How To Get That Perfect Asian Brow, According To Experts

Shape your brows to perfection with these easy steps

14 Apr 2023

Credit: Instagram/ @simoneasshley, @hoooooyeony

Share this article

The perfect face-framers can change your appearance dramatically. Just like how angling your brows upward can give you an immediate and subtle facelift, the wrong shade colour and shape can instantly change your facial expression for the worse. So if you’re looking to level up your brow game, we speak to experts on getting the perfect Asian brow, as well as the products to get you there.

Size matters

1/21

Your brows should complement your face, not overwhelm it. Strong Cara-Delevingne-esque brows are too overpowering for those with small faces – thick brows make the face appear smaller, explains Bernice Wong, co-founder of DaintyBeaute – or eyes, so opt for something thinner and more refined. Note, though, that over-plucking your brows can damage hair follicles over time – they may never grow back to their previous lushness. If in doubt, get them trimmed by a professional. Try threading at Browhaus, whereby a thin thread is rolled over unwanted hair to remove follicles, or waxing at Benefit Brow Bar, where a soft wax is applied to remove stray strands and dead skin cells.

Make sure to balance them out

2/21

The inner corners, arches and tips of your brows should be well balanced to create a sense of harmony, says Cecilia Chng, founder of Cecilia Chng Beauty. “Like the body, most people tend to use one side of the face more, so facial muscles and expressions are more pronounced on that side. This asymmetry becomes more obvious as we get older,” she says. “A good brow expert can correct this imbalance by shaping your brows accordingly and restoring harmony to your face.”

Groom or doom

3/21

Cecilia recommends getting your brows professionally shaped every few months and taming strays at home.

Use a nude pencil to trace the outline of your brows, then pluck away strays outside it, says makeup artist Larry Yeo.

But mistake brow length for volume, and you’ll inevitably over-pluck. To avoid that, “comb your brows downwards and trim excess hair before plucking away unwanted strands,” advises Bernice.

Let’s get shady

4/21

Your brow colour should not differ too much from that of your hair. “Pick a brow gel one or two shades lighter than your hair colour to soften the look,” says Larry. “If you tend to press harder when using a brow pencil, opt for one two or three shades lighter for a more natural-looking result.”

Stick to shades of brown and dark blonde. Grey is only useful for feathering – the use of small, “hair like” strokes to fill in brows, creating a 3-D effect – or for those with tan skin and pitch-black hair, he explains.

From pencils and crayons to fill in over-trimmed brows, to brow mascaras to tidy up unruly brows, scroll through for a list of brow products that will help to define your face and flatter your face.