Beauty
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

How Do I Choose the Best Eyebrow Arch?

A. Rohlandt
A. Rohlandt

The best eyebrow arch is one that will suit your facial shape. Oval faces look best with a soft angled eyebrow, whereas long faces can be shortened with flat eyebrow arches. If you have a round face you can choose a very arched brow, but you could also use the soft angled brow arch. A square face shape looks best with a curved eyebrow arch, and if you have a very square jaw line, you may need thicker or stronger brows. Eyebrow arches can also be changed slightly to make the eyes appear farther apart or closer together.

The oval face shape is considered by some to be the perfect shape, as it is balanced and the features are proportional. If you have an oval face, you won't need to balance the face with a special eyebrow arch. Softly arched eyebrows that create moderate height should work well with this face shape.

An eyebrow pencil can be used to help enhance an eyebrow arch with creative shading.
An eyebrow pencil can be used to help enhance an eyebrow arch with creative shading.

If you have a long face, your forehead is likely to be quite long, and this can add to the appearance of "lengthiness," so you should avoid an eyebrow arch that adds height to the face. A flat eyebrow arch is best to help create the illusion of a shorter forehead. This arch creates flat lines that draw a viewer's eye horizontally, away from the length of the face.

Eyebrow arches should suit the shape of the face.
Eyebrow arches should suit the shape of the face.

Round face shapes look best with very arched brows — the higher the arch, the better. The goal is to create the illusion of length. Avoid round eyebrow arches, as this adds to the roundness of the face. Angular arches are best, but you can use a softly angled eyebrow if you want less of an arch.

For a square face, there are two options. The first is to soften the angularity of the features by using curved eyebrows. Arches that curve in slightly at the ends soften angular lines. The other option is to create strong, or heavy, brows to help balance the jaw line.

If your eyes are set close together and you would like to create the illusion of more space between the eyes, you should shape your brows so that the brow curves inwardly towards the inner corner of your eye. Using this technique will help create the illusion of eyes that are set a little farther apart.

For eyes that are wide-set, you should extend the eyebrows inward a bit. It may mean using a little eye shadow or a brow pencil to create the illusion that your eyebrows are closer together. You should do this only in moderation, as eyebrows that are too close together could give you a "uni-brow" or may make it seem like you're constantly frowning.

Discussion Comments

Ocelot60

@spotiche5- You should also consider how you are going to create your eyebrow arch. Plucking your eyebrows too much to create an arch will look unnatural, especially as the hairs grow back. Filling in the arch with a heavy pencil will create an unflattering look.

The best strategy is to pluck a few hairs around the arch and fill it in with an eyebrow powder or pencil that is slightly darker than your hair color. A little plucking and make up will go a long way when it come to creating an attractive, natural-looking eyebrow arch.

Talentryto

@spotiche5- People who want to arch their eyebrows should also consider their natural arch. For example, if you don't have a high eyebrow arch naturally, you would create a strange, artificial look by altering it to be highly arched.

On the other hand, if you have high eyebrows, you will probably have an easier time creating the ideal arch. Do accomplish this, you should simply follow the line of your natural eyebrows and pluck a few hairs at the arch to enhance it.

Spotiche5

Other than the shape of the face and the distance between the eyes, are there any other considerations to take when choosing the best eyebrow arch for the face?

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • An eyebrow pencil can be used to help enhance an eyebrow arch with creative shading.
      By: Serhiy Kobyakov
      An eyebrow pencil can be used to help enhance an eyebrow arch with creative shading.
    • Eyebrow arches should suit the shape of the face.
      By: MarkFGD
      Eyebrow arches should suit the shape of the face.