Between christmas trees, barbed wire and even dragons, it's safe to say that last year's eyebrow obsession got a little out of hand. Ok, a lot.
OTT they may be, but that doesn't mean you have to give up the creative eyebrow game for good. The easiest way to jazz up your festival make-up or add an unexpected twist to your usual going out out look, 2018's take on extra eyebrows is thankfully, more arty than Insta-bait.
From Frida Kahlo-esque ugly brows, to 70s groovy blooming brows, here's how to work arty eyebrows that say high brow, rather than halo brow.
Sophie Cull-Candy earrings - £40, Mango blazer - £79.99, Mango trousers - £59.99
How To Nail It:
- Get your hands on a yellow cream eyeshadow and smear it over bare eyebrows with a hard bristled brush to create a sticky base.
- Then, using your fingers or a softer brush, press yellow eyeshadow over the top to add intensity and depth.
- Go for a matte finish to keep everything looking modern.
- Don't worry about being too neat. This look is all about the messy, powdery texture of loose pigment, not about being precise or symmetrical, so just go for it.
Primary Pigment - Shop The Look
Stylist's own earring (left), Sophie Cull-Candy earring - £40 for pair (right), Ellery suit via THEOUTNET (similar), Model's own pinky ring
How To Nail It:
- Although it might be tempting to get your paint brushes out, this look actually works a lot better if you use a clean soft toothbrush to create a delicate splatter effect.
- Mix up whatever colours you fancy using make-up ready paints and pigments (MAC is always a good shout) and simply dip, and flick.
- Experiment with different size splatters - the more product you have on the brush the bigger the splats will be, and vice versa.
- And as always, be bold! There's no right or wrong way to create this look, just try and keep overspill to a minimum - the cleaner the skin around the splatters, the more effective the contrast will be.
Paint Splatter - Shop The Look
Stylist's own earrings, Marques' Almeida flares - £265, Marques' Almeida jacket - £590, Model's own pinky ring
How To Nail It:
- Before you start scribbling, grab some clear brow gel and brush your brows up to get a feathery finish.
- Then choose whatever colour eyeliner pencil you like, and get drawing!
- Using a pencil will give you that crayon-like texture minus the mess of a liquid liner.
- If flowers aren't your vibe, go for a simpler design or even just underline your natural eyebrow shape for a more subtle nod to the look.
- Whatever design you choose, remember that the key to a seriously smooth line is to draw with confidence and, most importantly, enjoy feeling a bit extra.
Brows In Bloom - Shop The Look
Model's own earrings, Shrimps dress (available soon)
How To Nail It:
- Don't be afraid of veering into the glorious world of ugly beauty; the spikier the brows, the better.
- If, like us, your brows are a little sparser than you'd like, draw in extra individual hairs at the front of your brows using a red pomade or cream eyeshadow and a slanted eyebrow brush.
- Don't worry if things start to get a little Frida Kahlo, embrace the monobrow - it's so hot right now.
- Next, comb the pomade or eyeshadow through the rest of your eyebrow using a clean mascara wand to get an all over brushy red brow.
- Brush backwards first to get the colour right to the root, then forwards to neaten everything up.
- Alternatively, achieve a similar look in uber speedy time with a coloured mascara brushed through your brows.
Seeing Red - Shop The Look
Stylist's own earrings, Ellery dress via THEOUTNET- £966
How To Nail It:
- For this look, cream eyeshadows and a flat, square make-up brush are your friend - it's all about using the right tools rather than having the skill of an artist.
- Sweep on a big block of colour at the end of your eyebrows using the flat brush, then underline with your chosen colour.
- The key is to take your time - the brush strokes are more about mark making and expression than perfectly neat make-up, so don't rush it.
