One of the first things people notice when they look at you are your eyes. Just as the shape of a mustache dramatically alters the appearance of a man's face, the shape of your eyebrows affects the appearance of your eyes. They may be the most underrated element of a beautiful face, but eyebrow gurus will tell you it's no exaggeration to say the shape of your brows can make - or break - your look.

When grooming your brows, you want to achieve the best shape and shade without sacrificing their natural appearance. Pencil-thin or overly bushy brows are outdated looks that can distract from your eyes rather than enhance them. There are two timeless methods for creating the perfect brow: shaping them and filling them in. Below are a few steps you can take to ensure your eyes will be framed by the beautiful brows they deserve.

For shaping:

• Whatever you do, don't shave! Shaving hair on your face leaves an unflattering 5 o'clock shadow, and you don't want your brow area looking like your husband's face. Tweezing is your best option for accuracy when shaping your brows. Waxing is a possibility, but it's hard to control wax when you're doing it yourself, and mistakes are more likely to occur. We recommend Revlon's Point Tip Compact Tweezer for ease and precision.



• Before you begin, use an eyebrow pencil to draw on the shape you want to achieve. The beginning of your brow should align evenly with the center of your nostril and the end should go no farther than the end of your eye. Once you have your outline, you'll know to tweeze only those hairs that fall outside the line you have drawn.



• Relax and take it slow. Taking the one-hair-at-a-time approach will prevent over-plucking. After all, which hairs you tweeze and which ones you don't is the difference between perfectly shaped brows and unruly ones. Never pluck hairs from the top of your brow - this will create an unnatural look - and only pluck hairs in the direction in which they grow. If you're worried about pain, holding ice cubes on your brow right before tweezing can help numb the area.

For filling in:

• To fill in brow "bald" spots, we recommend using a powder instead of a pencil. A pencil is better for shaping because it offers precision and can be applied in natural strokes, but powder is a more natural-looking filler. If you are going to use a pencil, keep in mind that most brow pencils deposit stronger color than a powder, so take care to use a light touch.



• Use a powder or pencil that matches the color of your brows. Several brands offer them in a wide variety of shades from natural blonde to mahogany, such as Lancôme's Le Crayon Poudre.



• For best results, apply powder with a thin liner brush, such as Clinique's Brow Shaper. Dampen the brush bristles, remove excess water and swipe the brush across the color. If you're using a pencil, remember to sharpen it before every use. Your brows will look more natural when color is applied with a pointy tip.



• When filling in with either a powder or a pencil, follow the basic shape of your existing brow. Apply the color by filling in the areas between hairs where it is needed. Work as much as possible with the hairs that are already there. You're trying to shade your eyebrows, not draw them on. Only shade at the front, underneath or through your brow. Remember, eyebrow color should look natural and soft, not like a bold, hard line.



• Comb a clear brow gel up through your brows to set the hairs and color in place.



• If you make a mistake the first time you take on the task of taming your brows, don't fret. Tweezed brow hairs may not grow back overnight, but they will grow back.