Brow Shaping

Brow shaping in downtown St. Petersburg

Twenty-seven dollars for brows shaped to your face rather than to a trend. Waxed, not threaded, and mapped before anything is removed — which is the part most places skip.

Desiree has been a licensed esthetician since 1995. Brows are the service where experience shows most, because hair that comes off wrong takes months to come back.

Who it's for

Anyone growing out a shape that didn't suit them, anyone whose brows have never quite matched, and anyone who's been maintaining them at home and would like a professional line to work from.

Also for anyone whose brows have thinned with age, where the answer is usually taking less off rather than more.

What mapping means

Before any wax goes near you, Desiree measures where your brow should start, where it should arch, and where it should end, based on the proportions of your face.

That's why two people with identical brow hair end up with different shapes. It's also why a shape that looked right on someone else might look wrong on you.

What to expect

Around fifteen minutes. Desiree maps the shape, waxes the outline, tweezes anything the wax shouldn't take, and trims where the hair is long enough to disturb the line.

You'll be pink around the brow bone for an hour or so. It settles quickly.

Growing out a bad shape

If you're recovering from over-plucking or a shape you didn't ask for, say so at the start. The work then becomes cleaning up around a shape you're growing into, which takes a few appointments rather than one.

Desiree will tell you honestly how long it's likely to take, and when doing nothing for a few weeks is the better answer.

Before you come in

Don't tweeze for two weeks beforehand. It's tempting, and it's the single thing that most often makes an appointment less useful — there's nothing left to work with.

Tell Desiree when you book if you use a retinoid, Accutane, or any prescription acne treatment. These thin the skin, and the brow bone is a common place to notice it.

Aftercare

No makeup on the brow area for the rest of the day. Avoid heat, saunas and direct sun for 24 hours, and keep exfoliants and acids off the area for 48.

Then leave them alone between appointments. Every stray you pull is one Desiree can't use next time.

Questions people ask

How long does it last?

Three to four weeks for most people.

Waxing or threading?

Wax, for most brow types. It gives a cleaner line and it's quicker. Desiree waxes and tweezes together, which handles the hairs wax shouldn't take.

Will you take off too much?

No. That's exactly what the mapping prevents. If you want a particular shape, bring a photo and Desiree will tell you honestly whether it suits your face and whether your growth will support it.

Can I get them tinted at the same time?

Yes, and most people do. A fresh shape with the colour evened out changes your face more than either on its own.

I've over-plucked for years. Is it too late?

Usually not. It depends how long and how much, so come in and Desiree will tell you what's realistic rather than guess.

Book it with something else

Brow tinting — the usual pairing, and the two together do more than either alone
Brow lamination with brow shaping and tint — the full reset, shaping included
Browshaping and Lip combo — add the lip and save against booking separately
Read more about brow and lash treatments in St. Petersburg