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Unibrows aren’t cute. It doesn’t matter what anyone says. It’s not a good look. There! Someone had to say it. Unless, of course, you’re going for a “Bert” look. Remember? Bert and Ernie…? Sesame Street…? If you are, you can mosey on out of here. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a way to keep those errant brows under control, we’ve got you covered.
According to a 2016 study published in Nature Communications, unibrows are common in individuals (mainly men) with the PAX3 gene. The authors of the paper theorize that once a specific trait can be isolated to a specific gene, it then becomes easier to, one day, develop a product that can inhibit that feature.
It doesn’t mean, however, that there’s nothing you can do about eyebrow hair in the meantime. That being said, here’s everything you need to know about how to get rid of a unibrow.
1. How to Get Rid of a Unibrow with Tweezers
Ouch! It’s painful but necessary. It’s the “good” kind of pain, though (this won’t make sense to you if you’ve never had a tattoo). If you’re already into personal grooming, then you likely have some experience plucking the unruly hairs around your eyebrows to shape them. You might as well do your unibrow while you’re at it.
This is the most cost-effective option to get the job done. All you need are tweezers, and you’re ready to roll. The downside of this method is that it may take a while. On the plus side, you have total control over which hairs to pluck. Here are a few tips you can use to make the whole process easier. Thank us later.
- Don’t grab multiple hairs at a go. You can’t rush the process. Pluck one facial hair at a time until you’ve completely gotten rid of your unibrow.
- Grab each hair from its base, near the root. Make sure your skin is stretched taut to get a good grip.
- Pull out each hair swiftly and firmly in a single motion.
- Pluck the hair in the direction of growth to prevent breakage and reduce the potential for pain.
- Exfoliate the area to prevent ingrown hairs once you’re done and apply a soothing cream afterward.
Remember that it isn’t unusual to experience a bit of pain, irritation, and inflammation afterward. This should improve in a couple of hours. Ensure that you sterilize your tweezers before and after each use. While this method may not get rid of your unibrow permanently, it’ll be at least four to eight weeks before you need a touch-up.
2. How to Get Rid of a Unibrow with Razor
If shaving is good enough for getting rid of pubic, armpit, and leg hair, it’s good enough for your unibrow. The go-to at-home shaving tools for most people are razors and trimmers. It’s a quick and easy method to keep your brows well-groomed and the best option for people who would rather avoid the discomfort that comes with tweezing facial hairs.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you’re using a conventional blade that comes with an eyebrow razor.
- Wet your face first before you shave. It’s better to do it right after you shower. It makes the hair soft, which is essential to achieving a clean shave.
- Be sure to use shaving cream or gel to minimize the chances of getting nicked. It also helps reduce irritation.
- Shave in the direction of hair growth to avoid getting ingrown hairs. You know how uncomfortable, and in some cases, downright painful those can be.
- Use a soothing lotion afterward to reduce irritation.
If you find this method messy, you can get rid of your unibrow with trimmer. Most electric trimmers come with various attachments designed for smaller areas of the face, like the middle of your eyebrows.
Regardless of the shaving method you choose, you will need to repeat the process every couple of days. While tweezing removes hair from the root, shaving does not. As a result, hair does tend to grow back quicker in comparison.
3. How to Get Rid Of a Unibrow by Waxing
This hair removal technique involves applying heated wax on your unibrow, sticking an adhesive strip (or cloth) on top of it, waiting for it to cool and solidify before pulling the strip away swiftly against the direction of hair growth. The unwanted hairs stick to the wax-coated side of the strip, effectively ripping them out from the root.
If you can’t do this yourself, consider getting it done at a salon instead. Waxing may not be ideal for individuals with sensitive/irritated skin, moles/warts in the unibrow area, sunburn, or those on prescription acne medication. Like tweezing, waxing also produces longer-lasting results (4-8 weeks).
4. How to Get Rid of a Unibrow by Eyebrow Threading
While this hair removal concept may appear new, it draws its origins from ancient practices. The technique involves using a threading tool to loop the unwanted hairs in it, effectively plucking them out. Like tweezing and waxing, eyebrow threading also pulls hair out from the root, producing results that last between four and eight weeks.
If you’ve never done it before, the technique can be difficult to master. It is also more likely to irritate the skin surface compared to other hair removal techniques due to the friction caused by the movement of the thread as it rolls around to grab the hairs along its path. Nevertheless, if the idea of tweezing and waxing doesn’t sound too appealing but want to get similar results, this would be the next best option to consider.
5. How to Get Rid of a Unibrow with Depilatory Cream
If you’re looking for a quick, easy, painless, and convenient way to remove the unwanted hair on your face, consider using a depilatory cream. This is particularly useful when getting rid of a unibrow on a child aged 12 years and up.
Some hair removal cream options contain chemicals that melt the hair shaft. All you have to do is apply it to your unibrow, leave it on for a minute or so as directed by the manufacturer, wipe it off, and rinse the area. There you have it. Easy unibrow removal.
Keep in mind that while depilatory creams are highly effective, they can irritate the skin if not used correctly. Before you apply it to your face, use it on another part of your body to see if any irritation occurs. If it doesn’t, you can safely use the product on your face. Don’t use depilatory creams if you have sensitive skin.
6. How to Get Rid of a Unibrow with Electrolysis
Electrolysis hair removal involves inserting a fine needle with a strong electric current into the root of the hair. A few days after doing the procedure, the unwanted hairs will begin to fall out. Since the electric current targets the hair root, it ensures that no more hair grows back. To get rid of the unibrow permanently, you’ll need to go through a few treatments.
Depending on the state you live in, electrolysis can be done by a licensed electrologist, licensed esthetician, or dermatologist. The main drawback of this method is that it is expensive. Insurance also doesn’t cover this particular cosmetic procedure.
7. How to Get Rid of a Unibrow with Laser
Like electrolysis, laser hair removal is also done by licensed professionals only. However, unlike electrolysis that uses a fine needle with a strong electric current to kill the roots of the hair, laser hair removal uses a laser light beam instead. It targets the hair roots in the unibrow to prevent future hair growth.
Although laser hair removal is meant to be permanent, all it does is slow down the growth rate. It also requires some repeat sessions for maximum efficiency.
Laser hair removal isn’t suitable for individuals with dark skin and may result in heat burns and irritation. This is because the devices used in these procedures cannot distinguish between the pigment in dark hair and that in dark skin. It is also expensive and isn’t covered by insurance.
FAQs
Below are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we get from our readers.
How do I get rid of a unibrow on a child?
The idea here is to use the least painful hair removal method available, so tweezing, waxing, and threading is out of the question. Using a razor may not be a good option either since kids aren’t exactly known for their ability to sit still. They might get nicked in the process. Using a mild depilatory cream would be your best bet.
How long does it take for unibrows to grow back?
It ultimately depends on the hair removal method you use. If you shave it off using a razor or trimmer, it will grow back within a few days. If you tweeze, wax, or thread the hairs on your unibrow, the results last 4-8 weeks on average.
How can I get rid of my unibrow permanently?
A hair removal procedure that kills the hair root would be the best option to consider.