Raise eyebrows with a look to dye for

So apparently eyebrows are big. This isn’t great news for me, as my eyebrows are small. It’s not that I overplucked them – actually, I barely have to pluck them at all, so unblessed am I in that department.

In the quest for a more dramatic brow to arch, I put myself in the capable hands of beauty therapist Samantha at Edinburgh’s Odyssey Boutique.

Rocking a pair of Elizabeth Taylor-esque lovelies herself, Samantha clearly knows what she’s doing with a pair of tweezers; or more accurately hot wax and a tint brush. Odyssey’s Brow Wow package is a three-part treatment to help those who’ve been a bit overzealous with their plucking, but have seen the error of their ways. According to the expert, for 2012 the brows to watch are currently residing on X Factor’s Tulisa, Nicole Scherzinger and Cheryl Cole: think strong, neat and well-defined.

On my first visit Samantha pencils in how she thinks my brows would look best, taking into account my face shape and colouring. “You’ll probably think this is too much as you’re used to seeing yourself with less,” she says as she hands me a mirror. They’re certainly more intense-looking, with the pencilling making them appear closer together, but they look good.

As some people’s skin can have an adverse reaction to the dye they use to tint the brows I have to get a patch test done – a tiny spot of dye is applied behind my ear – to remain for 24 hours. Then Samantha waxes below my brow arch. Something smells delicious. “It’s chocolate wax – for Christmas,” says Samantha.

The waxing ensures that my brows are the perfect shape to take the dye, as left unwaxed, tiny fair hairs would pick it up, leaving me with a pair of fuzzy caterpillars.

The following week I return for the tinting, and Odyssey recommend the third appointment (comprising another tint and shape) follows three to four weeks after the second – giving the brow hairs time to get through a complete growth cycle.

I opt for a set of eyelash extensions while I’m there (not only are my brows a little ungenerous, my lashes can use a bit of help too). The process takes another 45 minutes but I nearly nodded off as Samantha glued individual lashes to my own, as the process is far more relaxing than you might imagine.

The results are stunning and very natural, ensuring that I don’t have to bother with mascara for up to four weeks, and beautifully complementing my new, very 2012, brows.

MERCY BREHENY

Odyssey Boutique, 39-41 William Street, Edinburgh (0131-220 2908).

Book an appointment, to be taken before the end of the month, and you’ll get three treatments for the price of two (cheapest is free).