How to Find the Right Brow Style for You

Eyebrows are the framework of the face, they say, which is probably why taking out the tweezers and plucking your way to a new brow shape can feel so intimidating. Luckily, there’s a ton of ways to style your brows (just like your hair!) to create a new look—no wax strips needed. We turned to the arch experts at Benefit Cosmetics to get the lowdown on today’s most popular brow styles. Check out their brow styling tips below.

Natural

Soft and well-groomed with some subtle shape. This is a wearable, everyday look that works on everyone—all you need to do is enhance what you’ve got. Brush your brow hairs up and use an eyebrow pencil (we recommend one with a triangular tip, like Benefit Cosmetics Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil) to fill in any noticeable patches with short, light strokes. You don’t need to go beyond the edges of your natural brow. Use a spoolie brush to blend the pencil strokes and comb your brow hairs back into place, and then set your brows with a tinted brow gel, like Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow Volumizing Brow Gel.

Model wears Gimme Brow Volumizing Brow Gel in 04 Medium.

Feathery

This popular style emphasizes the texture of your brows for a full, fluffy look. The feathered effect works best with brows with some hair, but with the right tools, it’s not hard to fake. Start by brushing your brows up and using a brow pencil to fill in any sparse patches with short, hair-like strokes. Add a few tiny, almost invisible dots at the roots of your brows to enhance their texture and create a fuller look. A brow pencil with a micro-fine tip, like Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Eyebrow Pencil, is a must for this technique. Groom brow hairs up and out (especially at the beginning of your brow, near your nose) with a clear brow gel with some hold, like Benefit Cosmetics 24-hour Brow Setter Clear Brow Gel.

Model wears Precisely, My Brow Eyebrow Pencil in 05 Deep.

Dramatic

Bold and angular brows are great for adding dimension to the face—think Joan Crawford and other classic Hollywood starlets with sizzling stares. Use a brow pomade or a tinted wax to define and fill your brows, drawing the curve of your arch about two-thirds from the start of your brow. Set the wax with a pigmented brow powder—you can find both in Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings Eyebrow Shaping Kit. Accentuate your arches with a highlighter pencil, following the underside of your brow. Lightly blend for a visible lift.

Model wears Brow Zings Eyebrow Shaping Kit in 05 Deep.

Straight

Arches aren’t for everyone.Some of us prefer how we look with straight brows, which help add a fresh-faced, youthful look. To create a linear shape, use a brow pomade (like Benefit Cosmetics Ka-BROW! Eyebrow Cream-Gel Color) to stroke color through your brows, softening any curves or arches. The thickness of your brow should be consistent from start to arch, and then taper off from arch to tail.

Model wears Ka-BROW! Eyebrow Cream-Gel Color in 06 Deep.

You can virtually try on different brow shapes, styles, and shades and find your new favorite look with Benefit’s Brow Try-On Experience (no tweezers needed!).