Frida Kahlo is the exception, not the rule. "Strong brows need to have shape and separation," says Kristie Streicher, an eyebrow groomer at Warren-Tricomi salons in New York City and Los Angeles. "Otherwise, they'll overwhelm your face."
See more: The 6 Most Flattering Haircuts for Round Faces
DIVIDE AND CONQUER: When hair verges on the dreaded unibrow territory, you need to grab the tweezers. Hold a pencil vertically from the outer edge of your nostril to your eyebrows to determine where each one should start.
See more: The 10 Commandments of Mascara
MAKE THE CUT: Removing the bulk from your brows doesn't always mean pruning them. Nine times out of ten, a trim is all you need. Comb your brows straight up with a spooley brush, then trim only the longest hairs, staggering the length as you go. "Cut one hair a little longer and one a little shorter so your eyebrows don't get a crew cut," says Streicher. Follow up with a brow gel to keep hairs in place.
See more: The Best Beauty Products Under $9
END WELL: "It's a sin to shorten beautiful, long eyebrows," says New York City brow groomer Joey Healy. Unless the tails of your eyebrows dip too far below where the heads begin (which can result in a dragging effect), leave the length alone. Make sure to taper the ends to a clean point for a sharp finish.
See more from Allure:
The Top 14 New Summer Hair Ideas
The 12 Best Eye Creams
Vote for Allure's Beauty Blogger of the Year
2012 Readers' Choice Awards
