Frequently Asked Questions

Anna answers all your burning questions!

What is the difference between brow shaping and brow design?

These terms imply the same thing. They are used interchangeably, the same way a “brow artist”, “brow specialist”, and “brow stylist” are essentially the same thing.

What is the difference between a brow shaping from iBrow versus from somewhere else?

The simple answer: Results. The more complex answer is that with the brow services offered at most spas and salons, you are generally not getting a true or proper “shaping". The technician is likely a well-meaning esthetician or cosmetologist that has been briefed on the process at best, and more than likely does not specialize in the Art of brow shaping. Brow design is rarely included in their educational curriculum and it is certainly not required for licensing. Furthermore, it’s something that calls for an artistic eye and knack for shaping most do not naturally have. Because of this, what you’re really paying for is often just a removal of excess hair around the brow, which naturally looks cleaner, but hardly does a self-respecting “shaping” justice. If you were wondering why we charge more for a brow service than most spas and salons, this is why. If it isn’t already obvious from our name, brows are our specialty! We provide superior brow design and grooming services based on facial analysis and in-depth consultation to achieve the most flattering shape for you.

Do you wax, tweeze, or thread, and why?

When it comes to brows, I neither wax nor thread. Tweezing is a method that gives a technician full control (i.e. maximum precision) as each hair is removed individually, and when it comes to brow shaping, every hair matters. I do not recommend waxing for brows ever, unless you want to have droopy eyelids before you were meant to (let’s hope that won’t be for a while… so, don’t wax!). The eye area is too delicate to be ripping off mercilessly sticky wax. You are essentially expediting the ageing process of your eyes by loosening the skin around them each time you wax. Waxing is also the least precise of all the methods, as you cannot fully control where the wax goes. It is easy if not very likely for the wax to spread over hairs that the technician did not intend to cover, and this is especially true when you press on the strip after applying soft wax. When it comes to quality results, this is really not acceptable as every hair plays a role in the outcome of a shaping. The accidental removal of a single hair is noticeable to me, and when two or three hairs are unintentionally removed, as often does with waxing, it makes an absolutely noticeable difference on the outcome of a brow’s shape. Waxing also has a notorious tendency to “kill” hair follicles more than any other method (meaning, the hair stops growing back). Unfortunately there are many people out there who have been permanently left with bad and sometimes horrendous brows after regular waxing by a technician unskilled in the Art of brow shaping. Threading, the ancient Near Eastern/South Asian/Far Eastern method of removing hair between twisted cotton threads, does not have as many cons as waxing, though the control factor is sacrificed to a greater or lesser extent. The brows of “threadees” often get progressively thinner, possibly as result of this. I’ve also noticed that the recipients of threading have a paper-straight edge beneath the front end of their brows, which often looks harsh and unnatural. Other than for brows and brow shaping, I think waxing and threading are excellent forms of hair removal.

That said, if you are not thrilled with your brows as they are now, you owe it to yourself to pay us a visit and see if you don't walk out with the most fabulous brows you’ve ever had!

Do you use stencils?

Absolutely not. Everyone has a different face and as such deserves a unique shaping in order to achieve their best result.

I have been seeing brow services offered at department stores and malls lately. Are these any good?

As far as I’m aware, these brow counters or “brow bars” depend on stencils and use wax, and I do not personally recommend either (see questions above).

I plan on getting my brows done at iBrow. What do I need to do, if anything?

After you have secured an appointment, make sure to show up at least five minutes before your scheduled time. Most importantly, please ensure that your eyebrows are grown in before you come for a shaping! This will take at least 6-8 weeks. Though it may be difficult, it is highly important that you keep your hands off your brows during this time and allow them to grow! Not only will this ensure the best result but the best run for your money. This also applies to those of you who make regular visits.

How do I make an appointment?

You can easily make an appointment with our online booking system. Simply click on the “book now” button on the website, choose a service and a time, then fill out and send your information. You will get an immediate confirmation for your appointment. If you do not have access to the Internet, you can always call for an appointment. In the case you get a voicemail, leave your name, number, and best time to call and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Remember the appointment is not official until it is confirmed.

The online appointment system is not working. What do I do?

In the rare case that the appointment system is not working, try again at another time, as there is likely too much traffic on the booking system. If it’s still not working after some time you can call or email to make an appointment, but know that you must receive a verbal or email confirmation before that appointment is officially made.

Do you take walk-ins?

At this time, we do not take walk-in clients. If in the future we decide to make it an option, we will announce this on our website. Sign up for our mailing list and/or RSS feed to be the first to know!

I can’t make it out to iBrow but I would still like you to do my brows. What can I do?

If you are in the Greater Chicago area, send an email with the subject “Chicagoland” to be notified when I am in your area. If I am in the city I can take house calls for a set price. If I get enough inquiries from a certain area I may rent a salon room for a day and take appointments there. Note that the pricing will be different from our studio prices, as they are exclusive to iBrow only. If you are outside of the Chicagoland area, you can always contact us to see if there is a possibility of me being in your area.

May I hire you for a wedding/photo-shoot/party/etc.?

I'm open to contractual work though it's subject to my schedule and circumstance. Get in touch early and we'll talk!

Do you do permanent makeup for brows?

Yes, for those of you who do not have the time or patience to make regular appointments or fill your brows in on a daily basis, I offer micropigmentation for full brows as well as fill-ins. I was inspired to offer this service because I have witnessed the terrible misfortune that ensues when a permanent makeup device gets in the hands of someone who is not skilled in the Art of brow design. Unfortunately, this is the case with just about every technician’s work I have seen, to a lesser or, most often greater extent. I urge anyone who is planning on doing this to research a technician’s work before going under the needle. I also highly recommend against making your choice based on price or convenience, as there is really no going back (unless you go through the painful and expensive process of laser removal, which in some cases will not remove every trace of ink). Please inquire if you are interested in my permanent brow services.

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