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There's no time like the (pre-wedding) present to start shaping your way to perfect eyebrows. We've enlisted Joey Healy, pro plucker to Bethenny Frankel, Kyra Sedgwick and countless others, to help you get A-list brows just in time for your big day. Read on for his top eyebrow shaping tips.
Brides: We're guessing brow shaping will take some planning—much like the entire wedding process. How much time should brides allot to get them in tip-top condition?
Joey Healy: I have a 5-4-3-2-1 plan. Stop whatever you're doing five months before your wedding and let your brows grow in for four weeks. After four weeks of seeing where you have shortcomings, schedule three shapings six weeks apart. The first gets you on track and the second helps solidify the shape. By the third shaping, two days before the wedding, you'll be in a great place.
Brides: So the last appointment should be two days before? Not the day before, or day of?
JH: Doing anything the day before the wedding is crazy! It doesn't have so much to do with irritation or redness as with the fact that you'll be dealing with last-minute emergencies. Don't let your makeup artist touch your brows the day of, even if they say they're just pulling a stray. It's like working on a painting before putting it in the gallery—you don't want anyone to mess with your masterpiece!
See more: Three Easy Steps to Gorgeous DIY Wedding-Day Eye Makeup
Brides: What if you're a serial plucker and don't have much to work with? Is there anything you can do to get bold, Lily Collins-esque brows?
JH: Before you freak out, see what happens when your eyebrows grow in by themselves. It's a free and easy step—just be patient. After a month, you might find growth has plateaued. A serum with peptides, like my Brow Renovation Serum, can definitely help. On top of that, use powder or pencil for instant gratification.
Brides: So let's say it's five months later and our brows are picture perfect. Help us put the whole look together. What kind of wedding day makeup complements great eyebrows?
JH: Everything should be flattering and with purpose. Eye shadow should be color-enhancing and mascara should make your eyes look open—it shouldn't look smudgy and haphazard. You don't need your brows to be insanely strong. You aren't going to a rooftop party, it's your wedding! My rule of thumb? Before you walk down the aisle, edit one little area of your face that might seem too strong.
See more: 11 Ways to Look Like You, Only Better, On Your Wedding Day
Brides: Any other major bridal brow don'ts?
JH: If you have pre-wedding jitters, don't take it out on your eyebrows. Sometimes plucking is anxiety-ridding, but your eyebrows don't deserve that. Be wary of a magnifying mirror—you'll get way too close. Step back and look at your brow as a row. You need to take in the whole picture, like a Monet.