How To Get Rid Of A Unibrow

We can say that someone has a “unibrow” when his or her eyebrows seem linked by noticeable hair growing between them.  If you have a unibrow, you probably find it embarrassing and frustrating to deal with.  If you have this problem, however, you’re in luck!  In this article, you will learn about the causes of the unibrow, as well as everything you need to know about how to get rid of a unibrow.

Causes of the Unibrow

Having a unibrow has genetic roots.  The thickness and darkness of the brow hair (which makes the unibrow much more noticeable) are also determined by genetics.  If one or both of your parents naturally have unibrows with thick and/or dark eyebrow hair, there is a strong chance that you will, too.

Effects of the Unibrow

Having a unibrow can cause greater propensity for problems such as enlarged pores, pimples, and dandruff in the area of the excess hair in between the eyebrows.

The excess hair of a unibrow can make acne more likely to occur in the affected areas.  This is because of the dirt and oil that can be trapped by the hairs and kept close to the skin.  Some people find that they are prone to developing pimples after they pluck hairs, too.  This usually occurs when bacteria make their way into hair follicles that are exposed by tweezing.  In order to prevent this happening, always make sure to properly clean your tweezers with hydrogen peroxide or toner both before and after using them.  Also, avoid touching the brow area with your hands immediately after tweezing.  Remember to wash and gently exfoliate your face before tweezing, as well.  We will discuss home remedies for existing brow acne later in this article.

Eyebrow dandruff can be caused by seborrhea dermatitis or blepharitis.  Seborrhea dermatitis causes tiny dandruff flecks to develop in the eyebrows.  It is usually caused by clogged pores or dehydration of the skin.  Blepharitis leads to tiny dandruff scales appearing in the eyebrow hair.  Blepharitis is usually an effect of another skin condition.  If you seborrhea dermatitis in your unibrow that becomes severe, you may develop more obvious, uncomfortable symptoms such as a greasy look to the skin in the affected area, obvious redness, yellow, scaly flakes, soreness, and itchiness.  Make sure to see a doctor as soon as possible if your symptoms are severe and distressing.  Ensure that the area is always kept meticulously clean, as well as properly hydrated with an oil-free, fragrance-free, and non-comedogenic moisturizer.  We will discuss home remedies for eyebrow dandruff later in this article.

How To Get Rid Of A Unibrow

There are certain unibrow removal methods that you will have to go to a professional to have done.  These include electrolysis (destruction of the hair follicles with chemical energy) and laser hair removal.  While these procedures will give you permanent hair removal, they tend to be expensive.  Laser hair removal requires several visits to the professional for laser treatments, and is sometimes not as readily effective on coarse or dark hair.

Luckily, however, there are many home remedies and less expensive professional remedies also available.  We will discuss these below!

Tweezing

You can use tweezers to pluck out the hairs between your eyebrows.  You should keep in mind, however, that the hairs will most often grow back.  Also, tweezing can be painful, and cause redness of the skin.  To help ease the soreness caused by tweezing, immerse a washcloth in hot water, ring it out, and use this cloth to warm up and dampen the area immediately before tweezing the hairs.  Alternatively, you can simply do your tweezing just after a hot shower.  Make sure to look in a mirror while you do the tweezing.  If possible, use a magnifying mirror.  Start tweezing the hairs in the very middle of your unibrow, and then slowly move outwards, constantly checking in the mirror to make sure you are not removing too much.  After you are finished tweezing, you might find it soothing to apply some aloe vera gel to the skin.  If the skin is very red and sore, consider holding an ice cube or cold washcloth to the area.

Waxing

You can have waxing professionally done, or you can buy a waxing kit designed especially for facial use.  These kits can be found in most drugstores.  Keep in mind that waxing can be a little painful, but it is over very quickly.  Waxing pulls the hairs out in their entirety, right from the root.  It is because of this that the hairs will grow in more slowly than if you tweeze instead.  Waxing kits provide either warm waxing or cold waxing treatments.  Some waxing kits have already prepared wax-covered strips, which are a good choice for someone who is new to waxing.  No matter what kind of facial waxing kit you choose, make certain that you carefully read and follow the directions!  After you have waxed the excess hair in between your brows, the skin might be red or swollen.  It will probably be helpful to apply a little hydrocortisone cream after patting on some antibacterial lotion.  Holding an ice cube to the area will also help.

Shaving

Shaving is an easy way to quickly remove the hair between your eyebrows.  However, you should keep in mind that it can cause certain problems, such as razor burn and bumps, as well as stubbly hairs continually growing through soon after.  When you shave, the hairs will grow back with blunt tops, making them appear thicker and coarser.

Sugaring

Sugaring (or “sugar waxing”) is similar to waxing in its basic process, but sugar mixed with various other ingredients is used as the “wax.”  There are various different recipes for the sugar wax.  One includes brown sugar, water, and honey.  Mix two teaspoons of brown sugar, one teaspoon of water, and one teaspoon of honey in a mixing bowl (must be microwave-safe).  Microwave this mixture on high for 30 seconds.  Make sure to stir it every 10 seconds.  The mixture should become brown, and should bubble.  Make sure not to leave it in too long, as it might become too hard.  Let the mixture cool until it is only warm (slightly warmer than room temperature), and soft but reasonably thick.  Use a think spatula or your finger to apply the mixture to the excess hair you want to remove.  Press a clean strip of cloth against the sugar wax on your skin, letting the wax harden and stick to the cloth.  This will take between 30 and 60 seconds.  In one pull, very quickly rip away the cloth from your skin.  If you find any stray hairs are still present, simply tweeze them.  To deal with skin irritation, apply a little hydrocortisone cream to the area.

Hair removal cream

You could use a hair removal cream (also called depilatory cream) especially made for facial hair.  This cream can be purchased at any drugstore.  Make sure to read the product instructions, and ensure that none of it gets in your eyes!  Hair removal cream removes only the part of the hair you see on the surface, and has no effect on the roots.  This is the reason why the hair will grow back more quickly if you remove it with hair removal cream if you tweeze it or wax it.  It is important to do an allergy test before using the cream on your face.  The instructions will set out how to do this test.  Usually, it involves simply putting a small amount of the cream on an area like the back of your hand and leaving it there for at least two minutes, checking to see if there is any allergic reaction.

Threading

Threading for hair removal has been practiced for thousands of years.  It is best for hair that is not coarse or thick.  Threading is something that really has to be done by someone with expertise in the area.  While some people feel it is possible to do at home, it is generally not recommended.

Home Remedies for Brow Acne

Below are various home remedies for acne that might exist in your unibrow, in case you need to deal with that issue before removing the excess hair.

Clarifying mask

Apply a clarifying mask on the affected area, leaving it on for 10 minutes.  You should do this every day for several days.  One recipe for a clarifying mask includes one teaspoon of coconut oil, one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and two tablespoons of Indian healing clay.

Bronner’s soap (containing tea tree oil)

Using Bronner’s soap with tea tree oil on the affected area will help to clear up the acne.

Use only non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic makeup

Use only non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic cosmetic products on the affected area.

Lavender essential oil and olive oil

This mixture is very good for dry skin that happens to have an acne breakout.  Mix a few drops of lavender oil with a few drops of olive oil, and apply this mixture to the area.  Leave this on for at least 10 minutes before washing it off with your regular cleanser and warm water.  Olive oil has antimicrobial qualities, while lavender helps to calm inflammation of the skin.

Over-the-counter acne cream

Use an acne cream with salicylic acid, sulfur, or benzoyl peroxide daily on the affected area.

Bentonite clay mask

Using a bentonite clay mask on the affected area will help to eliminate the acne.

Honey and cinnamon mask

Honey and cinnamon both have antibacterial properties.  Mix one teaspoon of cinnamon with two tablespoons of honey.  After washing your face, apply the mixture to your skin, concentrating especially on the affected area.  Leave the mask on for between 10 and 15 minutes, and then rinse it off.  As honey is sticky, you will have to take extra care to wash it completely from your eyebrow hair using gentle cleanser and warm water (and probably a washcloth).

Home Remedies for Brow Dandruff

Below are several home remedies for brow dandruff.

Unani egg oil

Unani egg oil has been used to deal with dandruff since ancient times.  This special oil will boost your skin’s mineral content and oil production (promoting hydration), making dandruff less likely to develop.  You should apply this oil to the affected oil daily.

Petroleum jelly

Petroleum jelly is a very simple remedy for eyebrow dandruff.  It is intensely moisturizing, thus making dandruff less likely to develop.  Put some petroleum jelly on the affected area before you go to bed each night.

Lemon juice

Apply two or three squirts of lemon juice to your eyebrows, and rub it in.  Lemon juice will help to eliminate dandruff already present, and to open pores, which will help prevent future dandruff.  Lemon juice contains acid that is strongly anti-fungal, helping to deal with dandruff-causing fungus in your eyebrows.

Almond oil

Massage almond oil into your eyebrows at night, and leave it on while you sleep.  This will hydrate the skin and help prevent dandruff.  Make sure to carefully wash off the oil in the morning, to prevent clogged pores and the acne that might result.

Table salt

Massage a little bit of table salt into your eyebrows daily.  This will help to exfoliate the area, thus removing existing dandruff.  It will also help to prevent the formation of future dandruff in your eyebrows.

Aloe vera gel

Rub a small amount of pure aloe vera gel into your eyebrows about 15 minutes before you shower or bath each day.  This will help to hydrate the skin, and prevent dandruff formation.

 

References:

“Genetics of the Unibrow Revealed,” http://www.livescience.com/53896-genetics-of-unibrows-revealed.html

“5 Ways to Get Rid of a Unibrow,” http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-a-Unibrow

“How to Prevent Bumps After Plucking Eyebrows,” http://www.bustle.com/articles/139276-how-to-prevent-bumps-after-plucking-eyebrows-because-post-tweezing-pimples-suck

“10 Natural Remedies to Cure Eyebrow Dandruff,” http://blogs.naturalnews.com/10-natural-remedies-cure-eyebrow-dandruff

“Adult Cradle Cap Treatment,” http://www.livestrong.com/article/306935-adult-cradle-cap-treatment

“Treating Cystic Acne Between the Eyebrows and Eyes,” http://www.adult-acne.net/treating-cystic-acne-between-the-eyebrows-and-eyes

“22 Home Remedies for Acne and Pesky Pimples,” http://everydayroots.com/acne-remedies