UjENA Swimwear and Fashion

High Brow Has New Meanings Today

by Laura Dayton

The first introduction of “high brow” in the English language was in the mid-1800s, when a high brow was considered a person of intelligence, while the low-brow of an ape per say, was considered unintelligent. Whether that was the reason so many women appear to have no brows (Queen Elizabeth and Mona Lisa) or whether the ultra-fine strokes of the paint simply eroded over the years will be a mystery we must live with.

What is known: a woman’s brow, or lack of, has been a definitive point of fashion for 100s of years. No one can forget the penciled on brows of Marlene Dietrich. But then comes the question of how to remove or diminish the brow without making a fashion statement you’ll have to live with for the rest of your life.”Fashion is an established prejudice,” said French fashion Guru Pierre Cardin. “Since we’re accustomed to seeing a woman with a penciled eyebrow, the very thought of the absence of it is literally and metaphorically an eyesore.” Written in The Rise & Fall of Roman Empire the author states that women of Rome never had eyebrows. The women of ancient Rome were influenced by Cleopatra, who shaved off her brows. The mildly raunchy Scottish bard Robert Burns wrote: ”On a damsel lovely and fair; there shouldn’t be hair anywhere.” The ancient Greek playwright Sophocles found Aphrodite, from whose name the word ‘aphrodisiac’ originated, more alluring and intoxicating for her lack of eyebrows.

One can’t always be on the cutting edge of fashion. So how to treat your brows should look not on the history of trends, but at what is traditionally and artistically always correct for your face, says Beauty Expert Catherine Cross at Ujena.

The Perfect Brow

The perfect brow frames the eye to bring out more depth, emphasis and expression. The eyes are the portals to the person within, and with expert makeup and brow-shaping a woman can convey complex emotions with just a slight movement of her eyes.

“Today we are definitely going toward cleaner eye looks,” says Catherine. “The classic guidelines for brow shaping will never go out of style. However, we are each very different. Just as some women can’t wear a straight cut manicure because their nail base is curved, some models don’t benefit from the classic guidelines. This is why makeup artistry is truly an art, not merely an application.”

This year’s Paris models displayed a lot of no brow looks. “This certainly opens the eyes,” says Catherine, “but it should not be achieved by shaving.”

Save, Don’t Shave the Brows!

“There are several ways to conceal the brows. Professionals use eyebrow sealers, or tape but it takes some experience to get it right. Krylon offers an eyebrow plastic and wax sealer that’s easier to use. If you want a more economical fix, the no-brow look can be accomplished by rubbing a dry bar of soap into your brow, letting it set, then adding a concealer,” says Catherine. “Powder, then stipple a little foundation, and add a final powder to set. You can then draw on your perfect brow.”

Shaping Your Natural Brows

“Your brows should never overpower your face, so most people begin with shaping, trimming and tweezing,” says Catherine. “My favorite brow tool is the Brenda Christian Universal Eye Brow Definer. She has, in my opinion, the best brow contouring system,” says Catherine. “If you have unruly brows you can use a little hair gel or wax to tame them down. If you are pushing 50, your skin has changed and you’ll need some fill to bring your brows back to life. Use a matte brown shadow applied with a flat angled brush, or a finely sharpened liner to add wispy, hair-like lines to fill in.

“I can already see that we are headed for a more natural look in 2010. Earth-friendly is a buzzword that will be with us for a while. Although natural colors will be popular, I’m already seeing a trend for colors that pop, like neons. The photoshopped can’t-be-duplicated looks of the past are passé, but there is still lots of excitement in store for next year.”

97984