Over-plucked Brows? Here’s What to Do

If you lived through the years of overplucked brows (hello, ‘90s and early aughts) or you’ve just seen the photos, then you know why we’re obsessed with brow health today.

Once upon a time, it was on-trend to pluck or wax brows into the thinnest of lines…regardless of your eyebrows’ natural shape. Some people’s brows never recovered from the trauma of being ripped out from the root over and over — which is why the current resurgence of skinny ‘90s brows has proved to be a polarizing trend.

No matter where you stand on the desirability of ultra-thin brows, the truth is that overplucking can make brows difficult to regrow. Luckily, these days (unlike in times past) we know all the right ways to repair and restore brows.

Step 1: Camouflage Sparse Spots
Brow hairs take time to regrow — and some follicles that have been damaged by repeated tweezing may never regrow hair. To hide sparse or misshapen spots, try a brow pencil. Choose a color close to your natural brows and sharpen the pencil’s tip to fill in brows with short strokes that resemble hairs.

Try: Hi-Def Brow Pencil, our long-wearing, water-resistant pencil that conditions with vitamin E while defining sparse or over-tweezed brows.

Brow gel can complete the camouflage by adding color and sculpting your existing brows to deemphasize thin areas. With the right gel brows will appear defined, tamed, and enhanced.

Try: Hi-Def Brow Gel, our multi-tasking formula that features peptides and oat beta glucan to fortify, nourish, and enhance the look of brows. Natural mineral tint gel fills in thin, sparse brows for buildable, precision sculpting.

Step 2: Keep Brow Hair Healthy
As your brows regrow, it’s important to keep new hairs conditioned to strengthen them and help protect against breakage.

Our RevitaBrow® Advanced Eyebrow Conditioner is designed for brows that have been compromised by environmental stressors or over-grooming. A few short strokes daily will set you on the path to healthier-looking, more luxurious brows. No wonder it’s a 10-time consecutive Allure Best of Beauty Award winner.

Round out your routine with a mask…for your brows. Our Lash & Brow Masque repairs damaged, compromised hair with an immediate infusion of intense, nutrient-rich ingredients. You’ll notice a hydration boost after just one use, with even better results over time when you mask twice a week (it only takes 15 minutes!).

Step 3: Give It Time
On average, it takes 2–3 months for brow hairs to regrow to their full length. However, hairs that have suffered repeated trauma from overplucking may not grow back at all, unfortunately. Lesson learned: Go easy with the tweezers.