The pressure to always have Instagram-ready, full brows is real — and it’s exhausting. Eyebrow faux pas can be incredibly embarrassing, but they can be easily avoided with some fool-proof strategies.

Thankfully, the market is now packed with countless products and resources to help you elevate your eyebrow game and perfect your application practices.

Whether you are aiming for structured or bold brows, or just need to fill in some sparse areas, these are the eyebrow mistakes you’ll want to avoid making:

Not Investing in a Waterproof Pencil

Invest in a waterproof pencil for longer lasting brows — if you don’t, you run the risk of your perfectly crafted brows smudging and rubbing off.

If you don’t know where to start looking for your waterproof pencil, notable brands like IT Cosmetics produces incredible products like their Brow Power® Waterproof Perfector, a 5-in-1 brow pencil that will condition brows and cover any gray hairs.

Choosing the Wrong Colour Pencil

You want to be sure that your product — whether it be a pencil, shadow or powder — is the right shade for you. According to Elle, a good trick is to match the colour of your pencil to your hair roots.

Opt for a brow pencil with a cooler undertone — going for an exact match is not necessarily always the best route, because it can make your eyebrows appear too dark. For example, redheads may want to opt for a reddish-brown tint.

Using the Wrong Product

Whether you are looking to shape, draw or fill in your brows, there is a product for you. There are powders, waxes, gels, pencils and more available for your eyebrows — it just depends on what you are looking to achieve!

For example, if you have sparse areas to fill in, it’s a good idea to opt for a powder that won’t be as harsh. A pencil, on the other hand, will help you define your brows and fill in a few missing hairs.

Your Eyebrows are Sisters – not Twins

Don’t over pluck or overdraw your eyebrows in effort to make them look alike. The goal is for them to be sisters — not twins. In attempting to achieve an exact match you may actually find that you make your eyebrows worse, rather than better.

Using the Wrong Brush

Sure, there are multi-purpose brushes — but there are also brushes that do one job really well. You’ll need a brush to tame your brows, and a different one to apply any powders or shadows. It’s essential that you find the right eyebrow brush for your varying application needs.

Forgetting Brow Gel

Don’t underestimate the importance of brow grooming — no one wants flyaway hairs. Use an eyebrow gel to keep your hair in place for a polished look.

Some gels are also tinted to help you keep your eyebrows in place, but also will help you to define, shape and even create your brows.

Thanks to the many eyebrow products on the market, you have everything at your disposal to adopt from making these common eyebrow missteps.