Like clockwork, I used to get my eyebrows waxed or threaded every three months. They're just light enough that I could space out the appointments with plenty of time in between, and no one except me would really notice the difference. But when I finally learned how to shape them with makeup, I became frustrated every time they lost their slight arch a few short weeks after each appointment. The stubbly hairs that prevented my pencils and highlighter from going on smoothly were immensely irritating. As much as I wanted to book more sessions, I definitely did not want to turn it into a monthly expense. Luckily, it was around this time I discovered a drugstore gem: Nad’s Eyebrow Shaper.
When it comes to beauty, I've never been the DIY type. Boxed dye terrifies me, and at-home lash tinting gives me anxiety. It’s not that I don’t think people can do beauty treatments at home; it's that I'm always fairly sure I'm bound to screw it up. When I first considered giving at-home waxing a try, visions of entire missing eyebrows danced through my mind. My DIY skills basically extend to shaving my legs, but after watching (and rewatching) a demonstration, I decided to take the plunge. Turns out, it was both easy and painless, and I've been doing my own brows ever since.
The bargain tool retails at just about every drugstore (at $8 to $13, depending on where you buy it). It comes with cleansing wipes to prep your skin, the shaper itself (a wax-filled pen), and cotton strips to remove the hair. Nad’s also sells a more extensive $15 kit, which includes a bonus pencil for shaping and a post-waxing cream to soothe. Having tested both, I will say that as long as you have a brow pencil at home, you’ll be just fine.
To use the wand, I start with completely clean skin, usually right after I shower. I go in with the cleansing wipes before moving on to the most important step: shaping my brows. I'd suggest using your favorite brow pencil instead of the one Nad's provides here. (I’m currently loving Benefit’s Goof Proof Brow Pencil.) Once you have a rough outline of each brow (no need to fill them in), it’ll be easier to place the wax exactly where you want it. To help it go on more smoothly, I roll the tool between my hands a couple of times to warm it up, then twist the bottom a few times to dispense.
I start between my brows and along my brow bone to clean up the small, fuzzy hairs that grow there. As someone who enjoys a fuller shape, I tend to leave the tops alone, but to each their own. Speaking from experience, I suggest you cover several small areas at a time with more wax than you think you need instead of trying to do it all at once. This way you don’t have to worry about taking off too much (a personal fear of mine)—and you’ll make sure the strip attaches properly. Once you firmly cover the wax, pull against the direction that your hair is growing. I promise, it doesn't hurt. I usually get red after any kind of hair removal, but if I follow up with a gentle cleanser, toner, and calming moisturizer, it fades within 20 to 30 minutes.
Admittedly, the at-home version is never going to be as precise as paying to get your brows done, but I can always go back over the area the next day or week and touch up any areas I missed with a tweezers. I'm fully in control of how often I want to wax and get to save some money at the same time. Plus, I'm happy to report that I have yet to experience any mishaps that leave me brow-less. You can officially consider me a convert.
Nad's Natural Hair Removal Gel Facial Wand, $8, ulta.com
Olivia Muenter is a writer in Philadelphia. Follow her at @oliviamuenter.
