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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow
Categories
Personal Care and Style
Hair Care
Facial Hair
Eyebrows
How to Trim Your Eyebrows Download Article Co-authored by Ashleigh Grounds
Last Updated: August 15, 2025 References
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Trimming with Scissors
|
Using Tweezers
|
Getting the Right Shape
|
Expert Q&A
|
Warnings
|
Things You'll Need
|Show more|Show less X
This article was co-authored by Ashleigh Grounds. Ashleigh Grounds is a Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist based in Austin, Texas. Ashleigh has over 11 years of cosmetology experience. She studied cosmetology in Dallas, Texas and completed a two-year hair salon apprenticeship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with Toni & Guy Hair Salon. She is accredited by the International Board of Cosmetology, is a certified Babe Hair Extension Professional, and is a certified Brazilian Blow Out Professional. Ashleigh was voted the best Hair Stylist in Austin for 2012 by RAW Artists and was voted in the top 20 salons for 2020 in Austin by Expertise. Ashleigh's work has been featured in Talentmagazines, BlogTalkRadio, KXAN, and Studio 512. This article has been viewed 152,207 times.
Whether you want to just clean your brows up a little bit or you want a complete makeover, there are lots of ways to trim them and lots of styles to go for! The two basic methods, using scissors or tweezers, are perfect for any trim job. After trimming, you can touch up with tweezers for an expertly manicured look that perfectly frames your face!
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 3:
Trimming with Scissors
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1 Brush your eyebrow hairs up. Use a spoolie brush to brush the top of your eyebrows straight upward in a repetitive sweeping motion. All of the hairs that extend up out of the eyebrow when you do this need to be trimmed.[1]XResearch source [2]X Expert Source Ashleigh GroundsMakeup Artist & Hair StylistExpert Interview
2 Hold the hairs in place with the brush. Use the spoolie brush to comb the hairs up to the top edge of the brow. Use the brush to hold the hairs while you trim to prevent cutting them too short. Advertisement
3 Use scissors to trim the hair above the brush.[3]X Expert Source Ashleigh GroundsMakeup Artist & Hair StylistExpert Interview Use some nail cutting scissors or hair cutting shears to cut the excess length that’s sticking out of the top of the brush. Focus on cutting the longest hairs and slightly stagger the length as you go by cutting each hair a slightly different length than the one before. This will make your eyebrows look more natural.[4]XResearch source
4 Brush the hairs out at a 45-degree angle and trim them. After you’ve cut the long hairs, use the spoolie brush to comb the eyebrow hairs out at a 45-degree angle. Hold them in place with the spoolie brush, then trim any hairs that are excessively long.
5 Comb the hairs down and trim off the excess. Now, use the spoolie brush to brush the eyebrow hairs downward. Trim away the excess hair on the underside of the brow.[5]X Expert Source Ashleigh GroundsMakeup Artist & Hair StylistExpert Interview
Repeat the entire process on your other eyebrow.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 3:
Using Tweezers
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1 Take a shower before you tweeze. Take a hot shower beforehand to open up your hair follicles. This will make the hairs come out easier, which will also likely be less painful and irritating.[6]XResearch source
2 Pluck hairs above your nose and underneath your arches. Cleaning up these areas can make a big difference when it comes to perfecting your brow’s shape and making it look neater overall. Look for stray hairs underneath your arches and above the bridge of your nose, grip them one at a time with a pair of slanted tweezers, and yank them out in one quick motion.[7]XResearch source
Use your fingers to stretch out the skin you’re plucking the hair from. This can make the plucking process less painful.[8]XResearch source
3 Pull out each hair in the direction of growth. Pay attention to the direction the hairs grow in before you attempt to pull them out. Make sure to pluck each hair in the direction of growth so that you can swiftly remove the entire strand. Going against the grain can make the hair break off near the root, which can lead to ingrown hairs.[9]XResearch source
4 Stay away from magnifying mirrors to avoid over-plucking. It might be your natural instinct to zoom in on your eyebrows so that you can see every detail better. Resist the urge to do this, as it can give you the illusion of having more follicles than you really do. This may make you accidentally over-pluck your eyebrows.[10]XResearch source
Stop, take a step back, and look at the overall picture several times while plucking. This will also help you avoid removing too much hair.[11]XResearch source
Advertisement Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Getting the Right Shape
Download Article
1 Use the inner corner of your eye as a guide. To find out where your eyebrow should begin, trace an imaginary line from the inner corner of your eye up through the eyebrow. Remove the hairs that extend toward your nose from that line.
2 Go for an eyebrow shape that complements your face shape. Everyone’s different, so no two eyebrows look exactly the same and slightly different shapes look better on different faces. Take a look at your face shape so that you can figure out what subtle changes you can make to your eyebrows in order to look your best.[12]XResearch source
If you have a long or rectangular face, an eyebrow that’s flatter and straighter across will make your face appear a little shorter.
Thick brows can look overwhelming on small faces and heart-shaped faces.
Thick brows create balance if you have a square jaw.
A more curved brow can soften the angles of a diamond face shape.
3 Use a brow gel to make the hairs go in the same direction. Keep control of your brow hairs by using a brow gel. Apply the gel by moving the wand upward and outward against the brow. This will help your brows maintain their nice shape all day.[13]XResearch source
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Expert Q&A
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Question How do you shape your eyebrows? Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University. Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer Trim long hairs or ones that stick out. Tweeze minimally hairs that are between brows or strays. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7
Question How do you cut eyelashes? Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University. Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer You should not cut your eyelashes. Trimming or styling your eyelashes is ok, however. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 10
Question How should a man trim his eyebrows? Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University. Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Expert Answer Comb them up and trim off any hairs that stick up more than 1/4" above the edge of the brow. Then, comb hair out and trim off hairs that are substantially longer than others. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
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Warnings
If you go overboard with trimming or plucking, it may take a long time for your eyebrow hair to grow back completely. Take your time and remove little bits at a time to keep from trimming the hair too short or over-plucking. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
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Things You'll Need
Spoolie brush
Fine-toothed comb
Shears or nail cutting scissors
Tweezers
Brow gel
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Co-authored by: Ashleigh Grounds Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist This article was co-authored by Ashleigh Grounds. Ashleigh Grounds is a Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist based in Austin, Texas. Ashleigh has over 11 years of cosmetology experience. She studied cosmetology in Dallas, Texas and completed a two-year hair salon apprenticeship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with Toni & Guy Hair Salon. She is accredited by the International Board of Cosmetology, is a certified Babe Hair Extension Professional, and is a certified Brazilian Blow Out Professional. Ashleigh was voted the best Hair Stylist in Austin for 2012 by RAW Artists and was voted in the top 20 salons for 2020 in Austin by Expertise. Ashleigh's work has been featured in Talentmagazines, BlogTalkRadio, KXAN, and Studio 512. This article has been viewed 152,207 times. 10 votes - 72% Co-authors: 13Updated: August 15, 2025 Views: 152,207 Categories: EyebrowsArticle SummaryX
To trim your eyebrows, start by combing your brow upward with a spoolie brush and cutting any hairs that stick out from the top of the brush. Then, comb the hairs downward to trim the excess hair on the underside of the brow. Alternatively, use tweezers to pluck any stray hairs above your nose and underneath your arches. Make sure to pull each hair in the direction of the growth to prevent ingrown hairs. For more advice, including how to choose an eyebrow shape that complements your face, keep reading!Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Co-authored by: Ashleigh Grounds Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist This article was co-authored by Ashleigh Grounds. Ashleigh Grounds is a Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist based in Austin, Texas. Ashleigh has over 11 years of cosmetology experience. She studied cosmetology in Dallas, Texas and completed a two-year hair salon apprenticeship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with Toni & Guy Hair Salon. She is accredited by the International Board of Cosmetology, is a certified Babe Hair Extension Professional, and is a certified Brazilian Blow Out Professional. Ashleigh was voted the best Hair Stylist in Austin for 2012 by RAW Artists and was voted in the top 20 salons for 2020 in Austin by Expertise. Ashleigh's work has been featured in Talentmagazines, BlogTalkRadio, KXAN, and Studio 512. This article has been viewed 152,207 times. 10 votes - 72% Co-authors: 13 Updated: August 15, 2025 Views: 152,207 Categories: Eyebrows Article SummaryX
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1 Brush your eyebrow hairs up. Use a spoolie brush to brush the top of your eyebrows straight upward in a repetitive sweeping motion. All of the hairs that extend up out of the eyebrow when you do this need to be trimmed.[1] [2] 
2 Hold the hairs in place with the brush. Use the spoolie brush to comb the hairs up to the top edge of the brow. Use the brush to hold the hairs while you trim to prevent cutting them too short. Advertisement 
3 Use scissors to trim the hair above the brush.[3] Use some nail cutting scissors or hair cutting shears to cut the excess length that’s sticking out of the top of the brush. Focus on cutting the longest hairs and slightly stagger the length as you go by cutting each hair a slightly different length than the one before. This will make your eyebrows look more natural.[4] 
4 Brush the hairs out at a 45-degree angle and trim them. After you’ve cut the long hairs, use the spoolie brush to comb the eyebrow hairs out at a 45-degree angle. Hold them in place with the spoolie brush, then trim any hairs that are excessively long. 
5 Comb the hairs down and trim off the excess. Now, use the spoolie brush to brush the eyebrow hairs downward. Trim away the excess hair on the underside of the brow.[5] 
1 Take a shower before you tweeze. Take a hot shower beforehand to open up your hair follicles. This will make the hairs come out easier, which will also likely be less painful and irritating.[6] 
2 Pluck hairs above your nose and underneath your arches. Cleaning up these areas can make a big difference when it comes to perfecting your brow’s shape and making it look neater overall. Look for stray hairs underneath your arches and above the bridge of your nose, grip them one at a time with a pair of slanted tweezers, and yank them out in one quick motion.[7] 
3 Pull out each hair in the direction of growth. Pay attention to the direction the hairs grow in before you attempt to pull them out. Make sure to pluck each hair in the direction of growth so that you can swiftly remove the entire strand. Going against the grain can make the hair break off near the root, which can lead to ingrown hairs.[9] 
4 Stay away from magnifying mirrors to avoid over-plucking. It might be your natural instinct to zoom in on your eyebrows so that you can see every detail better. Resist the urge to do this, as it can give you the illusion of having more follicles than you really do. This may make you accidentally over-pluck your eyebrows.[10] 
1 Use the inner corner of your eye as a guide. To find out where your eyebrow should begin, trace an imaginary line from the inner corner of your eye up through the eyebrow. Remove the hairs that extend toward your nose from that line. 
2 Go for an eyebrow shape that complements your face shape. Everyone’s different, so no two eyebrows look exactly the same and slightly different shapes look better on different faces. Take a look at your face shape so that you can figure out what subtle changes you can make to your eyebrows in order to look your best.[12] 
3 Use a brow gel to make the hairs go in the same direction. Keep control of your brow hairs by using a brow gel. Apply the gel by moving the wand upward and outward against the brow. This will help your brows maintain their nice shape all day.[13] Advertisement 
Laura Martin Licensed Cosmetologist Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist based in Milledgeville, Georgia. She has been working as a hair stylist since 2007, and began a career as a cosmetology teacher in 2013. She worked as a teacher at Arrojo Cosmetology School, teaching cosmetology practices, hairstyling, and hair color application. She also brought her cosmetology expertise to her work as a staff writer for fashion blog Style Noted, writing pieces related to hair and fashion. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Georgia College & State University, where she was also an English Teaching Fellow. Additionally, she received a BA in Creative Writing and Literature from New York University.