I loooooove op shopping for clothes. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea I know. But there’s something about hunting for vintage treasures amongst the shoulder pads that gets me. And if I find a bargain? It’s like Christmas and my birthday wrapped up in one.
Discovering an old beauty trick is like finding an op shop bargain. Especially when that beauty trick is under $3. But like that op shop bargain that fell apart after a few wears, choose your old beauty hacks wisely.
What Are Soap Brows?
Soap brows are a makeup artist trick that has been around for a long time. It means literally using soap and water to set your brows in place. It’s popular among artists because it achieves a super strong hold that lasts through photo shoots. Thanks to the straight up and fluffy brow trend of recent years, soap brows have been doing the rounds on social media in a big way.
So how is it done? Grab a bar of clear soap, ideally glycerine soap like Pears. You start with dampening a brow spoolie with water then raking it over the soap to lightly coat the bristles. Then brush your spoolie in the direction of hair growth, up and over. If you want the super straight up fluffy look then just brush straight up. Voila! Fluffy brows that will stay in place all day.
Should You Really Be Putting Soap On Your Brows?
One of the biggest concerns with leaving soap on your skin and brow hair is it’s high Ph. Soap is traditionally highly alkaline and your skin and hair is more acidic. NYC-based esthetician Jordana Mattioli, said to Bustle magazine that leaving a high alkaline product on your skin and hair could “cause all sorts of issues like dry, flaky skin and mess with natural hair growth cycles”.
Soap Everyday May Not Be Safe For Brows
So while soap brows is a cheap beauty hack that’s great for photo shoots, it’s not ideal for everyday. Alyssa Anderson, resident makeup artist for Anastasia Beverly Hills says that while using soap could be helpful if you've forgotten your usual brow styling aids, the safest and "best option for full brows that last all day," is still a traditional brow gel.
I think I’ll leave my soap in the shower for now. :)
For a strengthening organic brow styling gel that you can also use on your lashes,
you'll love the Organic Lash & Brow Styling Gel by Elise Louise.
Elise Louise is the client certified 'brow wizard'. Seriously, she has the certificate her client made her to prove it.
Find her in her Melbourne salon, specialising in the Soft Powder Brow Tattoo, the Keratin Lash Lift and expert brow services.
Check out more of her blog here.