How to Glue Down Your Eyebrows Like a Pro — and Then Take It All Off

Gluing down your eyebrows is a technique used among makeup artists, drag queens, beauty influencers, and performers alike to give the illusion of a completely different eye shape. But once a year, many people attempt it to transform themselves for a Halloween costume. It's one of those things people presume is really difficult when in reality it's a skill everyone can learn to master — with some guidance, of course.

Knowing how to conceal your brows with the glue method can come in handy for a number of costume ideas, so to help you master it, celebrity makeup artist Allan Avendaño explained the process step by step. Keep reading to learn how to glue down your eyebrows from a pro.

To start, you'll need to gather your beauty supplies. You'll need a brow comb or spoolie, a color corrector in red or orange, loose setting powder, a concealer that matches your skin tone, and of course, a glue stick. Avendaño recommended Elmer's Washable Glue Sticks ($1 for two). "Preferably the one that's purple, so you can see when it dries," he told POPSUGAR.

Elmer's Washable Glue Sticks

From

$1

$1 at Target

Step 1: Clean Your Brows
Start with clean eyebrows with no makeup on them. It's best to glue your brows as the first step in your makeup and then go over top with the rest of your base once you finish.

Step 2: Cover Your Brows in Glue
"You're going to rub the Elmer's glue stick in the opposite direction of your brow hair," Avendaño said. "Then go over it again in the direction of your brow hair."

Step 3: Comb Your Brows Flat
Using the brow spoolie, brush the hair in your brows as flat as possible. Avendaño recommended doing this immediately after applying the glue. Then, let it dry.

Step 4: Repeat If Needed
"If you feel that it isn't flat enough, go over the brow only in the same direction as your hair and press down with your fingertip or thumb," he said.

Step 5: Cover Your Brows With Color Corrector
Once your brows are glued flat to your face and dry, it's time to color correct. "Go over the brows with the color corrector to cancel out any darkness from the hair," Avendaño said. Try the NYX Professional Makeup Color Correcting Palette ($13).

NYX Professional Makeup Color Correcting Palette

From

$13

$13 at Target

Step 6: Set With Powder
Once you feel your eyebrow hair is concealed enough, it's time to set it. "Let the concealer sit before pushing in loose powder over the color corrector," Avendaño said. Try the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder ($39). It comes in three shades, so you can choose the one that best matches your skin tone.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

From

$39

$39 at Ulta

Step 7: Conceal Your Eyebrows
After powder comes concealer. "Go over the area with a concealer that matches your skin tone and powder down again," Avendaño said. "You may have to do this a couple of times, but try not to overdo it because it will get cakey." For a concealer, we recommend the E.l.f. Cosmetics 16HR Camo Concealer ($6).

E.l.f. Cosmetics 16HR Camo Concealer

From

$6

$6 at Ulta

Like with anything, practice makes perfect. Avendaño's biggest tip for first-timers: "Don't be afraid to remove it and start over. The glue is washable, so it if doesn't work out, wash it off and try again." He stressed the importance of taking your time — this isn't something that can be rushed, because each step needs time to dry completely for it to work.

If the idea of glue in your eyebrow hair stresses you out (as it does me), Avendaño reassured us that it's easy to remove. The glue is washable, after all. "I like to use an oil cleanser or a makeup wipe and gently get all the color products off before going in with a normal face cleanser and water," he said.