Everyone hits the bad eyebrow phase at least once in their life. It's basically a rite of passage in the story of your face. And while this universal experience may not be widely appreciated (war flashbacks to overplucked 90s brows, blocky Instagram brows of 2015 or soap brow trauma circa 2021, anyone?), it has united us in appreciating the art of a truly good pair of eyebrows. Silver linings, hey?
So, with that said, I think we can all agree that finding your perfect eyebrow shape isn't just about following trends. But what is it about? Well, it's all in balancing, proportioning, and enhancing your natural features.
Intrigued to find out more? You're in luck! Cosmopolitan UK spoke to Vanita Parti, founder of Blink Brow Bar, who shared that the best way to start is with a little technique called brow mapping.
"Brow mapping is a way of sketching out how you would like your brows to look and measures the ratio of length, width, and arch," explains Vanita. "It can be done with a pencil at home. Place the top of the pencil at the bridge of your nose and swivel it to the front of your brow to find your starting point.
"Then, move it to line up with the iris to locate your arch, and finally, to the outer corner of your eye to determine where your brow should end. Mark each point with a brow pen or concealer – it's an easy way to ensure symmetry and stay true to your natural shape for the best results."
Once you've mapped your brows, the next step is tailoring their shape to your face. "Face shape matters," says Vanita. "If you have an oval face and create high, rounded brows, you'll throw off the balance. Brows should complement the face, not compete with it."
She suggests a high, angular arch for heart-shaped faces to add lift, while longer faces suit flatter brows with just a subtle dip to create harmony.
Though, do remember: Everyone's face shape is different. You might have an oval shape on the whole, but you also may want to elongate your forehead. This isn't a one-size-fits-all type of deal – proportions, people! It all depends on your preferences and what you want to enhance.
And it's not just the shape that counts; size plays a role, too. "Size also matters," Vanita adds. "Skinny brows might look better on a smaller face, but can look lost if the face is broader. Thicker brows can also overwhelm a petite face, so getting both shape and size right is key to achieving perfect balance."
Still unsure? Above all, we recommend speaking to a brow technician. Blink Brow Bar has a number of in-store locations across London, while Benefit Cosmetics has many across the UK, and at both, you can seek advice from a professional.
Or if you want to experiment before committing, why not try a handy TikTok filter?
The possibilities are endless! Just go easy with the tweezers, OK? You can always take off more, whereas adding hair back on, however, is a lil harder...
Follow Lia on Instagram.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
