When you ask men, "Do you know how to groom your eyebrows?", many say they groom them somewhat, but they're not really sure "how to do it properly" or "if they're doing it right." So, in this feature, we've asked a professional to teach us about eyebrow grooming and drawing techniques—something that's hard to ask others about. Starting tomorrow, groom your eyebrows yourself and make a great impression!

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   Part 1: [How to Groom Men's Eyebrows: Taught by a Pro] Scissors & Tweezers

Using scissors and tweezers skillfully, you can get closer to the shape you want to achieve.

Shinji Takeuchi, owner of the hair salon "P's" in Shibuya Ward, who has many male customers, and who will be giving a lecture on "how to groom eyebrows" using eyebrow scissors and tweezers, says, "I trim the length of my eyebrows at the same time I trim the length of my beard using clippers and attachments."


"The eyes significantly influence one's impression, so more and more men are shaping or drawing their eyebrows. Women can change their look with makeup, but men are basically 'natural,' so it's immediately obvious whether they've taken care of themselves or not. Don't overthink it; just try it with the mindset of 'making the most of your natural features.'"

Master the use of eyebrow scissors and tweezers, focusing on making the most of your natural eyebrow shape.

Walking around town, you start to notice more and more eyebrow salons exclusively for men, and you realize that more men are paying attention to their appearance. Takeuchi says, "The eyebrows that men are looking for these days are the sharp shape of K-pop idols, but whether they suit you or not depends on your personality, so it doesn't look out of place. A while ago, thin eyebrows were in fashion, but now fewer people want to change the shape of their eyebrows, and more people want to refine the shape of their own eyebrows."



Regarding tips on using eyebrow scissors and tweezers, the advice is: "If you try to make both sides perfectly symmetrical, you'll end up cutting or plucking too much and making a mistake, so it's best not to aim for perfect symmetry at first. Think of it as trimming or plucking the blurry edges of your existing eyebrows to refine their shape." So let's get started.


The items we'll be using this time are...

Using scissors and tweezers, the goal is to create eyebrows with a gentle and soft appearance.

The model for this shoot, Ms. Harigae, has been self-conscious about her naturally thick eyebrows and has been grooming them since high school. Today, however, she hasn't groomed them for about two weeks. She usually trims them herself using eyebrow scissors and tweezers.

1) Trim with eyebrow scissors.

① Beginners should use a comb. The idea is to comb your eyebrows, trim any unwanted hairs that stick out from the comb, and even out the length. The trick is to use the comb and scissors simultaneously. (Image on the left)
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② To create "gentle and calm-looking eyebrows," round off any sharp arches. Trim any areas of concern at the ends and beginnings of your eyebrows. Slightly lowering the ends of your eyebrows will create a gentler impression. (Image on the right)

"Eyebrows have a natural hair growth pattern, so you can trim them well by using a comb to hold the hairs in place while you cut. The important thing to remember is to use scissors with a slightly curved tip; make sure to place the rounded end against your eyebrows (skin)."

2) Trim with tweezers

After shaping the outline with eyebrow scissors, use tweezers for fine adjustments. Tweezers are used to remove fine hairs and unwanted hairs on the eyelids, and to fine-tune the curve of the eyebrows by plucking them one by one.

Before → After

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Before (left image): Sharp, defined eyebrows → After (right image): Rounder, softer-looking eyebrows.

Part 2: [How to Draw Men's Eyebrows: Taught by a Pro]

The person who will teach us "how to draw eyebrows" is Ina Sato from FIVEISM×THREE, a cosmetics store located on the 1st floor Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building .

In recent years, with the increased use of face masks, it seems that more men are becoming interested in their eyebrows.
Many customers consult us about how they look on their computer monitors during online meetings, saying things like, "My eyes look blurry and tired," and they're concerned about how their face looks on screen and the impression their eyes give. When we teach them how to draw their eyebrows, they're happy and say, "I can easily do this myself."


Tips for men when drawing their eyebrows
"Women's eyebrows are often shaped and drawn symmetrically as part of 'makeup,' but for men, it should be seen as 'grooming'—tidying up the existing hairs. This time, we'll use an eyebrow pencil and mascara, but instead of drawing a sharp outline, the idea is to fill in any sparse or thinning areas by drawing in hairs ."

►Eyebrow pencil and mascara edition
Achieve your desired look with FIVEISM×THREE!

The items we'll be using this time are...

1) First, carefully observe your own eyebrows. Check how they grow and their balance.

First, take a close look at your eyebrows. If you look closely, you'll see that there are three types of hair growth patterns: the hairs at the ends of the eyebrows grow outwards, the hairs in the middle grow towards the center, and the hairs at the beginning of the eyebrows grow upwards. Also, check the balance, as the amount of hair may differ between the left and right eyebrows.


In this example, model Okada's right eyebrow appears to have less hair than her left, so we'll fill it in to balance the hair density on both sides.

2) Imagine drawing each individual hair in the direction of its growth. Holding the end of the pen like a pencil makes it easier to draw.

 

3) Start drawing from the arch of the eyebrow. While checking the balance between the left and right sides, fill in any areas that are fading.

① From the arch of the eyebrow to the tail, draw downwards, following the direction of hair growth.
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② Draw individual hairs at the inner corner of your eyebrow, starting from the bottom and moving upwards.
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③ For the middle section, apply the product horizontally, following the direction of hair growth, from the inner corner of the eyebrow towards the arch.

4) After drawing your eyebrows, use the brush on the back to blend and shape them.

5) Add dimension with mascara. What are the key points for choosing a color?

How to choose colors
Choosing a mascara color that matches your eye color, hair color, or the color of your glasses (if you wear them) will create a more natural look.


Since Ms. Okada usually wears glasses, she chose color 04, which is close to the color of her frames.

6) The key to applying mascara is to brush the lashes against the grain and apply it from the roots.

① Brush the hairs against the grain from the outer corner of the eyebrow towards the inner corner, and apply mascara to the roots of the hairs to ensure even coloring.
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② Next, starting from the inner corner of the eyebrow, apply color to the outer surface of the hairs along the direction of hair growth for a natural finish.

Before → After

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Before (left image): Natural impression → After (right image): Sharp, refined impression.

 

Part 3: [A Beginner Man's Challenge]

For those who want to finish their hair easily with just one product, SHISEIDO MEN is recommended.

We asked Mr. Iwata, a male staff member at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building who had never tried eyebrow makeup before, to draw his eyebrows using SHISEIDO MEN "Eyebrow Fixer Duo." His impressions were, "It's surprisingly easy," and "I've never had the opportunity to do it before, but I realized that it's an easy way to change my look, so I want to start doing eyebrow makeup as part of my routine before going out, along with washing my face, shaving, skincare, and hair styling!"

Iwata, a staff member at Isetan Shinjuku Store, Men's Building , sometimes shaves and shapes the upper part of his eyebrows himself, but his problem is that they sometimes end up asymmetrical.
Based on advice from a professional, Ms. Iwata's eyebrows are soft, so it's best not to over-draw them for a more natural look. Therefore, she selected a brown shade that blends well with her black hair. The difference in hair growth between the left and right eyebrows is corrected by changing the direction in which mascara is applied.


The items we'll be using this time are...

This eyebrow controller offers two functions in one. The eyebrow pencil allows you to easily shape your eyebrows with a light touch, while the gel-coating brush keeps your shaped eyebrows firmly in place for a long time.

How To | Use pencil lines and shapes to create symmetry

Extra tips before applying eyebrow makeup
Applying face powder to control oil and keep your skin smooth will help your makeup last longer.
Using a screw brush to groom the bristles makes it easier to apply makeup in a natural shape.


① Write with a pencil
Ms. Iwata's eyebrows are shaped such that the left eyebrow curves upwards towards the tail, while the right eyebrow is arched. Draw the left eyebrow by drawing a single line with the tip of the pen, and the right eyebrow by using the surface of the pen and making small, precise movements. Align the tails of the eyebrows at the point where the extension of the line from the side of the nose to the outer corner of the eye is drawn. Since the gaps are not very noticeable to begin with, be careful not to draw too much. If you tend to press too hard, holding the back of the pen can help prevent drawing too much.

② Finish with a brush
To finish, use a gel-coating brush (clear) to style the eyebrows and set the direction of the hair growth. It acts like hair wax, giving your eyebrows a glossy and crisp finish.

Before → After

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Before (left image): The left eyebrow is slightly upward sloping, and the right eyebrow is arched. → After (right image): Both eyebrows are now symmetrically shaped, giving a sharper impression.


Iwata-san said, "It gave me a sharper look. I realized that makeup doesn't have to start with foundation...you can just focus on your eyebrows, and that you can achieve a natural finish without applying too much color, so I want to incorporate it into my grooming routine."










Filming cooperation
Hair Atelier P's [Peace]
TB Miyashita Building 4F, 1-22-10 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-6411-4501
Weekdays: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Saturdays: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sundays and public holidays: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM Tuesdays: 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
*Please contact the store for business hours and other details.

ISETAN MEN'S Cosmetics Instagram: @isetanmens_cosmetics

Part 1