15 Eyebrow Gels That Will Help You Achieve Zendaya-Esque Brows

Joey Healy is a brow expert, brand founder, and owner of Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio.

Jared Bailey is the Benefit Cosmetics Global Brow Expert.

Tasha Brown is a celebrity makeup artist who’s clients include Alicia Keys and Whitney Peak.

“Brow gels are the simplest way to style, redirect, fill, or tame brow hairs,” says Bailey. “It really depends on the nature of your brows, you might use it to comb it up in a pleasing, fluffy manner. You might use it to keep your shape and place all day, or you might use them to really tame stubborn hairs that tend to go crazy on you,” adds Healy.

“People love using this hack because it’s an inexpensive way to get a stronghold and help keep your brows in place all day, especially if you have thick, unruly brow hairs,” says Bailey. “It’s actually considered an old-Hollywood secret that has been used by makeup artists on set, in editorial beauty and fashion shoots, and even in drag makeup for decades.” Soap brows are a great way to cheat laminated brows. “It’s a highly stylized look, but to me, it’s not a no-makeup makeup look,” says Healy. “It looks like the brows have been manipulated in such a way. There are a lot of expensive products on the market that are soap brow-like products, but good old-fashioned soap, specifically a clear bar of Glycerine soap, will do the job. I always recommend Pears, it’s just a very simple Glycerine soap that you see commonly around.”

“Finding the right brow gel for you can be really personal depending on how you want it to perform,” says Bailey. “I love brow gels that don’t get crispy or crunchy and ones that don’t leave a residue,” says Healy. “Sometimes brow gels leave this flakiness behind and I prefer when they leave a pliable, flexible hold. For me, that’s a light to medium weight hold. If you need something a little bit more intense, you can opt for a mustache wax, and I think that’s even better than using a bar of soap. It’s also inexpensive, but it’s made for hair and it does give a bit of more substantial hold. But, most people are good with a basic, medium brow gel, and people don’t always know that you can in fact layer your brow gels.”

“These days, there are so many different types,” says Healy. For Bailey, answering these questions is key to finding your perfect brow gel. “Do you want a strong hold or a light hold? Do you want a gel with a tint or clear? Fiber enhanced gel for volume or something more flat? Quick dry time or something more workable?” The two most common types of brow gels are Brow Setting Gels and Fiber Brow gels. A setting brow keeps hairs in place, while a fiber gel can help the brow look fluffier and more voluminous.

This article was written by Beauty E-Commerce Writer (and recent bleached eyebrow convert) Tatjana Freund. Freund has interviewed countless leading makeup artists, and enjoys exploring new beauty trends.