About Face: Be honest. When did you last think about your eyebrows? I know they're not up there with world peace and reading Ulysses from start to finish, but they are often overlooked - or, worse, ignored altogether.
Compared with deciding on the right shade of summer eye colour, or which nail polish will complement those new sandals, brows all too often get sidelined.
The two sentences that follow may make you give your brows a little more attention. Shaping your eyebrows is the most dramatic way to change your face without using make-up or resorting to surgery. It can make your eyes look larger and give your face a clean, polished look. Good, yes?
Deciding what shape you want for your eyebrows is the first step. Who can forget the iconic eyebrows of Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe or Brooke Shields, who started the trend for a fuller style? As in all things, fashions change where brow shape is concerned. Flip through fashion magazines for ideas. Consider having your brows shaped professionally, to get exactly the shape you want. You can then pluck the strays as they grow.
If you are shaping your brow yourself, here are some tips. Always use a magnifying mirror, and tweeze at a window to get the best possible light. Dab a little toner on the area, to remove any oiliness before starting to pluck. Follow the brow's natural line by conforming to the curve of your upper eyelid. Pull the skin at the outer end of the eyebrow taut - this will make the hairs easier to grip. A slanted tweezers should grab even the tiniest hairs. The Tweezerman brand is king, and although they used to be hard to get, many pharmacies stock them now. Pluck the hairs below the brow; never shape your brow by plucking above it. Remove one hair at a time.
Start plucking in the middle of the eyebrow and pluck toward the outer end. Then go back to the middle and pluck towards the nose.
Your brows should extend a little beyond each corner of your eyes. Use a cotton ball or pad soaked in tea-tree oil or witch hazel to soothe your plucked brows. Habitual plucking may make some hairs stop growing permanently, so pluck with caution.
The goods
BrowMousse by Tweezerman: The cult brand for brows. Create a perfectly defined eyebrow shape with this styling gel. €16 at Roches Stores countrywide
www.eyebrowz.com: This website is worth checking out, especially if you have sparse brows, as it specialises in eyebrow stencils
The Brow Bar at BeneFit: Professional advice, with products to complete the look. At Brown Thomas, Dublin 2