YOUR BROW NEEDS TO WOW
I often get asked, “what are the key things a woman can do to instantly improve her appearance?” or “what are the best-kept beauty secrets?” As the creator & presenter of MOOIMAAK, a cutting-edge new television series which takes thirteen women on the makeover journey of a lifetime, I am – of course – expected to have at least some of the answers. No pressure then.
One of the things I always mention is the importance of having perfectly-shaped “Gigi H” brows. I always feel comfortable dispensing this piece of advice, as coloring and filling out my own brows is the very first thing I do every morning when putting my game face on. I won’t even go to the gym without my “game brows” (although, alas, I do go to the gym without a lot of other things, like my actual “game”, so…no judgment here;)
There is no doubt that brows that are the correct shape, width and tone can take years off your face, opening up your eyes and balancing the proportions of your bone structure. I was going to post some pics of my own history of brow-sasters here, to illustrate this point, but I really don’t want to put myself through that kind of cringe right now. As an added bonus, the incriminating evidence is nowhere near Facebook, so I am using the fact that I don’t have any dodgy pics at hand, as an additional excuse.
Luckily, I can post one of the incredible MOOIMAAK makeover photo sets hereunder, to show you what a difference a good microbladed brow makes. The show is still new and most of the “big reveals” are yet to be…well, revealed, so you’ll have to watch the series for the rest of the before & after‘s. (The show airs on kykNET every Thursday at 17h30 – if you live in SA, don’t miss it).
Angelina & Gwen, hereunder, seem to agree that fuller, more natural-looking arches are the most modern and flattering style.
So, now, you might be wondering which are the most effective ways to achieve brow-fection. Here are some tips.
THE BEST BROW-SHAPING OPTIONS
Tweezing, threading & makeup
For commitment-phobes and ladies with time on their hands, there is the option of getting your brows shaped by a professional brow shaper (yes, those people do exist), who will either pluck or thread the hairs into the best arch for your face, often requiring intermittent maintenance appointments to keep things tidy. I can’t personally vouch for them, but I’ve heard from a friend I trust implicitly that the therapists at Eye Candy Brows in Cape Town are fab. Once the basic shape has been defined, the correct makeup techniques need to be followed to enhance those areas that are thin, sparse or too light – filling, shading and coloring as you go.
Side note: I personally don’t believe in brow waxing, as the skin around your eyes is very delicate and waxing often thins the outer layers of the skin, thereby speeding up the aging process (and, come on, who needs that?).
Microblading
Now, for those of you who are brave and bad-ass enough to take the plunge into permanent brow perfection, microblading is your new best friend. This form of permanent (or, technically, semi-permanent) makeup has taken the global beauty world by storm, as it’s a relatively quick and safe way to make brows look full and perfectly shaped, without the hassle of having to apply makeup every morning.
It gives me great joy to introduce you to the “BROW QUEEN” of South Africa, Cape Town-based Lisl Boshoff of Powderpuff Permanent Makeup. Images of her work appear above. It was during the production of MOOIMAAK and after many hours of research and telephone calls to my trusty sources, that I discovered Lisl. After viewing (or rather pain-stakingly scrutinizing) Lisl’s Instagram feed, I asked her to join our team of MOOIMAAK experts.
As expected, each one of the 9 makeover candidates who received microblading by Lisl were beyond thrilled with their results and, having seen their brow transformations first-hand, I cannot recommend Lisl highly enough. It’s no wonder that she recently won the PCASA Award of Excellence for Workmanship and Achievements in the Industry.
Fast facts about microblading
- What does microblading entail? Microblading is a form of tattooing where a special permanent make-up machine or hand tool is used to implant pigments into the upper dermis layer of the skin by means of individually packed disposable safety needles.
- Is it painful? Topical anaesthetic creams and special permanent make-up anaesthetic gels are used to numb the skin, so most people find it a little uncomfortable but never painful.
- How long does it take? The first application takes 2 hours with one shorter touch-up application recommended 6-8 weeks later, to perfect the shape and colour.
- How long does it last? Because permanent makeup can fade over time, maintenance visits can be scheduled every few years to keep your colour looking fresh.
Lisl offers free consultations to show you what shape and colour she would recommend for your face. Contact her on +27 (0)82 466 2429 or email her at hello@powderpuffmakeup.co.za.
For more info, visit Powderpuff’s website, check out their Facebook page or grab a flat white and scroll through their highly addictive before & after Instagram feed @lislboshoff1.
Here’s to beautiful brows!
Love,
Clare.
Clare Wiese-Wentzel 