I’ve been getting my eyebrows waxed for years.  Often with mixed results.  If  I was very picky and had an actual esthetician do the job it was often better than when a cosmetologist did it.

I’m not sure why that is.  I was trained as a cosmetologist in the late 80’s and took esthetics training in the 90’s.  It wasn’t really much different.  Maybe it’s because many cosmetologists (not all) really don’t want to do anything but hair.  (I remember really hating to do pedicures.  I was quite good at them, however, and was requested for many.  I gave a great leg massage…)

But I have strayed from my point…

Eyebrows.  I don’t know about you, but when my eyebrows are shaggy I not only look tired but I feel unkept and rundown.  A nicely arched eyebrow not only opens your eye area, it gives your face a polished, pulled together look.

I recently decided to try threading.  Quite simply, the hairs are removed from your eyebrows by thread which pulls as it is twisted around specific hairs.

It was… interesting.  It took a bit longer than a waxing as fewer hairs are removed at one time.  For my eyebrows this was a benefit as just a few of the wrong hairs missing means the eyebrow pencil has to be used.  The pain level was, honestly, about the same.  It hurt less near the center of the face, where it is more bony, and more near the outer corners of the eyebrow.

The plus:  if you have a tendency to burn easily or have skin pull off when you use wax this is a great technique.  I experienced almost no redness.

The downside: I’m really not sure what, if any, training threaders go through (especially if they are in a mall kiosk).  Be sure to ask questions before you begin and let the threader know if you don’t want to much removed.

The verdict:  I’m really happy with the results.  My brows are both nicely arched and I didn’t have crazy redness for the next 12 hours.

Cost: about the same as a wax.  $10 + tip in my area.