15. Hair Ruler No More

I used to use my eyebrows as a gauge for how long to cut my (own) bangs. Thick, straight, and low over my eyes, my brows were a built-in human hair ruler ensuring a straight line every time. They also served as an effective UV filter when I couldn’t find my sunglasses.

This worked fabulously until I was nearly 16. It was a Friday evening, and I was standing in front of my bedroom mirror. I carefully snipped all the way across my forehead, using my mom’s fabric scissors and my built-in human hair ruler. Happy with the result, I went to bed. The next morning I got up to get ready for a major competition. And realized – as I met nothing but air with my Maxx Factor mascara wand – that I’d not only cut my bangs, but I’d also cut half the eyelashes off one eye. 

I was mortified. And sporting NO eyelashes on half of one eye. In front of other people. For about six weeks. Even worse, three of the new lashes grew in upside down…curling into my eyeball instead of stretching up into my expansive human hair ruler.

I never cut my own bangs again.

Thankfully, I’m not 16 any more. My upside-down eyelashes finally were pushed out by regular ones. I’ve given up cutting my own bangs, wearing cheap mascara, and ignoring my built-in hair ruler.

I now have nicely shaped brows with a hint of an arch. They’re trim, borderline dainty but definitely not too skinny, and well manicured. You can tell where my eyelashes end and my eyebrows begin. I can finally understand why that “highlighting” color comes in a multi-pack of eyeshadow. Sometimes I get compliments on them. But even better, I regularly get complimened on my eyelashes.

I credit threading, an Indian technique for brow grooming.

Using – you guessed it – thread, it’s a cheap and amazing way to get great brows. No wax, no appointment, no fuss, and no reason to spend $15-$20 (plus tip!) for five minutes of hot sticky stuff all over your forehead and three hours of residual red streaks from scorched skin. Instead it’s five minutes of relaxing while a sari-clad woman runs a twisted piece of white string over and around your eyebrows. Zero hours of residual red streaks. No scorched skin. In, out, looking fabulous…all for about $5.

My friend turned me onto threading, and I will forever be grateful to her. I think of her every time I sit in the reclining chair and have baby powder rubbed over my brow. And every time I sit up a few minutes later, seeing not a hair ruler, but an actual set of eyebrows.

I thought of her today.

To see and learn more about threading, click here. 

Every day another story - 

Sofie