Value Village ／ Beauty
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Eyebrows set the impression of a face, and the fashionable shape changes with the times. This article is not about fashion. It covers the safety of plucking, shaving and drawing, and the hygiene of the tools — including where Japanese law places eyebrow tattooing.
| Method | Suited to | Points to note |
|---|---|---|
| Plucking (tweezers) | The few clearly unwanted hairs on the outer edge and between the brows | Repeated plucking can stop regrowth. Inflamed follicles (folliculitis). Do not pluck the inner or lower edge (the shape cannot be restored) |
| Shaving (eyebrow razor or electric trimmer) | Fine hairs around the brow | Clean blade; protect the skin with moisturiser or shaving gel. Do not go back and forth over the same spot. Replace disposable blades after a few uses |
| Trimming (eyebrow scissors and comb) | Evening out length | Comb the hairs upward and cut only what sticks out. Over-cutting cannot be undone |
| Drawing (pencil or powder) | Filling in sparse areas | Add hair by hair; do not outline the shape with a line |
| Eyebrow tint or brow mascara | Changing colour | Dermatitis from the dye in tints has been reported. Patch test |
| Cosmetic tattooing (アートメイク, āto meiku — semi-permanent brow tattooing) | Long-lasting colour | A medical procedure (pigment is placed with a needle). Unlicensed practice is illegal; harm to health has been reported |
[Verify] Check the legal status of cosmetic tattooing against the MHLW notice (Iseii-hatsu No. 105, 2001) and the published materials of the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan.
Pluck only a few hairs on the outer edge. Shaping with scissors and a razor is the method you can undo.
With a clean blade and a protective gel, shaving is generally described as less of a strain on skin and follicles than plucking. Replace the blade after a few uses and dry it after use.
The underside of the brow grows back poorly, and the distance between eye and brow cannot be restored. Keep the underside to a minimum with a razor or scissors.
The dye can cause dermatitis. Patch test 48 hours in advance and keep it out of the eyes. If the eyelid swells, see a dermatology clinic (covered by Japanese health insurance).
Placing pigment in the skin with a needle is a medical procedure, and it is legal only in a medical institution, performed by a doctor or by a nurse under a doctor's instruction. Procedures at beauty salons or home salons are illegal, and infection, allergy and colour change have been reported.
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https://www.mhlw.go.jp/web/t_doc?dataId=00tb2224&dataType=1
https://www.kokusen.go.jp/
https://www.dermatol.or.jp/qa/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
Cosmetics are not medicines and are not meant to diagnose, heal or prevent any condition. If your skin reacts, stop using the product and see a dermatologist.
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