It would make sense to swap in a hair gel to brush up those brows; after all, both products offer a pliable hold, and clean options usually add healthy, nourishing oils to the mix. But can you really substitute hair gel as brow gel, just like that? Here, we take the guesswork out for you. If you have a gel on hand that offers flexible hold, minus the crunch (a flaxseed gel, perhaps), a swipe or two on the brows might work fine. Just ease up on the application; less is more on those fragile hairs. But the better option, says Healy, is to snag your trusty tube of lip balm: “[Lip balms] will hold the brows in place and leave a residue that’s a little bit softer,” he explains. “An option with SPF is even better because it can protect your brows from bleaching in the sun.” While your brows won’t necessarily go platinum from sun exposure, those with newly tinted arches might want to take note. As for Michelle O’Connor, texture specialist and artistic director at Matrix? She recommends a gentle, clear soap, a disposable spoolie, and some water. “The soap and water tends to glue your brows into place for a perfectly sculpted look,” she explains. “This produces a really perky, brushed up, editorial brow.” Aka, the fluffy, full brows you may see gracing your Instagram feed.
