Ask An Expert: Brow Architect - Finding Silver Linings

Hey guys! Happy Monday! Today’s “Ask An Expert” interview is with brow guru Nicole Perrone of The Beauty Boutique.

If you live in the southern Connecticut area and you see someone with AH-MAZING brows, chances are Nicole has had her hands on them. Your brows frame your face and can make you look years younger when done correctly.

She is a personal friend of mine, fashion fanatic (I dragged her to NYFW with me read about those adventures here and here) and stunnah (see photo below).

Tell everyone a little about yourself!

Hello to all you fabulous FSL readers I’m Nicole Perrone a.k.a Nikki Brows! Here’s a little insight on how I went from the “fashion girl” to the “brow queen.”

For as long as I can remember I have always been obsessed with fashion, and pop culture. I knew early on that fashion/beauty was going to be my direction and my journey into that world began. I attended Johnson & Wales University and was accepted into their fashion merchandising program. I went on to receive both a A.S and B.S degree in fashion and marketing from there. I also knew from a young age that the company I aspired to work for was Barneys New York..and I did just that.

I moved back to CT and became a Selling Supervisor right out of college with Barneys and was quickly given opportunities that people in my position were not given. I was setting up warehouse sales, and pulling designer clothing monthly for our store and specific clients. As well as, styling customers both in and outside the store that I had cultivated relationships with by building that trust. I absolutely knew I loved working closely with clients and I loved the relationships I made. I wanted more!! I wanted to be in NYC!

I did just that! I threw caution to the wind, the stars aligned and I opened the Brooklyn New York store. I took my love for relationship building, client relations and selling to a new level. I worked with celebrities and lots of people in high places and thoroughly enjoyed what I was doing.

What I didn’t enjoy doing…was working long days, late nights, early mornings, holidays, etc. By this point I had gotten married and my life goals were beginning to shift. I wanted children and to actually raise them, to host holidays, enjoy married life, and at the rate I was going, and the fast paced lifestyle I was living, there left no room for that in the foreseeable future.

Let’s switch gears..Brows..my other love! Behind the scenes from my “fashion life” I had this sick obsession with eyebrows and getting mine done and doing other people’s. I had been professionally getting my brows done since I was 13 years old or younger. I traveled home every week or 2 for my brow appointments through my college and nyc years. I was dedicated!!

About 3 years into living and working in NYC I finally decided to switch up my whole life! I decided to move home and I began working for the woman to had been doing my brows since the beginning!

She taught me all her tips and tricks and I started taking clients professionally. I couldn’t believe how in love I was with what I was doing! Not only did I love doing brows, and making women feel beautiful. I loved the flexibility and the ability to have a work/ life balance.

I eventually took my business to the next level. I took a leap of faith and went out on my own 3.5 yrs ago and grew my business tremendously. I have never been happier!

Aside from my subscription to WWD, my daily Instagram scrolls I get to revisit my fashion life twice a year with Mindy during fashion week and feed my soul a little bit..and I get to do brows the rest of the year!! Whose better than me!?

My biggest piece of advice through this journey would be “find a hobby, turn it into a career, and never work a day in your life”

How did you become interested in brows? It’s such a specific job.

I’ve been professionally getting my brows done since I was about 14 years old and once I started I was hooked! I wouldn’t touch them and I become obsessed with other people’s brows. I think I always had a passion for them, but I wasn’t until I decided to switch up my entire career path that they become my entire focus.

I went from working in fashion for Barneys New York as a Selling Supervisor in the Brooklyn and doing my friends brows for fun, to quitting my job, moving back to CT, and beginning my journey as a brow artist.

What should I look for in a brow artist?

I would say to the most important thing is finding someone who is passionate about what they do and not treating a brow wax as an afterthought. I pride myself on making the whole brow shaping experience a specifically tailored appointment to each individual client.

What is your #1 brow advice?

Do not..I repeat DO NOT touch your brows between appointments!!

What is the most common brow mistake you see and how can it be fixed?

I think the most common mistake I see is people over-tweezing, or taking too much hair from the middle resulting in their brows starting too far apart. Once I show them where their brows should begin and end we just begin to leave hairs in those places and usually in no time the problem is solved. As long as they stick to the plan and don’t touch them between visits we can usually rectify the mistake.

What celeb do you think has perfect brows and why?

I’m obsessed with Kaia Gerber ( Cindy Crawford’s daughter) and Gigi Hadid’s brows! They are so full & natural. I love that they’re not overdone or overfilled.

What are your thoughts on brow products? Any recommendations or “do not purchase” items?

I love brow products and I’m obsessed with filling in my brows! I am a huge fan of Anastasia Beverly Hills products and personally love the duo brow powder, but haven’t really found a brow product by them I don’t like! I think my least favorite brow product would be the Mac spiked pencil..it’s too oily for my skin and I feel like the product moves around too much and smudges.

How do I apply brow product without looking like I drew them on with a Sharpie?

To achieve a naturally filled in brow begin at your thickest point and begin to make small, light handed brush strokes followed by brushing through with a spooley (mascara wand) to give a natural effect. You can also draw a light line beneath the shape of the brow and brush upwards to distribute the product through the entire brow getting rid of any harsh lines. The trick to not looking like you took a Sharpie to your brows is to brush, brush, brush!!

Where should my brows start, arch and end?

Everyone has their own own natural brow shape and my job is to enhance that by embracing it, not manipulating it to look like the cookie cutter “Instagram brow”. There are a lot of factors in determining the best shape for your face, such as, how far your eyes are set apart, face symmetry, etc.

The general rule of thumb though, is your eyebrows should begin at the end of your eye (parallel to your nostril) if you hold a makeup brush from the edge of your nostril upright that’s where your brow should begin. If you tilt the makeup brush from the same outside edge of your nostril to your pupil is where your arch should be (also another good determination of your arch is at your highest point). Your brow should end at the end of your eye. Having nice long brows and dropping your front and end gives the illusion of a higher arch.

What should I do in between waxes?

Nothing! Let the professionals handle it and let them grow between waxes!! I can’t stress this enough.

Where can people find you on social?

Website: https://thebeautyboutiquenewhaven.com/

Instagram: @thebeautyboutiquenh

Facebook: The Beauty Boutique

Twitter: @nperrone812 Beauty Boutique

If you’re in the southern Connecticut area, The Beauty Boutique offers a student discount of $15 instead of $20 for a brow wax/shaping and $5 off for referrals.