6 Eyebrow Mistakes You May Not Know You're Making

If you think your brows are doing your face a disservice, it could be a multitude of factors at play. One element that may be working against you? Time.

"As we age, the brows do not grow in as well. So if we over-pluck, that can become a problem,"  says Celine Russell, a makeup artist who's worked on her share of Southern Living photo shoots.

Rest assured, you don't have to take extreme measures (no microblading or tattooing needed, thankfully). You need a light hand, a good shape, and a hint of tint to bring brows back to their fullest potential. Here, we're breaking down the six eyebrow mistakes you may not realize you're making—and how to fix them.

You Went Too Thin

Remember those ultra-thin brows that defined the 90s? We can probably all agree they didn't look great. Thank goodness the beauty industry has come a long way in the range of products we can now use to camouflage the repercussions of that sparsely browed decade. Instead of surrendering to a life of bad brows, go ahead and fill 'em in. You won't believe the impact a fuller brow can have. Here's how Russell gets the job done:

"I prefer to use a brow powder with light strokes as if I'm growing in the hair," she said, noting not to press down hard with pencils. "Light-tinted brow gels are also an option. Anything that feels like you're naturally growing the brow back in is going to be a good technique."

You've Got Some Grays

You've embraced your silver strands with a sleek bob that's the envy of your sister-in-law, but brows are one thing you might not want to leave up to nature. A good brow tint will do wonders for brightening your look. Just be sure you don't go too dark, which leads us to our next point…

You Got A Little Heavy Handed

Super dark eyebrows that don't work with your skin tone or hair hue? That's not going to help. "That's a giveaway that it's artificial," Russell said. "Overly sculpted brows can be on trend, but they are not flattering and can be harsh on the face."

Take it down a notch by going a shade or two lighter on your brow pencil or powder, and make sure to use your spoolie as intended: as a blender for your brow color (alongside brushing them, of course). Stick to short strokes as you apply for the most natural look.

You Went Too Natural

Having thick eyebrows is a definite win, but you may have to tame them to keep them under control. Coarse, stray, long hairs make your eyes look smaller. Don't accept unruly brows. Keeping them trimmed and shaped can be a total makeover. Tweeze them at home or get professional help to shape them.

You Went Too Light

Just as there's a limit to how dark your brows should be, you don't want them to go too light. The tails of the brows get lighter and thinner with age, and you may also notice some patchy areas. Fill the tail area with a brow pencil, then go over the whole eyebrow with tinted brow gel. Fill in with brow powder for patchy spots to make your arches appear fuller. The added contrast will give a fresher appearance.

You Didn't Pay Attention To Shape

Pay attention to those arches. A well-shaped arch opens the eyes. Define the arch with brow pencils, keeping the color tips discussed earlier in mind. Continue to assess brow shape as your look an trends evolve.