For more than 20 years, Australian brow artist Sharon Lee has shaped the eyebrows of celebrities (and mere mortals) alike. Her client list has included Beyonce, Serena and Venus Williams, the Olsen twins Mary-Kate and Ashley and Tom Cruise to name (drop) just a few.
Like Cher and Madonna, Sharon Lee can go by her first name alone and has built her empire around it.
Lee is about to head off to LA to work her magic on Leonardo DiCaprio and Toby Maguire's brows in the lead up to the Oscars. Because, you guessed it, it's time for men to tend to their brows too. We caught up with her pre-flight to get the download on what she'll do to DiCaprio and Maguire's brows and why she thinks men should get their eyebrows professionally shaped at least once in their lives.
Sharon's man brow shaping tips
· When shaping men's brows my focus is on removing bulk from within the brow and above it. Hair below the brows should be left alone or removed very selectively. The golden rule: do not allow them to be waxed, as you don't want to create a clean line.
· To keep brows looking natural at home, remove new growth with a good pair of slanted tweezers, as it comes through the skin. Invest in a mirror that magnifies ten times to help keep track of any stray brow hair.
· When doing Toby and Leo's brows, less is best. I sometimes add a little tinted colour, but very conservatively.
· Grooming is important for everyone: male, female, young and old. All too often I see men overdoing their brows, which I feel is worse than not doing them at all.
· I always work conservatively and focus on losing bulk and shortening any coarse, curly, or long hair with my signature "snap and tear" method using tweezing to fray the tip of the brow hair to ensure it looks natural. Straight-out trimming is much too obvious.
· My most important piece of advice: invest in a professional brow shaping session, even if it is only once. You'll be amazed at the difference.
The latest trend in women's brows
For women's brows, the emphasis is still on thickness, but now a little softer with nothing too steeply arched. Even a little regrowth below the brow line is acceptable as it softens the line. According to Sharon Lee, the best brows right now were on display at the Grammy Awards: Beyoncé, Rihanna and JLo.
Sharon's long-haul flight survival tips for travelling to LA?
I actually enjoy the long-haul flight, as long as I am armed with my L'Occitane facial mist, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, and La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Sleep Mask. I also pack a small silk pillowslip to throw over the airline pillow.
Sydney-based Lee will be wielding her tweezers statewide in Melbourne, Perth, Gold Coast and Canberra from March 13, www.sharonleeinc.com.