Bold eyebrows are having a moment right now. If your eyebrows aren’t naturally Instagram-ready, don’t worry—giving them a boost is as quick and easy as swiping on a little mascara. Grab a tube of your favorite eyelash mascara, or buy one that’s specially made for eyebrows. You’ll soon be on your way to having the darker, fuller brows you crave! Eyebrow mascaras containing wax or gel can help you achieve feathery boy-brows or a more sleek, carefully groomed look.

1

Try regular mascara in a pinch for full, dark brows.

  1. Use regular mascara if you don’t want to buy a special brow product. There are lots of mascaras on the market designed specifically for eyebrows, but don’t let the marketing hype fool you! If you don’t want to shell out for yet another makeup product, follow the lead of many pro makeup artists and just swipe on your regular eyelash booster.[1]
    • Mascara will make your brows look darker and fuller, and will also make the hairs appear a little longer, just like with your eyelashes.
    • If you’re worried about using the same mascara wand on your brows and lashes, clean the wand between uses. Soak it in warm water and wipe off the softened makeup, then let the spoolie soak again for a minute in a makeup brush cleanser or a bit of rubbing alcohol. Rinse it and pat it dry with a paper towel.[2]
  2. Advertisement
3

Use tinted eyebrow mascara to define and tame brows.

  1. Pick a shade close to your natural brow color for a subtle look. Most products that are sold as “eyebrow mascaras” contain waxes to help groom and control your eyebrows as well as darken them. They come in a variety of colors, so look for one that’s close to the natural shade of your eyebrows.[4]
    • Darkening up your brows will give you a fiercer, more made-up appearance. Grab a mascara in dark brown or even black to really make your brows stand out. This is a good option for an evening out or a photo shoot.[5]
  2. Advertisement
4

Wipe the excess mascara off the wand first.

  1. This helps you avoid the dreaded clumps. Don’t just grab your spoolie and go. Before you start, carefully scrape the excess mascara off the wand on the edge of your mascara tube.[6]
    • You can also wipe off the excess by lightly brushing the wand over a tissue before you use it.[7]
5

Swipe the wand over each brow once for a natural look.

  1. Move in the direction of the hair growth for even coverage. Don’t worry about grooming your brows for now. Just follow the natural direction of each hair as you swipe on the mascara. This will help ensure that each hair is fully coated.[8]
    • If you’re using a mascara that matches your natural brow color, don’t be afraid to push down and apply a little pressure. It’s okay if a little of it gets on your skin, as long as you stay within the natural borders of your eyebrows.
    • If you’re using a darker mascara, be a little more cautious. Take it slow and make sure you’re just coating the hairs without getting any mascara on your skin.[9]
  2. Advertisement
6

Brush in the opposite direction for extra color and volume.

  1. Try this if you’re not satisfied with your coverage after one coat. Take your spoolie and brush your eyebrows back the other way so that you coat the other side of each hair.[10] For an even fuller, bulkier effect, wait for your first coat to set a little bit before you go in with a second coat.[11]
    • If you’re using a very dark mascara, experiment with skipping the first coat and just doing one coat against the grain. This will help prevent your brows from looking too overdone.[12]
    • To get a fluffy, tousled boy-brow look, just let the mascara set after this. You’re good to go!
7

Comb the hair with a clean spoolie after the mascara dries.

  1. This tidies up your brows and removes any mascara clumps. It also separates the hairs for a more well-groomed appearance. Let your mascara set for a minute, or until it feels dry. Then, grab a clean spoolie brush and gently comb it through your eyebrows in the direction of the hair growth.[13]
    • Brush the hair up instead if you prefer a feathered look.
  2. Advertisement
8

Fill in any gaps with a brow pencil or powder.

  1. Check for any gaps or bare spaces in your brows. If you spot any, use a brow pencil or eyeshadow to carefully fill in the spaces with natural looking, hair-thin strokes.[14] Make sure you use a shade that matches your eyebrow color.[15]
9

Rub away smudges gently with a dry spoolie.

10

Remove brow mascara before bed with makeup remover.

  1. Sleeping in your makeup can damage your skin and hair. Grab a makeup remover wipe or pour your favorite makeup remover onto a cotton pad. Gently swipe the pad or wipe over each eyebrow, taking care not to tug or rub hard on your hair and skin.[19]
    • After you take off your makeup, wash your face with a mild facial cleanser to get rid of dirt, dead skin, and any remaining makeup fragments. Don’t forget to moisturize when you’re done!
    • You don’t have to use expensive makeup removers and cleansers to clean up your brows and eyelashes. Vaseline is a great, gentle makeup remover. Follow up by washing your eye area with a tear-free baby shampoo.[20]

Things You’ll Need

  • Regular mascara or eyebrow mascara
  • Tissue
  • Eyebrow pencil or powder
  • Clean spoolie brush

About This Article

Shara Strand
Co-authored by:
Makeup Artist
This article was co-authored by Shara Strand and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD. Shara Strand is a Makeup Artist and the Founder of Shara Makeup Studio, a makeup and image consulting studio based in New York City. She has over 15 years of image and makeup consulting experience including working as a regional artist for Bare Escentuals and Estee Lauder, Saks 5th Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Bergdorf Goodman. Her work has been featured in WNBC, Fox 5, Direct TV ABC morning news, and Hamptons Magazine. She is the creator of Shara Cosmetics and is a two time Billboard charted singer. She holds a BFA from New York University. This article has been viewed 13,135 times.
5 votes - 60%
Co-authors: 5
Updated: January 17, 2022
Views: 13,135
Categories: Mascara
Article SummaryX

Brow mascara can help make your eyebrows look fuller and darker. Before you swipe on any mascara, wipe the excess off of the spoolie on the edge of the tube. You can also lightly brush the spoolie over a piece of tissue. For a subtle look, swipe the wand lightly over each eyebrow once, following the direction of hair growth. To add extra color and volume, sweep the wand back in the opposite direction, going against the grain of your eyebrows. Once the mascara dries, grab a clean spoolie and gently brush it through your brows to tidy them and remove any clumps. When you’re done, check for gaps or bare patches in your eyebrows. Fill them in with a brow pencil or some eyeshadow in a shade that matches your brow color. Use thin, hairlike strokes for a more natural effect. If you accidentally get any mascara on your skin, wait for it to dry completely. Then, gently flake it away with a soft, clean spoolie. You can also clean it up with a cotton swab dipped in micellar water. Always clean off your eyebrow mascara with a makeup remover before you go to bed, since leaving it on overnight could damage your hair and skin. For expert tips on how to choose the best eyebrow mascara for you, keep reading!

Did this summary help you?
Advertisement