How to do eyebrows for a 70 year old?: Expert tips for a natural and defined look

As we age, eyebrows can become sparser, lighter, and lose their shape, but a well-groomed brow can wonderfully lift and frame the face. Here's how to do eyebrows for a 70 year old, focusing on gentle techniques and products that create a soft, natural, and youthful appearance.

Quick Summary

Achieving beautiful eyebrows at 70 involves using softer, lighter products and applying them with light, hair-like strokes to build fullness without harsh lines. Focus on enhancing your natural shape and avoiding heavy, drawn-on brows for a more flattering and youthful frame.

Key Points

• Embrace Softness: Avoid harsh, heavy lines by using lighter products and applying with a delicate touch to prevent an aging, drawn-on look.

• Choose the Right Tools: Opt for a fine-tipped pencil or a powder with an angled brush, which are ideal for mimicking natural hair strokes and filling in sparse areas subtly.

• Less is More: Practice restraint with tweezing to preserve precious brow hairs, and focus on tidying up stray hairs rather than over-shaping.

• Blend for a Natural Finish: Always use a clean spoolie brush to blend any applied product, softening edges and distributing color evenly for a more realistic appearance.

• Adjust for Grey or White Hairs: Select softer shades like taupe or light grey to blend with grey hair and create a cohesive look that is not too dark or severe.

• Frame Your Face: Define your brow's start, arch, and end using a pencil as a guide to create a shape that complements your facial features.

Understanding the Changes in Mature Eyebrows

With age, several changes can affect the appearance of our eyebrows. Hormonal shifts can lead to thinning and patchiness, while hair follicles may produce less pigment, resulting in grey or white hairs. The skin around the brows can also become less elastic. These changes mean that the makeup techniques used in your younger years may no longer be the most flattering.

The Right Tools and Products for Mature Skin

Choosing the right products and tools is crucial for creating a soft, natural look on mature skin. Heavy pencils and pomades can look harsh and unnatural, while the right product can mimic real hair strokes seamlessly.

Product Options for a Soft Finish

• Eyebrow Powder: Offers a soft, matte finish that is excellent for filling in sparse areas subtly. It's less likely to settle into fine lines than a heavy pencil. Use with a thin, angled brush for precision.
• Fine-tipped Eyebrow Pencil: Ideal for drawing tiny, hair-like strokes to create dimension. Look for a soft, waxy pencil that glides on smoothly without tugging the skin.
• Tinted Brow Gel: Contains tiny fibers that adhere to existing hairs, adding volume and color while holding them in place. This is a great option for those with some existing brow hair that just needs a little boost.
• Brow Growth Serum: For those looking to stimulate natural hair regrowth, serums can be an effective, long-term solution. Many contain ingredients like peptides and biotin to encourage healthier hair follicles.

Comparison of Eyebrow Products for Mature Skin

Feature	Pencil	Powder	Tinted Gel	Pomade
Ease of Use	High	Medium	High	Low (requires practice)
Natural Finish	High (with fine tip)	Very High	High	Low (can look heavy)
Covers Sparse Areas	Well	Very well	Good	Very well
Longevity	Medium	Medium-High	High	Very High
Best For	Creating definition and hair strokes	Soft, natural fullness	Adding volume and hold	Intense definition (use sparingly)

Gentle Grooming and Shaping Techniques

Decades of over-plucking can leave brows sparse, so minimal tweezing is key.

Finding Your Ideal Brow Shape

1. Define the Start: Hold a pencil vertically against the side of your nose. Where the pencil hits your brow line is where your brow should begin.
2. Locate the Arch: Align the pencil from the side of your nose through the center of your pupil. The highest point of your brow's arch should be here.
3. Find the End: Position the pencil from the side of your nose to the outer corner of your eye. Your brow should not extend far beyond this point to avoid a droopy appearance.

Precision Trimming and Tweezing

• Use Small Scissors: Brush your brow hairs upwards with a spoolie. Carefully trim only the very longest, straggling ends one by one to create a neater shape.
• Tweeze Sparingly: Only remove stray hairs that are well outside your natural brow shape. Avoid tweezing above the brow too much, as this can alter the natural arch.

Step-by-Step Application for a Natural Look

Follow these steps to enhance your brows beautifully without looking overdone.

1. Prep Your Brows: Start with clean, dry skin. For grey or white hairs that need color, you can dampen a spoolie with a tiny amount of hairspray before applying powder to help it adhere.
2. Choose Your Color Wisely: Opt for a shade or two lighter than your natural hair color to avoid a harsh look, especially if you have dark hair. Taupe or soft grey shades work well for grey or white brows.
3. Start with the Arch: Focus on filling in the arch and tail first, as this area often needs the most definition. Create light, hair-like strokes with a fine-tipped pencil or angled brush and powder.
4. Fill the Body of the Brow: Use the same light, feathery strokes to fill in any sparse patches. A little goes a long way. Build color gradually rather than applying it all at once.
5. Use a Light Hand at the Front: The inner part of your brow should be the softest. Draw very light, upward strokes to mimic the direction of hair growth.
6. Blend Thoroughly: Use a clean spoolie to brush through your brows in the direction of hair growth. This blends the product, softens any harsh lines, and gives a more natural finish.
7. Set with Gel: A clear or tinted brow gel will hold hairs in place and can add a final layer of polish.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using Too Dark a Color: This can create a harsh, severe look that ages the face.
• Over-Plucking: Long-term over-plucking can permanently thin your brows, so tweeze minimally.
• Drawing a Solid Line: A single, dark line looks unnatural and can be unflattering on mature skin. Use soft, feathery strokes instead.
• Ignoring the Spoolie: Blending is the key to a soft, natural finish. Skipping this step can leave brows looking painted on.
• Magnifying Mirror Overload: A magnifying mirror can cause you to over-analyze and over-tweeze. Use a regular mirror and natural light to see the overall effect.

Conclusion: Your Brows, Your Way

Mastering how to do eyebrows for a 70 year old is about celebrating your natural features with a little thoughtful enhancement. By choosing the right products, applying them with a gentle touch, and focusing on a soft, blended finish, you can create a defined look that is both modern and timeless. Your eyebrows will frame your face beautifully, adding a polished and confident finish to your overall appearance. For more detailed tips on beauty for mature skin, check out AARP's guide to better brows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best eyebrow makeup for a 70 year old with sparse brows?

For sparse brows, a fine-tipped pencil or brow powder is often the best choice. A pencil allows you to draw individual, hair-like strokes, while powder offers a soft wash of color to fill in gaps. For extra volume, a tinted fiber gel can be layered on top.

How do I choose the right color for my eyebrows if my hair is grey?

If your hair is grey or white, choose a brow product in a taupe, soft grey, or light brown shade. Avoid harsh, dark colors, which can look unnatural. For a subtle fill, a color that is one shade darker than your lightest brow hairs can be very flattering.

Is microblading a good option for eyebrows at age 70?

Microblading can be an excellent option for restoring thin or missing brows semi-permanently, but it's important to consult a reputable and experienced professional. Discuss your expectations for a soft, natural look, not a dramatic one. The technician should be familiar with working on mature skin.

Should I use a magnifying mirror for my eyebrows?

Using a magnifying mirror can lead to over-tweezing and create an unnatural shape. It is better to use a regular mirror in good, natural light to see the overall shape of your brows in relation to your face. Save the magnifying mirror for the occasional fine-tuning.

How do I make my eyebrows look thicker without them looking fake?

To make brows look thicker naturally, use a light hand with your product. Draw small, feathery strokes in the direction of hair growth rather than one solid line. After applying, use a spoolie to blend the product, which softens the look and adds dimension.

How often should I groom my eyebrows?

For mature brows, less is often more. Aim for regular, gentle maintenance rather than drastic overhauls. Tweeze stray hairs that are clearly outside the shape every few weeks, and trim long hairs as needed. This preserves fullness and prevents unnecessary damage.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when doing eyebrows over 70?

Common mistakes include using a product that is too dark, drawing a solid, harsh line, and over-plucking. Additionally, not blending with a spoolie can leave brows looking unnatural and drawn on.