Shaving eyebrows may seem like the best option for people who have thick brows and who do not enjoy plucking, waxing, or other hair removal techniques. When shaving eyebrows, a person needs to be extremely careful. A sharp razor designed for use around the eyebrows should always be used, and the process shouldn't be performed on dry skin. Shave in two directions to get the closest cut. Using shaving cream or gel around the eyebrows is not a good idea, as the cream can conceal the brows too much, making shaping difficult.
Using a dull razor or even a razor that isn't at its sharpest when shaving eyebrows increases a person's risk of cutting the skin near the eyebrows. The skin around the eyes is thinner than the skin on the legs or cheeks, which further increases the risk for cuts. A person should always use a new, very sharp razor when shaving eyebrows so that she gets the closest shave possible with the fewest cuts.
Eyebrow shavers or razors are specifically designed for shaving eyebrows. A razor that's commonly used to shave the legs or lower portions of the face is too wide and unwieldy to shave the hair along the brows without an accident. Eyebrow razors have a blade that is much smaller than the traditional razor blade and usually feature a trimmer handle. The blades may have some sort of safety feature to reduce the number of cuts as well.
Hair is easier to shave off when the skin is wet and the hair follicle has been opened. Before using a razor to remove hair from the eyebrows, a person should take a shower or at least press a warm, wet washcloth to the eyebrow hair to make the skin wet and make it easier to remove the hair. Steam is ideal for wetting the face and softening the hair. A person can use the steam from the shower for the best results or place her face over a steamer to soften the hair.
Depending on the length of the hair, it may need to be trimmed before shaving. Once a person goes to shave her eyebrows, she should shave in two directions to cut the hair closest to the skin. She should first shave in the direction of the hair and then shave in the direction opposite of the way the hair grows. To reduce irritation, she should wait before applying lotions or makeup to the area.
