THE EYEBROW GOES HIGH BROW

By Debra Robson-Lawrence

The style focus is firmly on eyebrows right now; well groomed brows are a current beauty essential, and rightly so. They express our feelings, frame our face, give our eyes warmth and definition, and can have an amazing anti-aging effect that can banish and rejuvenate tired looking eyes.

For a variety of reasons, however, we don't all have brows to be proud of. Over-plucking is a very common problem. We are born with a brow shape that works naturally with the eyes and face, but most women at some point in their lives have tried to alter the natural shape of their brows either by tweezing or waxing.

When permanent make-up first began to gather in popularity, it had a reputation for being heavy and over obvious. I've spent years challenging the theory that permanent cosmetics had to look "permanent" by introducing my natural style and encouraging other technicians to do the same. Using my FAME® (Facial Aesthetic Micro Enhancement) technique, I can create brows that look natural, sleek and healthy by individually replicating individual hairs with a shade that gives definition without heaviness. It can be a huge confidence boost. Many of my clients are referred to me by cosmetic surgeons, who feel that semi-permanent make-up will compliment their patient's appearance, following surgery.

What many women don't expect, however, is the natural anti-ageing effect a semi-permanent brow treatment can give. As the ageing process progresses, our muscles naturally begin to lose tautness and tone, giving a drooping appearance. The brow seems to sit more heavily over the eye area, causing eyes to appear smaller. By repositioning the brows and adding more definition, semi-permanent make-up gives an 'optical lift', totally regenerating the look of the upper part of the face.

So, let's look at the practicalities: Semi-Permanent Make-up is a non-surgical treatment implanted into the skin using an infusion of organic or mineral pigments. It is suitable for everyone and anyone who wants to refine or modify their brow look, cut down on pencilling and grooming, and save precious time every day. Any reputable practitioner should give a prior consultation to ensure that their client gets exactly what they want. My clients always have a 'concept consultation', and together we find a look that is both in keeping with current styles and enhancing to the face.

Because semi-permanent make up is non-surgical, there is little or no 'down time', but having realistic expectations of what happens post-treatment is a big advantage. The brow area will initially look slightly too dark, but lightens naturally after a few days. It may appear reddened and a little swollen, but again, after a couple of days this will completely clear. A month after your initial treatment, your practitioner should ask to see you again to make any necessary adjustments. Skin type and external factors such as exposure to UV rays, chlorine and smoking can all contribute to the length of time that the pigments last, and I recommend annual 'colour boosts' to keep brows looking at their peak perfection.

This is an enormous advantage to everyone, but particularly to those women who are short-sighted and find it difficult to create asymmetrical lines in front of a mirror over or without their glasses. It just makes everyone's life easier to know that, no matter what, you have perfectly aligned well-defined and gorgeous brows.

©2006 Debra Robson-Lawrence