Big, bushy eyebrows are a blessing and a curse. Women love them, mothers love them, but knowing how to keep them from veering into Andy Rooney territory can be a bit of a challenge. And they’re always there. Front and center. Staring everyone down. Here’s how to clean them up and ease the intensity just slightly without becoming “Barbie eyebrow guy” or ruining what, honestly speaking, plenty of men (and women, for that matter) wish they had.

Trim and Tweeze but Avoid the Hard Stuff

Never touch your brows with wax (unless you go to a professional), a beard trimmer, or a razor, no matter how much of a time-saver you think it will be. Bottom line: Your eyebrows will look too manicured. That said, you should tweeze away stray hairs on the bottom and sides for a cleaner look. Only pluck the real stragglers from the top—you’re not meant to have a perfectly straight line up there. And trim them down once in a while, too. Use a comb to brush hairs upwards and trim back anything that’s above your eyebrow line with grooming scissors.

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 17: Actor Zachary Quinto attends the V Magazine Party at the Rainbow Room on February 17, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)FilmMagicFind a Taming Product Without Shine

Even after you’ve trimmed them back and eliminated stray hairs, if you’re a guy with bushy brows, they’re probably still a little out there. That’s where the right product will come in handy. Use a little bit of grooming cream or styling paste if you’ve got something in your medicine cabinet that has a matte finish. You don’t want your brows to look too slick, or it’ll be obvious that you “styled” them. A small amount of natural lip balm works in a pinch, too.

Make Sure Your Wildman Ratio is in Check

What do Dave Franco, Zachary Quinto, and Robert Pattinson have in common? They’re all guys who own their bushy brows by abstaining from facial hair, save for a little bit of scruff. We’re not saying you can never experiment with a beard or a ‘stache (especially if you've got lighter hair or a darker complexion, which will make it easier to pull off) but, as a guy with dominating brows, you’ve got to be careful of the Groucho Marx effect. That is, having so much statement facial hair that it almost looks like shtick.

If you've tried all that and are still getting Brezhnev jokes, seek the help of a professional. It'll be well worth the $40 bucks.

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