Maintaining Brows

To keep brows looking more Dietrich than Groucho after a professional shaping, follow these simple upkeep steps.

1. In a well-lit area, with a slant-tip tweezer, nip away the stray hairs between your eyes, underneath your brow bone, and near your temples. If these areas are excessively hairy, consider using a precision waxing product or a mini razor. To find your natural arches, brush your brows upward and out using a makeup comb or a clean toothbrush.

2. Tweeze the hairs outside the arch, says brow specialist Ramy Gafni. Pluck only a few at a time. Every so often, step away from the mirror to gauge your progress. "I pluck a few, then step back," says Gafni. "It's hard to keep perspective on the overall effect when you're inches from your reflection."

3. Post-tweezing, ease redness by rubbing an ice cube over the area. A dab of hydrocortisone cream, enough to cover the tweezed area, can also help, says Fredric Brandt, a dermatologist who practices in New York City and Miami. If necessary, define brows or fill in thin spots with a pencil, powder, or pomade. Unruly brows can also be set with a clear gel, or just spritz hair spray on a brow brush or a clean toothbrush and comb it through.