Mirroring Technique: Shading Pattern Breakdown

This diagram shows a general step-by-step approach to shading using the mirroring technique meaning both brows are shaded in the same direction, just mirrored from side to side. It helps create consistency and balance.

This is a general shading flow I often teach and use in my Fusion Technique. It’s a great starting point for creating a soft, pixelated effect while maintaining structure and balance.

Step 1:

Start with a soft, even layer of shading across the entire brow.

This follows the natural shape of the brow and helps lay down a light foundation. The strokes here are placed loosely, just enough to create a base to build on.

Step 2:

Begin shading from the bottom of the tail.

In this area, strokes are tighter and more overlapped to add definition and structure. As you move toward the middle of the brow, begin spacing out the strokes slightly, and gradually shift the direction upward toward the top of the brow.

Step 3:

Now we begin reducing coverage on the top.

This means we don’t fully shade the top part, instead, we start bringing the shading downward slightly, softening the transition as we move toward the front.

Step 4:

Focus only on adding density to the bottom portion of the brow.

This step is key to creating that gradient effect, by leaving the top and front lighter, and building saturation only at the base, we achieve a soft blend that heals beautifully.

Important Notes

While this is a helpful base pattern, it’s not something I follow rigidly. Every client is different, from hair growth to skin type and desired look.

Some clients even have different hair patterns from one brow to the other, so we can’t always stick to a super structured approach. A more traditional “European” style often requires multiple passes and heavy saturation, which helps force a gradient even on more complicated hair patterns.

But with the technique that I’m known for, I avoid oversaturation. My Fusion Technique is designed to create soft, pixelated brows with fewer passes. That means this exact pattern may not always apply, especially if we want the result to look naturally blended.

The goal is always to work with the client’s natural brow, not against it. I shade more in areas where there’s less hair and lighten up where there’s more, creating dimension without packing in pigment unnecessarily. That’s how we get a healed result that looks soft, seamless, and customized.