Is Tweezing My Eyebrows Really Bad For Them?

You've spent all summer reaching Cara Delevigne eyebrow status and now it's time for some grooming. Before you go in for the kill though, you're dying to know — is tweezing bad? We have all heard about the eyebrow disasters that can come as a result of overzealous hair removal. Fortunately, that's not your fear. You know you can keep your cool when faced with a magnifying mirror and a full set of brows. Your main concern is if you will do your skin any damage with that tempting little metal tool.

The answer is yes and no. If you tweeze with caution — like the perfectionist eyebrow artist that you are — you won't do yourself any damage. The number one cause for concern is messing with ingrown hairs. They are not as likely on your brow line, but can happen. Going after an ingrown with tweezers is asking for a painful infection front and center on your moneymaker.

The second main cause for concern is if you're prone to getting tweeze-happy and end up with skinny brows a la Greta Garbo. This would be perfect if you were a 1940's bombshell, but you're a bombshell of the modern era and as such need more than pencil thin brows.

Dahling, have you seen my eyebrows?

If you do tweeze, here's how you can keep yourself out of tweeze-induced trouble:

1. Tweeze after a hot shower or after prepping your face with a warm washcloth

The heat will open your pores and make the process gentler on your skin. If you shower, have a friend join you to save water and do your part to impact the drought.

2. Tweeze in the direction the hair grows

Pulling against the skin can lead to irritation and redness. (Strays Away Set of 4 Mini Tweezers, $10, sephora.com)

3. Take breaks every time you tweeze a hair or two

Take a step back from the mirror. It will cool the bloodlust and help avoid scorched earth brows.

4. Tweeze with slanted tweezers (and pull from the base up and out)

Go slow and target the hairs you want to remove. If you snap hair off, there's a risk you could develop an ingrown hair. (Boots No7 Slanted Tweezers, $7.99, drugstore.com)

5. Use needle nose tweezers

They work well for removing the super fine hairs that dust your lid. Be gentle, these babies are always sharp, so please don't stab yourself in the eye. (Tweez'em Stainless Steel Tweezers for Ingrown Hair, $9.99, amazon.com)

The eyebrow pros over at Tweezerman suggest first brushing brows and trimming unruly hairs. Then, using a makeup concealer to create the brow shape you want, tweeze the hairs that fall below the line. It's like a coloring book for beauty devotees. They also recommend waiting to put on moisturizer until after you tweeze, so as to avoid the possibility of slipping and sliding and crazy tweeze-related eye accidents.

The moral of the story is that tweezing your brows is totally safe if, and only if, you go slowly. If you use the right tools. If you prepare your pores. If you pause every few hairs. And if you haven't had any mimosas at brunch. Cause that would be a disaster. Happy hair hunting, friend. You're gonna look terrific.

Images: Takmeomeo, Public Domain Pictures, Pixabay