Eyebrows on fleek

Eyebrows seem to be having a bit of a moment. Ever since the phrase “eyebrows on fleek” was coined in a viral video last year, the taming of those unruly brows has shot to top of the priority list. Whether you want to look like Cara Delevingne or go for a more subtle and natural look, you’re going to need the right tools and products to do so. In terms of brow maintenance, the most obvious thing you’ll need is some tweezers. Any will do, but if you want to invest in the long term, try tweezerman tweezers (£12.50). Razor sharp and ready to tackle anything, these will do the job well. A top tip is to buy the mini version. You’ll knock £8 off the price tag for the exact same product. Do pluck with care, but avoid a nightmare and don’t over pluck. Although it’s easy to get tweezer-happy, it’s not worth being left with four hairs per eyebrow. If you do go a bit overboard, be prepared to exert major willpower and patience in waiting for them to grow back. This recovery phase will be hard. Just wait it out, and don’t pick up those tweezers until you really have to.

For a quick fix to fill in your brows, the humble eyebrow pencil is your best friend. When you’ve spent a little too long in bed and are rushing for your 9am, the cheap and cheerful Rimmel Professional eyebrow pencil (£2.99) also has a nifty little brush on the end to straighten out those pesky hairs. Do brush upwards to give your brows definition, and don’t block colour your eyebrows in. Use small light strokes to give a perfectly defined and arched brow, and to create the illusion of natural looking hairs. A more high-end option, which is really worth the money, is the Anastasia brow wiz (£15.50), aka eyebrow perfection. This pencil has a miniscule nib on one end to give you scarily realistic hairs, and a brush on the other - these are the most natural-fake brows you’re going to get.

When you’ve got a bit more time and patience, a well-applied powder and angled brush gives a flawless finish. A favourite of mine is the Sleek Brow Kit (£8.49). With a pressed powder and a wax to set the brows in place, this little product has you covered. It also comes with some tiny tweezers and two brushes – sorted. Just remember, don’t over-apply. The HD Brows Eye&Brow Palette (£25) is less kind to a student budget, but it does wonders. The palette has five shades, and although not travel friendly (expect the heartbreakingly painful feeling of a shattered powder), the pigmentation of these powders is amazing. Do get yourself a nice thin angled brush (try the Zoeva 317 or 322), and you’re good to go. If your brows are particularly unruly, try an eyebrow gel to hold the hairs in place from day to night. Maybelline Brow Drama (£4.99) comes in a range of shades, or alternatively try the clear gel option. Whether you have bushy brows or yours are barely there, there’s no need to panic. The eyebrow gods are on your side, and the memory of that masculine monobrow you had when you were thirteen doesn’t have to haunt your dreams forever.