How to do your eyebrows

Your eyebrows and cancer treatment

Some cancer treatments cause hair loss or thinning of the eyebrows. Eyebrows frame your face, so losing them can change how you look and feel about yourself. Learning how to disguise this can boost your confidence and help you look and feel better.

You can watch this 3 minute video on how to define your eyebrows. 

Make up tips

Try to buy products before you start your treatment. You might be tired and not feel like shopping once treatment starts. It will also be easier to find products that match your natural eyebrow colour and give you time to practice before the hair falls out.

Choose a colour that is similar to your hair or wig colour if your hair has already fallen out. You can test the colour on the back of your hand. There are different types of products and each has its own pros and cons. You might be able to use the same eyeshadow to replace your eyebrows and define your eyes. You can ask at a make up counter for help if you aren’t sure what to use.

Start by washing the eyebrow area. This removes the skin's natural oils or extra moisturiser and helps the make up to stay in place. Applying eye primer or a small amount of foundation can also help make up to last longer.

What products you might need

Eyebrow stencil packs

You can draw your eyebrows on yourself, or you can buy eyebrow stencils. These include different sizes of stencil, a small brush, a shadow and highlighters. They can be hard to use at first but with practice, it is relatively quick and easy.

Some eyebrow stencils have a single shadow and others have several colours that you can mix and blend to get the right colour for you. Most department stores and some high street chemists stock these.

Use the highlighter (a light colour) to raise your brow line. Just use a little, under the arch of your eyebrow.

You can also use the highlighter:

• to cover any blue tint in the skin at the inner corner of the eye

• on the top of your cheekbone to emphasise it

• down the side of your nose to make it look slimmer

Eyebrow pencils or microfilling pens

If you have no eyebrows, you can use an eyebrow pencil to mark where to draw them or place your stencil.

Eyebrow pencils are also good if you have just lost some of your eyebrows or they have partly grown back. You can use them to add depth to your eyebrows.

First, colour in the brow with your shadow. Then use the pencil or microfilling pen to add a few strokes to look like hairs. Use a sharp eyebrow pencil so you can draw fine lines. This can look very natural but takes practice. It may help to practise doing it on your arm.

Some eyebrow pencils have a universal colour. The lighter you apply them, the lighter they look.

Brush your eyebrows with a spoolie brush to soften your brows at the end.

Eyebrow wax or gel

You can use eyebrow wax as a base for eyebrow powder. It helps hold the colour in place. It’s good for filling in gaps and keeping them in shape.  

You can put the wax on first and then the shadow. Or you can mix the wax with the shadow and put both together.

Eyebrow gel helps keep your eyebrows from flaking and drying. It also helps keep them in place. You can use eyebrow gels to add colour. There are different colours available and you can mix them to get your natural eyebrow colour.

Where to get help

Useful organisations

There are lots of other organisations that can help you cope with changes to how you look.

Find support organisations

Skin care and make up workshops for people with cancer

Look Good Feel Better is a charity that aims to help with the physical and emotional wellbeing of people going through cancer treatment. Their website has video tutorials for make up, hair loss, skin and nail care.

They provide confidence boosting workshops, which gives a chance for people to meet others going through a similar experience and to learn skills to manage some of the side effects of treatment, such as skincare and make up techniques.

Workshops take place in hospitals and support centres across the UK. You can find your nearest workshop and read more about the work of the charity on their website.

Find out about Look Good Feel Better workshops