How to do eyebrows at home for beginners

First things first, you’ll need a few basics to get started. Grab a good pair of tweezers (slanted tips work best), a spoolie brush (or an old clean mascara wand), brow powder or pencil (pick a shade close to your natural brow color), and a brow gel or clear mascara for setting. If you’re feeling fancy, a small angled brush for powder or pomade can help with precision. Don’t have all of these? No sweat—start with what you’ve got. For example, if you’re using a pencil, go for something like the NYX Micro Brow Pencil—it’s affordable and easy to control. Pro tip: If your brows are super sparse, a brow tint or dye kit (like the one from Maybelline) can add depth before you even start shaping.

Before you start plucking or drawing, figure out your brow’s natural shape. Grab a brow pencil or a thin makeup brush and line it up with three key points: the inner corner of your eye (that’s where your brow should start), the outer edge of your nose to the outer corner of your eye (that’s where it should end), and the outer edge of your nose through the center of your pupil (that’s your arch). Draw light lines to connect these points—this’ll be your roadmap. If your brows are already over-plucked, don’t panic! Let them grow out a bit before shaping, or use a brow pencil to fill in gaps while you wait. For example, if your brows are naturally straight, avoid forcing a dramatic arch—embrace what you’ve got and just clean up the edges.

Now for the plucking—this is where things can go wrong if you’re not careful. Start by brushing your brows upward with the spoolie to see the strays. Only pluck the hairs below your brow line (the ones that grow downward) and the few strays above the arch if they’re way out of place. Never pluck the top of your brow—it can make your brows look uneven or too thin. Use small, quick motions with the tweezers, and pull in the direction the hair grows to avoid breakage. If you’re nervous, just pluck a few hairs at a time and step back to check your progress. For example, if you’ve got a unibrow situation, focus on the center first, then clean up the edges. And remember: it’s way easier to pluck more later than to glue hairs back on (yes, we’ve all thought about it).

Time to fill in those gaps! If you’re using a pencil, go for short, light strokes that mimic hair—don’t just draw a solid line. Start at the inner corner and work your way out, following the natural direction of your brow hairs. For powder, use a small angled brush to dab product into sparse areas, then blend with the spoolie. If you’re using a pomade, like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow, use a tiny amount on an angled brush to create hair-like strokes. The key here is to build up slowly—you can always add more, but it’s tough to take away without looking heavy-handed. For example, if you’ve got a patchy spot near the tail of your brow, use a lighter hand and blend outward to avoid a harsh line. And if you mess up? A little concealer on a flat brush can clean up the edges like magic.

Once your brows are filled in, it’s time to set them in place. Grab your brow gel (clear or tinted) and brush it through your brows in upward motions to keep everything looking natural and lifted. If you don’t have brow gel, a tiny bit of hairspray on a spoolie works in a pinch—just don’t go overboard or your brows will feel crunchy. For extra hold, you can also use a clear mascara wand to comb through and set the hairs. If your brows are a little unruly, use the spoolie to gently brush them into place before applying the gel. For example, if your brows have a mind of their own and point in every direction, the gel will tame them without making them look stiff. And if you’re in a rush, a quick swipe of gel can make it look like you spent way more time on them than you actually did.

Step back and take a good look in the mirror—do your brows look balanced? It’s easy to get hyper-focused on one brow and forget about the other, so check both from a distance. If one brow looks thicker or higher than the other, grab your pencil or powder and adjust as needed. A little concealer can also help clean up any uneven edges. For example, if your left brow’s arch is higher than your right, use a light hand to soften it or add a tiny bit of product to the right side to even them out. Don’t stress about making them perfectly identical—real brows aren’t symmetrical, and that’s what makes them look natural. If you’re really struggling, flip your phone camera to selfie mode and take a photo—it’s easier to spot differences when you’re not staring at your reflection.

Like anything, doing your brows at home takes practice. Don’t get discouraged if your first attempt isn’t Instagram-worthy—even the pros had to start somewhere. Try different techniques, like using a brow stencil (like the ones from ELF) if freehand drawing feels tricky, or experiment with different products to see what works best for you. For example, if you’re not loving the pencil, try a powder or a tinted brow gel for a softer look. And remember, brows grow back! If you over-pluck or make a mistake, just give them time to grow out and try again. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll get. Before you know it, you’ll be doing your brows like a pro while sipping coffee in your PJs. And hey, if all else fails, there’s always the trusty ‘brows on fleek’ filter to save the day while you’re learning.