There is one thing I instantly notice on women everywhere this season – their eyebrows. When did not waxing get so popular? I remember once upon a time girls would pluck away at their eyebrows until they were virtually gone – just a slim line of hair arching over the eye. I know this all too well as I was a victim to this, regularly armed with tweezers to pull away at the next hair until my eyebrows had almost disappeared. I remember once having literally half an eyebrow I had got that carried away – definitely not one of my best looks. But, now, thanks to some saviour out there with a genius idea, eyebrows are running wild. It has suddenly become fashionable to leave them as they are, the bigger the better, the darker the bolder and there is no need to preen and obsess over them
like we used to. Seen on the runway everywhere this spring/summer 12, Derek Lam, Versace and Diane Von Furstenburg to name a few, this new beauty trend is taking hold of girls everywhere.
However, there are some vital things to look out for that could turn this hit into a massive miss. Dubbed the ‘Scousebrow’ by reality TV show Desperate scousewives, going overboard and using the wrong colour pencil to shade them in is definitely a no no. Looking like your eyebrows have been drawn on with a black marker pen is, like the show itself, not quite so popular. (Desperate Scousewives has been axed after just one series.)
Before and after the Scousebrow. Stay away from this eyebrow look!
I asked some students at the University of Sunderland what they thought about this new trend. Sarah Allen, drama student said: “Using eyebrow pencils makes your natural eyebrow shape look more defined, not like scousebrows which are too dark. YAKKK.”
Brett McCarten added to this idea of the scousebrow saying: “It makes girls look like pampered cavemen.” Whilst Luke Whitehead said: “Colouring eyebrows in makes women look fake and plastic – it’s all about the natural look!”
So, to make sure the North East gets this new trend right, I spoke to fellow fashion student and blogger Lauren Sutcliffe.“I look back on old photos and cringe so bad at my thin eyebrows! I draw them in a bit darker with the brow kit from benefit. Darker and defined brows frame your face and enhance your eyes if they are still true to the natural shape of your brow.”
It is entirely up to you if you want to go all out and forget waxing/plucking/threading altogether like Derek Lam showed on the s/s 12 catwalks. For this look, leave the shape natural and use a brow pencil to add colour and show extra definition.
Models from the Derek Lam Spring/Summer 12 shows
But – if going without plucking is just a bit too daring for you, tweeze away any stray hairs and be sure to follow the natural arch of your brow, never taking away from the top. Be careful not to get too carried away, we still want big eyebrows this season! After you’ve achieved your perfect brow shape, use an eye shadow or pencil to colour them in, defining and framing your face. When choosing the right colour, Benefit’s brow expert says: “Your brows should always be one or two shades darker than the hair on your head.”
Below is a video by a make-up artist at cosmetics Bobbi Brown to show how to create this bold eyebrow look.
5 of the best eyebrow kits on the highstreet
Clarins Eyebrow Kit “Pro” Palette £32.00
Modelco Designer Brow Kit £24.00
Roker Online 