My Quest for Bombshell Brows
Last week I had the pleasure of getting my eyebrows groomed by the ladies at Bombshell Brow Bar in San Mateo, CA. Christina is the brow extraordinaire and her sister Stephanie runs the business side of things. Together, they make a great team in bringing me the best brow experience I’ve ever had – hands down!
Bombshell is nestled in a cute little plaza in San Mateo and its decor reflects the sisters’ personalities perfectly. It’s got retro glam written all over it. Sexy lingerie, fun trinkets and jewelry adorn the shop with just one chair so that each client gets 100% of Christina’s attention. The result is a really personal experience and really great looking brows.
For my visit, I sat and chatted with both ladies while Christina waxed my brows. She uses a formula that smells deliciously fruity and made for sensitive skin. Carefully, she cleans up my much neglected brows while telling stories of how Bombshell came to be. After working for years as a brow specialist for the likes of Benefit, she and big sister Stephanie decided to branch out on their own, opening up their own brow bar – to much success!
After the waxing and trimming was done, she massages in quick astringent over the area to help soothe the skin and reduce irritation and redness. Now for the fun part – filling in my sparse brows!!
At Bombshell, they use Three Custom Color brow products exclusively on their clients. First, concealer. No way would Christina let you walk out of her brow bar with splotchy redness on your face. She uses the Professional Concealer Palette ($58 US) to blend the perfect shade for you before using Brow Powder ($19.50 US) to fill in the brows.
I really loved the technique that Christina taught me on how to fill in my own brows. I’ve been using this method for a week now and I can really tell the difference in how defined I can get my brows to look! Using a damp, small angled brush, pick up a little bit of Three Custom Color Brow Powder and draw a line along the bottom edge of the brow and do the same to the top edge.
Then fill in the center of your brow and you’re left with is a perfectly defined brow. Finally, use a brow comb to comb through the brow to remove some of the excess powder and soften up the look. Apply a little bit of highlighter underneath the arches and that’s it!
The ladies at Bombshell offer a total range of facial waxing, from brows to lips they do it all and at affordable prices. My brow grooming service will set you back a mere $20. So if you’re in the Bay Area, I highly recommend paying them a visit. I’m officially ditching my regular brow lady to be a Bombshell forever!
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On August 28th, 2008 fifrildi said:
Do you actually manage to fill in you brows like that at home? Mine always end up looking slightly crooked (but I can do a mean filling in on someone else, though…). I love the retro look of you brows.
I wish I wish for a good browlady. But trust me on this : Norway is the country where people dont get their brows done and the quality of people who do your brows is so poor that they will never get their grubby hands on my brows again! And getting your brows done will set you back a heafty 60 dollars in the least.
So – I just do my own.
On August 28th, 2008 karrie said:
Your brows look great!
I go to Spa Nordstrom to get my brows done and the lady is fantastic.
But at the same Nordstrom’s, there is a lady from Anastasia’s that does brows too. She has her own counter by the other cosmetics lines.
I might give her a try just to see what the whole Anastasia experience is all about.
I’m too lazy to drive out to their salon in Beverly Hills.
On August 28th, 2008 diana said:
Your eyebrows looks great. It really compliments your face. I get my eyebrows done at Equinox Spa once in a while. They have great esthetician that specializes in eyebrows. Pretty great for a gym.
On August 28th, 2008 ann said:
yikes, to be honest, i liked your old brows. these don’t seem to fit your face.
On August 28th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi fifrildi,
I use the same technique to fill in my brows at home, but don’t do them as thick as the girls did it for me. I also use a more ashy gray color that I have at home
Super cool that you are able to do your own brows, I always have such a hard time!! And 60 bucks is quite a bit to swallow as well!
On August 28th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi karrie,
I hear it’s really nice to get brows done at the Anastasia counter at Nordies. But from what I understand, it’s a little bit expensive but a nice bit of luxury if you’re not in Beverly Hills. Our Nordie’s has Anastasia too, but I’ve never gone to them
I’d love to hear about your experience if you do decide to go soon!
On August 28th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi diana,
Thanks so much for stopping by!
That’s pretty awesome that there’s wax and grooming services at your gym! I belong to 24 Hour Fitness and would be lucky if they had a big enough locker room for everyone
On August 28th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi ann,
I do admit that my freshly done brows are a bit fierce and large for my face, but when I fill them in myself, it’s a really great shape that I really love. Maybe I’ll post another picture of how I do them and you can see that it really is a nice frame on my face
Do you currently have a great brow person that helps make you look fabulous?
On August 28th, 2008 Tina said:
Wow! Your brows look wonderful. I wish I lived in California!
On August 28th, 2008 karrie said:
Hi Lilan!
I may make an appointment next month.
Anastasia at Nordstrom’s costs $30.
Spa Nordstrom charges $25, but I think you earn a free eyebrow shaping if you go a certain number of times in one year.
Anastasia’s in Beverly Hills lists its eyebrow shaping at $45!
On August 28th, 2008 Lilan said:
Thanks so much, Tina!
On August 28th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi karrie,
Sounds you save quite a bit by going to Nordie’s vs. Anastasia’s Beverly Hills location!! $25 for Spa Nordstrom’s isn’t too bad.. although it would be much nicer if it came with brow shaping too
Hope you’re having a great Thursday – for me, I just can’t wait until the long weekend is here!
On August 28th, 2008 Marisol said:
Gorgeous brows! I am gonna try your technique.
On August 29th, 2008 Lilan said:
I hope it works for you too, Marisol!
On August 29th, 2008 karrie said:
Hi Lilan!
I meant to say that at Spa Nordstrom, if you get like 6 eyebrow shapings in a year, your seventh one would be free.
The eyebrow shaping is really nice there.
They wax, tweeze, and trim.
On August 29th, 2008 Lea said:
Hey Lilan,
I have to admit, I didn’t like the thick eyebrows they did on you =( . I’m also not a big fan of thin-line brows but I think a more subtle brow suits your face shape.
Can you please post photos of your own shaping and the products you bought/use.
Thanks!
On August 29th, 2008 fifrildi said:
Actually i bought a book (everything can be learned from books, right?) about eyebrow shaping.
This one: http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Brows-Ultimate-Maintaining-Eyebrows/dp/060980670X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1220033179&sr=8-1
I read the entire thing and spent quite some time finding out which shape to go for and then used the technique they recommend to the letter. I’m very pleased, and have used this book on my friends as well. Works best if you let your eyebrows grow out first, even if it gives tips on what to do with overplucked brows.
On August 29th, 2008 Ashley said:
Beautiful brows! But I liked it better when you had thinner brows because they defined your eyes and made then look larger.
On August 29th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi karrie,
That’s pretty cool that they do a free one with x number of services! If I’m too lazy to go down to San Mateo, I’ll definitely check out the services at Nordies
Hope you have a rockin’ holiday weekend!
On August 29th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi Lea,
I know, I was a little scared of my brows when the whole thing was over, but I didn’t mind. The result I achieve on my own totally works for me and I couldn’t be happier! I’ll definitely do a post with my own version very soon – I’m currently using Anastasia brow products and they’re pretty awesome
On August 29th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi fifrildi,
You are so dedicated to learn from a book!! That’s so cool!
I’ve never really dealt with overplucked brows, but any book that gives good enough tips to save women from this faux pax is good in my book!!!
xoxo
On August 29th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi Ashley,
I agree with you that my brows were a little thick when I left Bombshell, but I was able to work ‘em on my own. When I do them it’s not as predominant and definitely fit my face better
On September 2nd, 2008 kia said:
great brow experience… but like you and the others, i like them a bit thinner. i’m sure you make them look lovely.
On September 2nd, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi Kia,
I still gotta find a way to get mine to look as great as yours do for sure!
On September 6th, 2008 NurseExec said:
I love your brows! I really do need to make the trek to Orlando (1-1/2 hrs away) to hit the Nordies and get my brows professionally done at least once by one of the Anastasia chicks.
On September 7th, 2008 Lilan said:
Hi NurseExec,
Wowsers, Orlando is a ways away!! How often do you make it over there?
Do you currently groom your brows yourself? What are your favorite products?
On November 6th, 2009 kaprice said:
i love love love this post i loved gettin my brows done at benefit i will deff. be goin to bombshell!