We'll take these timeless eyebrow styles over trendy shapes any day.
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With so many wacky brow trends making the rounds these days, it can be tough to figure out what eyebrow style will be most flattering to your face. How do you choose the right eyebrow shape, especially if you don't have access to a pro? To take the guesswork out of finding the best eyebrow shape for your face shape — including round, square, oval, heart and more — we've put together this expert guide breaking down all the different eyebrow styles and names. These options are classic and flattering, with easy upkeep that won't have you raising your brows at the cost of maintenance.
Arched Toward the Tail
Best for round faces, this shape features an arch just before the outer corner of the brow. "If you have a round face, you want to try and give yourself an arch so you don't have a round brow on a round face," says Kelley Baker, celebrity brow expert and founder of Kelley Baker Brows in Venice California. But as you can see, this classic brow silhouette looks phenomenal on almost any face shape.
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Arched in the Middle
If your brows naturally arch more toward the center than the ends, you can totally work with that. Ask a salon pro to clean up stray hairs under the highest part of your arch without creating a peak, which could result in a "constantly surprised" look.
High Arches
Some celebrities, like Baker's client actress Lea Michele, prefer an extra high arch well above the brow bone, which creates an extra defined and lifted look. If you want this dramatic style, an arch toward the tail — not the center — is a must.
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Barely-There Arches
Many people have a subtle, natural arch to their brows that looks fantastic without significant shaping. All you need is a little maintenance with a sharp tweezer, like Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab test winner Tweezerman Stainless Steel Slant Tweezer and an eyebrow pencil (try GH Seal star L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Brow Magnifying Pencil) to fill in sparse areas, and you're good to go.
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Rounded
A brow's arch doesn't have to be angular. Sometimes, a softly rounded shape can be the most flattering option, especially if the rest of your face has sharper features. "For an angled face, you want a rounder, fluffy brow to soften the look," Baker explains.
Straight
If your brow doesn't have a natural arch, there's no need to create one. As you can see, straight brows can look amazing at any width. Keeping them brushed with a spoolie like E.L.F. Cosmetics Eyebrow Duo Brush is a must for a polished look.
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Tapered
A close cousin of the "arch toward the tail," a tapered brow's inner two thirds is noticeably thicker than the ends. If you love this look but your brows are the same width throughout, keep in mind that it will require much more maintenance, including regular face waxing.
S-Shaped
An S-shaped brow starts up in the center and then subtly dips down before rising into the arch. This is typically a natural occurrence, which some try to correct with shaping and makeup — but as you can see here, there's no need because it looks fabulous!
Short and Thick
If you don't have particularly long eyebrows, you're a perfect candidate for the thick brow trend. A brow that's both short and thin could read as barely-there, but a bold brow can help you look younger.
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Extra-Long Tail
This dramatic arched look goes to great lengths — literally — with the tail extending well beyond the outer corner of the eye. Use a brow pomade like Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow in a shade identical to your hairs to add a touch of tapered length to the tails of your brows.
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Marci Robin
Marci Robin is a freelance writer and editor specializing in beauty and lifestyle content. With over 20 years of experience, Marci has served as a contributing editor for Allure, senior beauty editor at GoodHousekeeping.com, executive editor of xoVain and senior online editor at NewBeauty. Her writing has also appeared in her writing has also appeared in InStyle, MarthaStewart.com and Refinery29.
