How to Achieve Soap Brows, TikTok's Latest Brow Craze
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Over the years, eyebrows have gone through a myriad of different iterations — there were the pencil-thin lines of the early 2000s, sculpted, filled-in brows of the mid-2010s and finally, today's full, fluffy brows. It may seem impossible to achieve feathery, grown-out looking arches without being genetically blessed, but luckily, there's a beauty technique you may or may not have heard of that can help you achieve the arches of your dreams.
Soap brows have hit the scene to help everyone achieve fluffy, defined eyebrows. "Soap brows are a grooming method for fuller looking brows that give a brushed up and slicked up [appearance] reminiscent of laminated brows, instead of using eyebrow gel or pomade," says Robert Sesnek, celebrity makeup artist and CATRICE Cosmetics Ambassador.
What are soap brows?
This technique is exactly what it sounds like: you apply soap to your eyebrows. While it may sounds silly, soap works wonders to give your brows shape and volume. According to Sesnek, soap coats the hairs, which in turn gives them a fuller appearance. Soap also typically contains glycerin, which adds shine and locks eyebrow hair into place.
Are soap brows good for you?
Sesnek says that his clients have never experienced irritation or problems with soap brows, but you should be sure to do a patch test before trying them to make sure you're not allergic to the soap you're using, particularly if you have sensitive skin. If you might be sweating a lot or getting wet, proceed with caution: you don't want soap running into your eyes.
What's the best soap to use for soap brows?
The best part about this trend is that you can use almost any soap. Sesnek recommends using West Barn Co Soap Brows and Prep Mist, which comes with everything you need to achieve the perfect soap brow. "The texture is lightweight but can definitely hold the brows in shape for hours," he says. Other favorites seen on Tik Tok and used by makeup artists are Pears Transparent Glycerin Bar Soap and Neutrogena Original Fragrance-Free Facial Cleansing Bar.
How do you achieve soap brows?
Start with transparent soap. Sesnek emphasizes using a transparent bar soap that contains glycerin. "You can’t do soap brows with a non transparent soap as it will leave the hairs coated in white soap," he explains.
Gather your other supplies. Besides transparent soap, you also need tap water or a mist to activate the soap and a spoolie brush (a brush that looks like a mascara wand or an eyebrow gel brush).
Activate your soap. Start by getting your spoolie brush slightly wet using water or a mist. "Use this to lightly dampen the soap to build up the consistency," Sesnek says. A thicker paste will have more hold, while a wetter paste will be more sheer on the brows. When Sesnek does soap brows, he likes the paste to be in the middle ground — not too thick, and not too viscous. "I find this texture works best for holding the shape while still looking soft," he explains.
Apply the paste. Using the soap paste, lightly brush up your eyebrows, making sure to coat the hairs. For a more defined look, you can use a brow pencil beforehand to fill in sparser areas.
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