Learning how to draw eyebrows on evenly is one of the most difficult makeup tricks. How many times have you heard the expression “eyebrows are sisters, not twins!” I’m guessing if you’ve ever had a brow wax or threading appointment or your makeup done at a beauty counter, then the tech or makeup artist has said it and with good reason.
The main concerns I hear from my clients is that they have lived for years with over plucked, misshapen eyebrows and more often than not, one eyebrow is higher than the other, which can make it trickier to learn how to draw eyebrows correctly.
With the help of this very famous and gorgeous family, i’m going to show you that this is actually a very common phenomenon and actually, not necessarily a bad thing. Take a look at the photos below of Kris, Kendall, Kim, Kylie, Khloe and Kourtney. What’s the one thing that each one of them has in common? (apart from their millions of dollars and exquisite style). They all have one eyebrow ever so slightly higher than the other and I’d bet without makeup it’s even more apparent. Now you’ve seen it, you won’t be able to unsee it!
Kris Jenner
Kendall Jenner
Kim Kardashian West
Kylie Jenner
Khloe Kardashian
Kourtney Kardashian
The anatomy of the face is very complex and perfect symmetry is virtually impossible to achieve. The hours I spent as a beginner, drawing on eyebrows, thinking i’ve got them perfectly matched only to find that from a slightly different angle, one looks rounded and the other looks flat! Imagine my frustration.
After doing a bit more research into the anatomy of the face, it is clear now why eyebrows never look exactly the same. The bone structure, muscles and skin all play a part in how our brows appear and the facial muscles on each side of the face work independently. I’m a perfect example of this, I have a VERY strong and active muscle on the right side of my forehead that seems to have a mind of it’s own and ALWAYS looks slightly higher and more arched. If you ever come into the clinic to see me – promise not to stare at my freaky eyebrow!
How to draw eyebrows:
Symmetry Is Overrated!
Take a look at Angelina Jolie in the photograph below, easily considered one of the most beautiful women in the world but when you look closely, you can see that even she is not completely symmetrical. Her right hand side is slightly higher than the left and the right side of her face is slightly shorter than the left.
Angelina Jolie
Due to most people having asymmetrical bone structure, almost everyone has a flat side and a rounded side of the face. Again, if you look at the photograph of Angelina Jolie above you’ll notice that her right brow is slightly higher than her left brow, meaning her right side is more rounded and her left side is flatter, making her left brow appear slightly lower.
If I collected a pound from every client that says “I just can’t get my brows even!” i’d be on a beach somewhere right now. So, in summary, whilst we strive for symmetry when drawing our brows, it is almost impossible to achieve perfection. Bear this in mind when pencilling in your own brows (and stop giving yourself a hard time!)
How to Draw Eyebrows:
The Golden Ratio
Here I am going to show you the three most important measuring points and how to draw eyebrows on yourself using these three points. These points are known as the golden ratio and work with your natural features and symmetry. First, a basic lesson in eyebrow anatomy and terminology.
THE BULB : The front of the eyebrow closest to the nose.
THE ARCH : The highest point of the eyebrow.
THE TAIL : The end of the eyebrow and also the narrowest part of the eyebrow.
How to Draw Eyebrows: Step by Step.
When measuring and drawing your own eyebrows, look straight ahead at the mirror.
1 First, measure where the BULB should start. To find this measuring point, imagine a line running straight up from the tear duct. This should ideally be in line with where your brow starts naturally but not always. You can use a pencil, a piece of string or your finger to check this. Make a little mark with your brow pencil to show where the bulb should start.
2. Next, measure where the ARCH should be. To find this measuring point, imagine a line running from the crease of you nose, through your pupil. This will show you where the highest point of the brow should be to fit your natural features. Make a little mark with your brow pencil to show where the arch should be.
3. Then measure where the TAIL should end. To find this measuring point, imagine a line running from the crease of you nose, through the corner of your eye. Make a little mark with your brow pencil to show where the tail should end.
Top Tips on How to Draw Eyebrows
1. Using the golden ration, ensure you measure your bulb, arch and tail and check that your brows are balanced throughout the drawing.
2. Choose the best brows for your face shape by checking out this blog post and learning about how brow shapes and face shapes work together.
3. If you want to add height to your arches, add from above and check for balance on both sides. Remember, plenty of us are asymmetrical so don’t stress if you can’t make this perfect.
4. If you want to create smoother, flatter eyebrows, add volume to the arch from underneath, this will flatten the shape and create the look you desire.
5. Drawing away from th nose tends to create ore rounded shapes than drawing towards the nose,. Depending on what shapes you’re trying to create, if you’re aware of your hand movements and you’ll find that half the battle is won!
Thanks for reading and if you enjoyed this post (and even had some A HA! moments) be sure to share!