Don't be browbeaten – invest in tweezers

THEY can transform your look, and cleverly structure the proportions of the face. Yet, while we obsess over lip gloss colours and cheek tint textures, all too often our brows are neglected – or subjected to the sporadic and overzealous tweeze. However, a little expert shaping goes a long way.

A neatly groomed brow instantly shapes the face and emphasises the eyes, while features can appear "lifted" and years wiped off. Age determines where the natural arch should be, so that "lifting" effect can be created by making the arch slightly higher and the brow slightly shorter – this also works with heavy eyelids.

First thing's first, never shave. Ever. Waxing should only be done by the professionals too. For a good DIY brow shape, tweezing is the only option.

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When it comes to tweezing, take a tip from the experts and do so after a hot shower when the pores are open, and use natural daylight. It's important to invest in a quality pair of tweezers – slanted tweezers are easier to use, while pointed ones work for those with coarse hair. Try Ruby and Millie Dual Tweezer (15), Tweezerman Pointed Tweexzers (11.50), Tweezerman Wide Grip Tweezers (15) and Shavata Heart Tweezers (16.50, Harvey Nichols).

Wow brows follow a few simple rules. Firstly, less is more. Pluck a little at a time and be true to your shape. If you have naturally thick brows, don't make them thin. And remember, brows are sisters, not twins. They will never be symmetrical so don't try and make them so. And finish with some Tea Tree cream such as Nelsons (5.99, Boots).

For Hollywood brows nothing beats threading, which gets rid of every single stray hair and tidies untamed areas. Cheryl Cole, Angelina Jolie, Elizabeth Hurley and Sienna Miller are all reportedly fans. Costing anywhere between 10 and 24 in the Capital, it's certainly not cheap, but the results are more than worth it – and it's a must-have for those wanting to transform their shape. Simply get the professionals to do it and maintain it yourself at home for free. Try the Shavata Brow Studio in Harvey Nichols.

Once you have your chosen brow shape, you can maximise them with some clever colouring and highlighting. Add some definition to brows with a creamy brow crayon such as Bobbi Brown's pencils (13.50) which instantly give a lift to brows. Available in five shades, there is a colour for everyone. Also try Benefit's Instant Brow Pencil (13.50), Estee Lauder's Instant Brow Pencil (15), No7 Beautiful Brow Pencil (7) and Clinique's Superfine Brow Pencil (11).

Lastly, highlight the arch to create an added lift and define those brows even more. Try Benefit's Miss Popularity Highlighter (17.50), Benefit's High Beam or Moon Beam (both 17.50) and YSL Radiant Touch (21). Apply a little underneath the brow and blend upwards towards the arch. Glamorous brows in an instant.