How to draw arrows: the ultimate guide

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-13 00:26

Become a master of classic, graphic and feathery arrows.

1. How to draw classic arrows

These arrows are suitable for almost every face type and eye shape. The make-up will not be overloaded, just the eyes will become larger, and the look will be more expressive.

You will need

• A pencil (preferably a kayal) or eyeliner (like Isa Dora's Glossy Eyeliner). If this is your first time drawing arrows, use a pencil. It is much easier to work with him. As for the color, make-up artists still recommend black, as it is versatile and as expressive as possible.
• Cotton buds.
• Micellar water.

Step 1. Paint over the space between the eyelashes at the outer corner of the eye

Keep the instrument as close to the lash line as possible and do not go to the mucous membrane, otherwise the color will be imprinted on the lower eyelid.

Start drawing from the middle of the eyelid and move to the outer corner. Stop where the eyelashes end: we will draw the tail of the arrow a little later.

Step 2. Paint the space between the eyelashes at the inner corner of the eye

Go to the inner corner and paint over again only the lash line. Be especially careful here: the line in this area should be the thinnest.

Step 3. Draw the tail of the arrow

Bring your pencil or paintbrush to the outer corner of your eye. Draw a line in your mind. It should stretch to your temple and be an extension of your lower eyelid. Another strong point is the middle part of the eyebrow (up to the break and tail). The line should be a repetition of it.

Draw the tail of your arrow with a slight pulling motion.

Step 4. Connect the arrow

Now connect the tip with a line drawn along the upper eyelid. The transition should be smooth.

Step 5. Adjust the arrow

The most common mistake that immediately catches the eye is the chopped off tip of the arrow. To avoid this, there is a cunning trick.

Take a cotton swab, put it under the tail of the arrow and pull it up to the temple. It will remove the excess and at the same time stretch the line, making it thinner.

If your eyelid is a little dirty, use a cotton swab and micellar water to remove all the dirt.

Repeat the same on the other eye and apply mascara on your lashes.

2. How to draw graphical arrows

These arrows are more expressive and more suitable for the evening. Depending on the occasion, the line can be lengthened and thickened, but let's start with the basics.

You will need

• Shadow base (e.g. from NYX Professional Make-Up).
• Paper tape or plastic card.
• Black pencil (like Kajal Define by Make Up Factory).
• Liquid eyeliner.
• Cotton buds.
• Micellar water.

Step 1. Prepare the eyelid

For such a complex arrow, makeup artists recommend preparing the eyelid and applying a little base under the shadow. Then it will be easier to work with the eyeliner and it will not float by the middle of the day.

You can add some shadows to the eye. Darken the outer corner and highlight the inner corner.

Step 2. Paint the space between the eyelashes

As in the first method, thinly draw the lash line.

Step 3. Draw the tail of the arrow

The ponytail in this technique is the main part. The perfect line can only be drawn by a professional, but for beginners and amateurs it is better to use a stencil.

To do this, take paper tape. Attach a small piece from the outer corner of your eye to your temple. And now, using the eyeliner, draw a line of the desired length. The tape will serve as your ruler. You can use a plastic card in the same way.

The base of the ponytail is ready. Now, in both eyes, determine the middle of the eyelid and put small marks there using the eyeliner.

Connect the tip to the middle of the eyelid. The line should be exactly horizontal and the movement should be light. For ease of application, pull the skin a little towards the temple.

Now use the eyeliner to fill in the space between the two lines.

Step 4. Draw the arrow

It remains with the help of eyeliner to lower the line from the middle of the eyelid to the inner corner of the eye. Move clearly along the lash line. Add some dark shadows to the crease of the eyelid. For an evening or a holiday, false eyelashes or mascara with a volume effect are suitable for such arrows.

3. How to draw feathered arrows

These soft arrows are perfect for both daytime and evening make-up. The technique of application here changes: to get away from clear lines, we use feathering.

You will need

• Base under shade (e.g. 3ina).
• Dark matte shadows (e.g. Nude by Nature).
• At least two brushes: hard beveled and thin soft.
• An eyeliner (like Isa Dora's Perfect Contour Kajal).
• Concealer or corrector.

Step 1. Prepare the eyelid

Apply the base under the eyeshadow to the eyelid. It will facilitate blending and prolong the wear of the makeup. Then, as in the previous methods, draw the space between the eyelashes with a black pencil. At this stage, you can allow yourself a little carelessness: this is only the basis, in the final it will be overlapped by shadows.

Step 2. Blend the pencil

Now take a clean brush. Solid beveled is best. Start feathering with the ponytail. With the help of a brush, take the arrow to the temple. Do not take any additional color, use only the pigment that you already have.

It's important to start shading as soon as possible. This will make the pencil easier to follow your movements.

Step 3. Apply and blend the eyeshadow

Now you need dark matte shadows. The firm and the price are not important here, the main thing is that they should be well shaded.

Draw the shadows on a thin, soft brush and use light strokes (in no case hammering in) to go over the entire arrow. You can go beyond the main line, because we are achieving a haze effect.

Using the same brush, drag the color upward with light movements. Before that, you moved horizontally, now - vertically.

Take a clean, soft brush (or wipe off the one you've already used) and paint in some eyeshadow of the same color. Shake off the excess; very little product should remain on the brush. Lightly traverse the entire arrow and blend the layers. After that, there should be no clear boundaries for the century.

Step 4. Repeat the first layer

Take a black pencil and go over the edge of the eyelid. This will enhance the color and give a deeper look.

To complete the makeup, brush in black eyeshadow and apply it to the base of the arrow. Blend them again with a clean brush.

Step 5. Adjust the arrow

Take a concealer or concealer. These products are similar, differ in their density. The first one is intended for the area around the eyes, the second one spot closes imperfections on the skin.

So, apply one of these products to a cotton swab and remove all the dirt under the arrow. Remember: only its lower border should remain clear.

In fact, there are countless types of arrows. Having mastered the basics, you can fantasize and experiment with shape and color. For example, draw a double arrow, replace the classic black with white, or add sparkles to clear lines.