Eyebrow Shaping Certification

Looking to get certified in the art of eyebrow shaping and design? How about doing it all online?


You have come to the right place! The first online certification program of its kind. All lessons, lectures and videos are online! Once you pass the test, then you will have earned your EyebrowMBA and bragging rights in your salon.

Completely affordable, the course gives you insider tricks that will have you shaping amazing brows on every client, every time.

Check out www.eyebrowmba.com today and be on your way to becoming the best eyebrow artist you can be.

Brett Freedman from VANITYMARK in Pittsburgh!

Brett Freedman, founder of VANITYMARK cosmetics and makeup artist to the stars will be in Pittsburgh over this Memorial Day weekend.

His first stop...Everyday Esthetics in Ambridge of course, home of Pittsburgh's eyebrow diva! He will be schmoozing with VIP clients and dishing all of his beauty secrets. His next stop, Lawrenceville and the Pageboy Salon and Boutique.

Catch him if you can!

Pageboy Salon Lawrenceville

Dr. Kiss!!

Pittsburgh ladies you saw it on WTAE and you can get it right here in Pittsburgh!

Visit http://www.pghbrows.com/

Everyday Esthetics has Brett Freedman's Dr.Kiss!! We're almost sold out, but have more on the way.

Do Eyebrows Talk?

Do eyebrows talk? I would say yes. Think about it- when you speak, your face follows those words with expressions. Your eyebrows move up and down, in and out and all around, all day long. Your eyebrows help to create expressions. They convey unspoken words. They...talk.

Well shaped brows can help you communicate things about you that you want the world to know, like how gracious and warm you are. Poorly shaped brows can also tell people things about you that may not be true, like how harsh and angry you are.

O Magazine in their June issue does a wonderful article about how a well shaped, well proportioned brow can actually make you appear more pleasant and approachable. It is a fabulous before-and-after of exactly how much your brows "talk".

Now, if my clients don't believe me when I tell them that their brows, that have had the same shape for years or maybe even decades, are making them look older, stern, angry etc. I often hear, "Really???". Yes, really! Then I pull out pictures of what good brows are supposed to look like, and they are confused by the wonderful shape that they see. They can't believe people have brows so full and well shaped, because that is not what their brows look like. Then we go round and round about how their brow shape needs to change. Some try, and at their next appointment they say, "You were right!", and others cannot handle the change. Your eyebrows talk. They do.
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And the Oscar for Best Brows goes to...

Well, there are a lot of great brows in Hollywood, and Oscars night brought many of them out on the red carpet.

Here are a few of my favorites, and why.

Anne Hathaway has a beautiful, elongated brow. She does not have

a naturally high arch, and she does not try to attain that. She is a good example of how a flatter brow can be gorgeous. This brow matches her other features - larger and elongated. Perfect.

Kate Winslett has a beautiful, natural brow. Shaped well, but not overly groomed. the right is a bit higher than the left, which is what most women see in the mirror. She also does not have an extreme arch, but a soft lift on the outer third of the brow. A very attainable brow shape for many women.

Angelina's brows are always perfection. A very high arch and always well groomed. Sometimes they seem a bit thicker, and I think that is all due to eyebrow powders or pencils used by her makeup artist. Here, her brows do not compete with any other feature and look great. This brow is not a common one, just like the beauty of it's owner.

Tina Fay has an eyebrow that is achievable for many women. Full, natural and not too high of an arch. The brow balances her features and frames her large eyes. The arch is placed correctly and they start and end well. This helps to bring focus to her eyes. Brava Tina!

And the Worst Brow Award goes to Sarah Jessica Parker. She has some of the worst brows in Hollywood. The arch is too close to her nose, they are too thin on the ends and start too far apart in front. Just awful. They do nothing for her eyes. All you see are yucky brows. Sorry Sarah, everything else about you is fabulous!

Fall 2009 Beauty Trends

It was all brows and great skin on the runway as NARS created the look for Herve Leger. Brows and ponytails.

A strong, full brow and minimal makeup was the look. Great skin is in, as always.

They were predicting a more subtle look would be in for Fall. With the economy tanking, the look this Fall may be simple, simple, simple.

Keep Me Looking Young, Pass the Cookies!

When I was in college, I had a friend significantly older than I was. When I finally asked her her age, I could not believe my ears. She looked at least 10 years younger than her real age. Her secret? She said it was her fat. yes, she claimed her voluptuous figure made her look younger by plumping out her wrinkles.

Well, now it seems that statement is backed up by some fact. This article appeared on Yahoo! this morning http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090210/hl_time/08599187771700 You must be of the mature age of 40 for the benefits to be seen. Otherwise, younger gals with a bit of cushion just look old.

It also states that antidepressants can be aging by making the muscles in the face more relaxed. Who knew?

By the way, the picture of the cookies is from my favorite cookie boutique in Pittsburgh, Country Cupboard Cookies. The vanilla are to die for!

Brett Freedman's QuickTip

I carry many of Brett's eyebrow products in my studio. He's from the 'Burgh ya know!! This is a Vanitymark QuickTip with Jenna Fischer from The Office.

Green Makeup Brushes

Thought I would share my latest find - Eco Tools Makeup Brushes. They are cruelty-free, with bamboo handles and recycled aluminum ferrules. They are soft and fabulous!

You can buy a small kit, in a cotton-hemp case for about $12.99. I picked mine up at my local Rite-Aid. I believe I also saw them at Target.

They have synthetic, Taklon bristles, but can be cleaned the same way as all of your brushes (see previous post). They offer other bath/beauty items as well.

An inexpensive treat for yourself and the planet. http://www.eco-tools.com/

New Year's Beauty Resolutions

Well, it's that time of year again to create good, new habits. Here are a few beauty habits you may want to work into your resolutions for 2009.

• Clean your makeup brushes - Sounds easy, but how many of you do it? Ideally, brushes should be cleaned once a week, but try for once a month. They can be washed just like your hair. Lather up the bristles with your favorite shampoo and work it through. Rinse with warm water, squeeze out the excess, reshape the bristles and lay flat to dry.
• Clean out your makeup drawer - If you have not used it in a year, throw it out. Mascara should be tossed after 90 days, once opened. Powder products tend to not harbour bacteria, but toss it if you have not been using it in the past year. No point in putting those clean brushes in nasty old makeup!
• Wear sunscreen - Everyday. Put it on your face, neck and hands.
• See a good pro - If you haven't had a good haircut, color, brow shaping, etc. get at least one this year. A professional will get you back on the right track.
• Take a break - One day a week, try to take a makeup break by wearing nothing at all. Cleanse your skin and moisturize but put nothing else on your skin. I try to give my skin a product break for a week a few times a year and I love how my skin looks afterwards.
• Exfoliate - At least once a week, exfoliate either with a gentle scrub or an enzyme treatment. I use a microfiber cloth my mom found and I love it.

Enjoy the New Year and go clean those brushes!!

Lightening dark eyebrows and the aftermath

OK, I just got a frantic call from a client. Seems she told her stylist that she wanted to lighten her brows - not too much, just a bit to blend in with her blond hair. Well, you can only guess what happened. Too much bleach gave her the "no eyebrow" look.

So, what went wrong. For starters, bleach can turn hairs orange. Do not bleach. My clients brows had a hint of red in them after the bleaching process.

Here is the advice I gave to my client.

• Condition brows in the shower as you would your hair to help with the damage.


• Try a tinted brow gel. Laura Geller makes one that's sold on QVC .


• Try a powder and brush to help bring brows forward. I use Vanitymark in my Studio.


• Wait a bit and try again with coloring them. Please note that it is illegal in all fifty states to tint brows with hair color as it can cause blindness. Some spas can do this with a safer vegetable dye, but there will be maintenance.

If you want to lighten your brows at home gradually over a few weeks, you may like Eyebrowz Natural Herb Lightener.

Consult an eyebrow professional before attemting to radically change the look of your brows.

A quick fix for tired eyes

A simple thing I do to help get rid of "tired eyes" on clients is the use of concealer and foundation as close to the lower lashes as possible. Take a small, flat synthetic brush and swipe a thin layer of foundation (and concealer if needed) directly under the lower lashes. There is often redness and discoloration in this area, and a nice sweep to even color goes a long way. Also, foundation on the top lids help to even out the color of the skin around the entire eye area. A nice loose powder will help to set the foundation.

What is this little pink egg??

Why it's the Beauty Blender of course! This little reusable sponge makes any liquid or cream foundation go on like a dream. It is the perfect shape that allows you get into all the little nooks and crannies. One of my clients said that it felt like a facial massage as I was applying her makeup! A bit of an investment, but well worth it.