Anjuthreads located at 1126 Walnut St.; 215-592-1801; www.anjuthreads.com
Eyebrows occupy prime face real estate: right below those new bangs and expensive highlights, right above those eyes you’ll dish out countless dollars to brighten and de-crease. And how do we reward them? With an afterthought wax every couple of months, supplemented by interim amateur plucking — if they’re lucky.
Not that there’s any excuse. Celebrating five years this month, Anjuthreads is dedicated solely to superior brow shaping. The Center City salon uses the Indian threading technique, a burn-free method in which a twisted cotton thread removes rows of unwanted hairs.
“Waxing is great for really large areas of skin and other parts of the body, but it’s really harsh for the delicate skin on your face,” says salon owner Anju Treohan. “Tweezing is precise, but it’s one-by-one and can lead to overplucking.”
As for the brow shape, Treohan recommends rethinking your decades-old curve. “Most clients come in thinking that there’s only one shape they can do — that’s not true,” she says. “It’s not always indicated by your face structure. There are a whole bunch of shapes out there that people can play with.”
That’s not to say that everyone can achieve Keira Knightley’s signature bushy brows or rock Natalie Portman’s long lines. But at $13 a session, it’s one of the few fall makeovers that will leave you with change for a pumpkin spice latte. “Eyebrows are something we take for granted. You take care of them, but you don’t really think about them,” says Treohan. “But it’s a really subtle, easy, affordable way to change your whole look. Just like you change your hair or your makeup for a job, for an occasion, for the season, you can change your eyebrows.”
Don’t get too plucky
Overplucking is a common problem. Ultra-skinny brows not only look dated, but they can also make you look older. “The older we get, the less hair we have, and so thinner brows will age a face,” says Treohan. The good news? Even the most abused eyebrows grow back — it just takes some time, she says.
Full for fall
As the air turns crisp, Treohan recommends letting your brows grow in a bit — the fuller, softer look complements the quieter months’ cashmere and corduroy.
