You might have noticed threading kiosks popping up in malls across America lately. They’re fairly minimal with reclining salon chairs and nothing more than a technician with a spool of cotton thread to shape the eyebrows of clients. Individuals being “threaded,” hold their forehead skin taut while the technician uses a piece of twisted thread to go over the skin in a methodical and mesmerizing rhythm.
Threading is an ancient hair removal treatment. If you’ve never tried it before, don’t let its name scare you away from what I consider the best eyebrow sculpting option out there! I stopped waxing my eyebrows 15 years ago in exchange for threading, and I’ve never regretted my decision.
My obsession with threading began years ago, while I was living in Toronto for a college internship. On a whim, I tried full-face-threading, having all of the peach fuzz and upper lip hair easily “zipped” away, along with getting my eyebrows sculpted into a precise and flattering shape. Afterward, I marveled at my hairless, baby-soft face and how my eyebrows looked better than I ever knew they could.
I was hooked.
The exact origins of threading are still up for debate, but by most accounts, threading originated in the Middle East and South Asia. In recent years, it has spread West and increased in popularity in cities across the United States.
Here are some of the reasons why threading continues to rise in popularity.
All Natural Hair Removal
As the name suggests, threading uses a thin cotton thread that is twisted together in the middle to form a scissors-like motion. As the threading technician works the thread across the surface of the skin in a crisscross action, single hairs are entwined in the thread and pulled out from the follicle. The cotton thread is the only element in the entire procedure, keeping the process free from any chemicals, additives, or hot waxes.
High Definition Eyebrows
The precise lines and shaping that can be achieved with threading is unlike any other eyebrow sculpting method I have tried, and I have tried them all. As the technician uses the thread to go row-by-row over the eyebrow, individual hairs are easily removed with a pass of the thread, whereas other methods may miss hairs that are too fine or that may be difficult to separate. As evidence of the wonders that threading can work, I present to you my before and after photos.
Those sad, overgrown, misshapen eyebrows were transformed into symmetrical, arched frames for my eyes in less than 20 minutes.
Threading is Kind to Your Skin
The thread removes each individual hair, so your skin isn’t pulled or stretched in the process, the way it can sometimes be when you wax. For individuals with sensitive skin, threading can be a gentler option for hair removal, only leaving your skin red for a few minutes after the session. Since there’s no hot wax being used, there is no risk for burns or irritation with threading. You will need to hold your forehead skin (above your eyebrow) tight for the initial shaping of your eyebrow, so that the technical can accurately arch the shape of the brow, but after that your skin is never touched again, other than with the thread.
As with any cosmetic procedure, you should always check the credentials, reviews, and safety measures of the technical you select before having your appointment. As threading continues to grow in popularity and becomes more widespread, it might pop up in a mall, shop, or kiosk near you. Don’t be hesitant to give it a try – I am thankful I did and so are my eyebrows!
