How Many Products to Achieve Perfect Brows?

[makinalist]

I am wondering how many of us use more than one product to achieve our best brow color.  Please tell us if you use, for instance, both a pencil and a powder, or two shades of pencils, or two of powders.  I have just run out of my beloved Lancome Taupe pencil and lately I have been a tiny bit unhappy with the color. 

I once had light brown hair, which is now mostly silver.  My actual brows are skimpy.  I hate a brow color that turns gold, red, yellow, or (heaven forbid!) orange.  I am thinking I may have to start combining, say, a light brown with a gray, or something.
 
Does anyone else have to do such a thing, or have you all found your perfect shade in one complete package?

[cara4art]

It sounds like a color in a light cool taupe would work for you. Since my hair isn't grey, and I naturally have dark brows(although they are thinning on the outer parts)I just fill in with the MAC brow product that I've had for more than 4 years now. They don't even make it any more, I think. The combo is called Walnut/Ivoire(because of the highlighter that's included). I brush it on lightly with a small angled brush - it works for me. I only pluck a little, as I like natural, characterful brows, not this bland "lady-like" generic brow look. I've never had my brows done either.

[makinalist]

Thanks, Cara.  That is what I am hoping to find.  The problem is that many taupes are too dark, and when I look for something lighter I end up in blonde territory, which reads yellow on me. 

Hence my question about using two shades together.  I'm wondering if anyone else has to do this to get her brow color right.

[ILuvLucy]

Have you seen the ELF eyebrow kit? I have this in "light", though if I see it at Target in the "ash" shade, I'd like to try that.  Or, have you tried one of your eye shadows? You might already have something.
My problem isn't finding the correct color, it's getting the right shape.  My eyebrows are so wonky from over-tweezing and then trying to let them grow in. 

Link to the ELF:
http://www.eyeslipsface.com/studio/eyebrow_kit

[makinalist]

Ash is definitely the one I would try as well.  I am really accustomed to using a pencil, though...don't know if I could learn new tricks at this point!  At least I never over-tweezed, since I never had enough brow hairs to attack!

[christinedenice]

I use Rimmel brow pencil in Hazel (a darker taupe that doesn't look reddish) first, stroking it against the grain on the brow hairs only (I don't like to get the color on the skin underneath--my brows are rather sparse, and i think it looks odd on me to color the skin. After that, I brush the brows back into place and go over them lightly with Lancome's powder brow pencil in Taupe. Lately, I've been adding a bit of Tough as Taupe e/s as the third color, just lightly, using an angled eyeliner brush.

Like you, Listy, I'm still searching for that perfect brow shade. I used to be devoted to Chanel's Blonde Taupe pencil, but it's too light for me now. Would love a suggestion for a gray pencil.

I also prefer a natural brow shape, Cara. I only pluck the strays.

[makinalist]

This kind of technique is what I am wondering about, Christine.  You are using one color against the grain and another going back in the normal direction.  It seems to me that this multi-color approach might result in a more natural-looking result. 

I have an old Besame dual brow pencil that has both gray and taupe.  The gray does not look natural at all, but sometimes I experiment with mixing it.  I don't know if they still make that one.

I also have a drugstore pencil by Lumene in gray-brown that I like fairly well.  I do have to be careful not to press down so hard that it gets too dark, however.  This is what I am using right now, since my Lancome is all used up.

[Poppyfields]

Good luck with your search for the perfect brow, Listy.  So far I'm still using a 'blond' pencil.  Thankfully my thin brows have not changed yet.

[makinalist]

Oh, my brows haven't changed, Poppy.  It's my hair that has transformed itself. 

[Styyna]

I find that Bobbi Brown's gray eyeshadow works well in my brows. This has been true for many years, long before my first gray hair showed up.

[makinalist]

I have never tried an eyeshadow for this, although I read about it everywhere.  I guess I had better try something new!

[Cougar]

Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow is great in brows. I'd suggest the "ash" shades to avoid the orangey tones.

Blonde - medium ash brown
Cement - grey beige
Flint - light grey brown
Grey - light grey
Hot Stone - medium ashy brown
Mahogany - dark ash brown

[anne]

Lol, Makinalist, I was going to suggest Lumene´s grey-brown to you!

I have my brows done = plucked and dyed every 3 - 4 weeks. Then, I just apply brow gel. My brows look absolutely great afterwards! It´s a miracle. My whole face looks better.

If I have to wait longer for an appointment, I apply e/s or brow pencil plus eyebrow gel.

[Swest]

l sometimes use shadow to fill in sparse parts at the end ,when I go too far with plucking. My brows are still somewhat dark but I have been plucking a few more strays at the end. It does not take much for me to over pluck so I have to be precise. I use my  Cargo cool palette and mix the med taupe with one of the lighter shades to customize to my brow color then use a fine pointed concealer brush and use light upward strokes to fill in. I have a sample of Bobbie Browns cement as a well.

[linc2]

I also use eyeshadow for the "filling in" work.  I find the color range more variable, and thus easier to find the ideal. Also, applying eyeshadow with an angle brush fills in much quicker than a pencil.

Here's my product list to achieve "perfect" brows (they are far from perfect, but infinitely better than au naturale!) My hair is dark brown, but my brows are faded and thinning.

1. Color them with Just for Men Mustache (dark brown), about every three weeks. I leave the gel-ish product on for about 10 minutes. This brings the color back to a respectable baseline.

2. Daily, fill in with MAC Handwritten, using an angle brush.

3. Touch up lines with LM pencil in Brunette.

4. Maybelline clear gel, when I remember. It's ok, but nothing special. Loved Chanel clear brow gel, but it's dc'd.

I need a lotta steps, but they're pretty fast. Brows make a HUGE difference.