Eyebrow waxing can seem like a painful and expensive process. If you know what to do, however, and do not have sensitive skin, waxing can save you time without costing a lot of money.

Shaping your eyebrows can dramatically change your appearance, and in recent years, eyebrow waxing has grown in popularity as the preferred method for shaping brows. While tweezing is certainly an option, for those who do not have sensitive skin, waxing is a quicker process with longer lasting results. You can always visit a salon for a wax, but if money saving is on your mind, you can use this easy guide to walk you through how to wax your eyebrows.

• Preparation is essential to ensure that your wax leaves you with the brow shape you desire.

1. Purchase an at-home waxing kit. These kits normally include wax, applicator and removal strips, normally made of muslin.
2. Make sure to remove any make-up or dirt from the brow area.
3. Brush your brows with a baby toothbrush or clean mascara wand.
4. Make sure your brow hair is at least 1/4 inches long.
5. Determine the length and curve needed to create your desired brow. For a natural look, the brow should begin parallel to your nose above the inner corner of your eye. If your eyes are wide-set, make the gap between brows smaller; if they are close together, make the gap a little larger. Mark the correct point with a dot in eyeliner. The highest point of the curve (or arch) can be found by holding a ruler from the edge of your nose past the outer edge of your iris. Also mark this spot on your eyebrow with eyeliner. Connect the dots to determine the shape your brows should take, noting that they should taper off towards the end.
6. Apply an astrigent such as witch hazel to anesthetize the sensitive skin under the brow.

• Once you have determined your brow shape, you are ready to begin the actual process of waxing.

1. Warm the wax as instructed on the package's directions. Be careful not to overheat the wax as that can result in scalding the sensitive skin underneath your brows.
2. Use the enclosed applicator to apply a thin amount of wax to the hair you want to remove. Apply the wax in the same direction the hair grows.
3. While the wax is still warm, apply a removal strip over the wax and press down firmly. Allow the wax to cool. DO NOT allow the wax to dry.
4. Once the wax has cooled, pull your skin taut with one hand and remove the strip against the hair growth by pulling quickly. Do not pull up, pull straight across.
5. If there is any wax left on the brow, simply press the strip down once more and pull it off.
6. Take only a little bit of hair at a time until you are comfortable with the waxing process. Do not re-wax over areas if you see stray or missed hairs as that can cause irritation. These hairs can be plucked after all waxing has been completed.
7. Repeat the wax application process until both brows have been waxed.
8. Be careful only to wax and shape from underneath the brow. Waxing above the brow should only be done to remove any stray areas outside the brow shape.

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• Once you have finished the waxing process, there are still some clean-up steps you might need to take.

1. If you see any hair missed by the wax, you can remove it with a decent pair of tweezers.
2. Use the same tweezers to clean up the shape of your brows, if needed.
3. Remove any wax still on your skin with baby oil or petroleum jelly.
4. Apply aloe lotion, a soothing balm or after-wax solution to the area you have just waxed.
5. Do not spend too much time in direct sunlight or use liquid makeup for several hours post-wax.
6. Wait three weeks, then begin again.