Asian Makeup: How to Fill in Sparse Eyebrows

Many Asian women are born with eyebrows that are naturally sparse. Since luscious brows are a hot commodity these days, this prompts a mad dash for fuller, thicker brows for many Asian women. While a popular option is to go with eyebrow tattooing, it is possible to obtain natural-looking, full eyebrows in a matter of minutes without going the permanent route. So whether you have naturally thin eyebrows, you've overplucked, or even if you've had a bad encounter with hot wax, follow these easy steps to achieve a full, natural brow.

Comb through: Brush your eyebrows with an eyebrow/lash brush so they are all facing the same way. Start from the inner corner of the eyes and brush out toward your ears. This creates a nice working area for the following steps and will make your job easier. If you don't have an eyebrow brush, you can use your fingers or the end of a regular comb.

Outlining: Gently draw an outline under each of your eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil. Start with the inner bottom part of your brow and work your way outward with featherlike strokes. The line should be directly under your brow so there is no space between the drawn line and your brow. Avoid drawing a solid line, since it won't look natural. 

Fill and coat: Fill in the sparse areas of your eyebrows with your eyebrow pencil. Again, use featherlike strokes instead of harsh lines since you want the lines to appear as if they are actual hairs. Start at the inner corner of your eye and stroke outward. This is the direction your eyebrow hairs naturally grow. Grab a slanted eyebrow brush and coat it with a brown eye shadow that matches your brow color. Hold the brush so that the shorter side of the slant is facing the outside of your face and gently fill in any remaining sparse areas. Be sure to blend the lines drawn with your eyebrow pencil so they are soft. You don't want any harsh lines left.

Set with gel: Set your eyebrows with an eyebrow gel or clear mascara to ensure that they stay put throughout the day. If you don't have any eyebrow gel, you can substitute hairspray applied with a disposable mascara wand or Q-tip.

Colors and lighting go a long way: As with any makeup application, put on your makeup in a room with natural light. Since you'll be in natural light most of the day, this will give you the most accurate view of what others will see when they look at you. Choose colors that are similar to the shade of your eyebrows. A color that is too dark will often appear harsh and unnatural.

Wendy Gould began her professional journalism career five years ago while pursuing her B.A. in journalism and philosophy. She graduated college in 2008 and currently writes for Glamour Magazine, NUVO Newsweekly, Miseducated.net, and Kiwanis International, among other publications.