencil to boost them
Whilst you’re waiting for your brows to regrow, you can fill them in with a great brow pencil/gel/pomade. "Anastasia Beverly Hills brow pomade is one of my favourites; it comes in many shades and I always advise going a shade lighter than you think you need to to allow you to layer and build. If you’re not a fan of pomades then Benefit Brow Zing is a fantastic alternative and comes in a range of colours. To keep your brows in place, I recommend Browcote, which is available at most Boots stores."
If you’ve got little or no follicles on your brow bone, an alternative option would be to consider booking in to have your brows tattooed on, also known as microblading once the lockdown ends.
Consider brow laminating
The latest brow treatment to hit the beauty scene is brow lamination, which sets brow hairs in the ideal position (this brushed up and defined) for up to six weeks. Of course, you'll have to wait until beauty salons are open again, but believe us, it'll be worth the wait.
Is the popular treatment right for you?
Sals top 3 tips for re-growing brows:
1. Throw away those tweezers (or hide them if you can’t bear to) – and keep those hairs there.
2. Find a reputable brow stylist who will advise you on a brow shape to suit your face.
3. Gently massage exfoliator around the brows to increase blood flow to the hair follicles weekly.
Here are the best brow products for fuller brows now...
Multi-tasking brow gel
bareMinerals Strength & Length Serum-Infused Tinted Brow Gel, £18, Boots
Call upon this multi-tasker for both instantly fuller, more defined brows as well as thicker hair growth over time. It combines a tinted gel with a hair-boosting vegan serum, continaing Red Clover Flower plus potent peptides.
Pigmented brow gel
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Gel, £19, Selfridges
Coming to Selfridges 8th March is Anastasia Beverly Hills first brow product launch in three years: Dipbrow Gel. Like the Dipbrow pomade, the gel has rich pigment (in 11 shades) with a strong hold, which can be brushed through brows with ease for extra fullness. If you've tried Glossier Boy Brow, it's similar, but packs more of a punch.
Microfibre brow gel
Guerlain Mad Eyes Brow Framer, £31, John Lewis
Ideal for a natural fluffed-up look, microfibres are suspended in the gel to add some oomf and volume to your natural brow shape, plus the clever rubber comb at the tip makes it easy to apply seamlessly.
Slanted brow pencil
Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil, £29, Space NK
The slanted tip of this pencil is ideal for creating hair-like strokes, particularly if you're lacking fullness at the front or tail-end of your brows. If the price is putting you off, be rest assured it lasts for ages.
Everyday brow gel
Glossier Boy Brow, £14, Glossier
We can't think of any product - brows or otherwise - that has become a cult classic quicker than this bad boy. When it's so easy to use, so reasonably priced, and creates such perfectly un-done brows, we can see why. A makeup bag staple.
Brow powder
Bobbi Brown Brow kit, £38.00, Look Fantastic
In an age where the gel formula rules the roost, this proves a powder can brow-build with the best of them. Not only does this give a soft, natural look but it also comes with mini tweezers. Take THAT gels.
Superfine brow pencil
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz, £22, Cult Beauty
This clever tool has become a firm favourite of celebrities and beauty bloggers alike, and for good reason. The waxy, thin nib means even a novice can draw on the more convincing of brows.
Volumising brow gel
Benefit Gimme Brow gel, £20, Benefit
Award winning, market leading, game changing, and so good it keeps selling out. Buy it when you can to create volumized brows in seconds.
Dual-ended brow pencil
Maybelline Brow Satin Pencil, £6.99, Superdrug
With a pencil on one end and a powder on the other, this is super handy for touch-ups on the go. Comes in 6 shades too (which is impressive for a brow product).
Soap brows
West Barn Co Soapbrows Kit, £12, Beauty Bay
Brushed up lion mane brows are still big news for 2018, and MUA's have been turning to soap to create a lasting and dramatic effect. Simply slide your spoolie along the surface of the bar and then brush through your brows in an upwards and outwards motion.
Tinted brow serum
BBB London Brow Build Gel, £21, Look Fantastic
Wraps around brow hairs, thickening them while giving a subtle tint and brushing them into shape at the same time.
