This week I accompanied a friend of mine to get her eyebrows threaded..a form of hair removal.. I was amazed by the end result, her eyebrows where flawless! The shape was on point, no strays…  just perfect! I’ve NEVER let anyone touch my eyebrows because people tend to go a bit “tweezers crazy” but I’m soooo getting my eyebrows threaded from now on!!!!

So here’s the low down on the new phenomenon…

Eyebrow threading is a depilation technique which originated in India, although it is also widely practiced in the Middle East. Salons in Western nations offered the service to Middle Eastern clients for decades before European and American women became interested and the popularity of eyebrow threading skyrocketed. The hair removal technique is not just for the eyebrows: threading can be used to remove other facial and body hair as well.

The technique is sometimes listed on salon menus as khite or fatlah, which are both Arabic words for threading. Eyebrow threading involves twisting a piece of thread, usually cotton, into a double strand. This double stranded thread is used to pick up a line of hair and then remove it, creating a very clean, precise hairline. Eyebrow threading is the technique preferred by Indian movie stars, who are often distinguished by their crisp brow lines.

Eyebrow threading can be used to eliminate a unibrow, raise the arch of the eyebrow, or add shape and definition to the brow. Because it removes hair by the follicle, it is a reasonably long lasting hair removal technique as well. The technique is also not terribly expensive because it is easy to do quickly and does not require costly chemical ingredients. For women who would like to pursue a more natural beauty regimen, eyebrow threading is a good choice, since it does not use harmful products

Ideally threading should start with removal of unwanted hair in the middle of two eyebrows and then go on to remove extra growth from the top and bottom. Any desired shape, length and thickness could be given. If the eyebrow arch is very high fill the lower area with eyebrow pencil strokes and remove a few hair from the upper section of the brow. When the eyebrow arch is low, hair should be removed from under the eyebrows and the upper area should be outlined with the eyebrow pencil. Those who are proficient in the process only should perform threading. If you are a self-learner a lot of practice is required before you can start performing it on yourself. Threading gives best results when performed by a beautician you trust and knows exactly how you want them. Eyebrows threading is done in usually every 3-4 weeks.

The only minor drawback could be the pain. Although quite painful the results are worth it and the pain is the same as in tweezing or waxing. Few quick and small home remedies to alleviate the pain are to rub ice on the spot to numb it. Application of astringent or toner is important after the process as a lot of open pores are caused because of the invasion. Post application a moisturizer works as well to soothe the area. With all this information in hand eyebrow threading could be a reason for double celebration; one because of the perfect shape and two because of the little pain caused.

Eyebrow threading is a preferred hair removal technique for a number of reasons. Unlike tweezing or plucking, eyebrow threading removes one clean line of hair all at once, making it much quicker and easier to shape the brows. Eyebrow threading also will not harm the skin like wax and some depilatory creams can. If done correctly, the skin should not be red or irritated for more than a few minutes after the eyebrow threading session. Some aestheticians also find it easier to shape eyebrows using this technique than other methods available.

It is important to find an aesthetician who is experienced at eyebrow threading. Inexperience can result in uneven brows, hair breakage, ingrown hairs, or unnecessary pain. Most urban areas have a wide variety of spas offering eyebrow threading, and many online resources offer reviews of the service, including photographs of clients. If you are unsure about a spa, look for one which is frequented by Middle Eastern and Indian clients with perfect eyebrows.

Article By: Mireille Fumagalli
XOXO