Eyebrow threading at ZARA starts from £7 for a clean-up that keeps your current shape, or from £9 for a full shape. Upper lip threading starts from £5, upper lip and chin from £7, and a full face from £20. A twisted cotton thread lifts out rows of hair from the root, which gives a clean, defined line.
Threading uses no wax and nothing heated touches the skin, so it is a popular choice for people whose skin goes red or sore after waxing.
How does threading work?
The therapist loops a length of cotton thread and twists it, then rolls the twist across the skin. As it moves, the twist catches short rows of hair and lifts them out from the root. Because it removes whole lines of hair at a time rather than one hair at a time, it is quick and very precise along the edge of the brow.
You will usually be asked to hold your skin taut at the brow or cheek, which helps the thread glide and keeps it comfortable.
Clean-up or shape: which do you need?
A clean-up, from £7, is for brows that already have a shape you like. Stray hairs between and under the brows are removed and the line is tidied, without changing the outline.
A shape, from £9, is for brows that have grown out, are uneven, or that you would like to change. The arch, thickness and tail are planned with you first, then threaded in. If you are growing your brows thicker, say so, and only the stray hairs outside the shape you want will be taken.
Upper lip, chin and full face threading
Threading works well on fine facial hair as well as brows:
- Upper lip threading: from £5
- Upper lip and chin threading: from £7
- Full face threading: from £20, covering brows, lip, chin, cheeks and the sides of the face
Threading takes hair out from the root, so the skin feels smooth for longer than after shaving or using a hair removal cream. For coarse or dark facial hair that grows back quickly, laser hair removal is a longer term option, and our facial laser hair removal page explains it.
Does threading hurt?
Most people describe it as a quick, sharp tingling rather than real pain, and the upper lip tends to feel the most. Each area only takes a short time. It usually gets easier with regular appointments, as hair that grows back after threading is often finer.
Your skin may look a little pink straight afterwards, which normally settles within an hour or so.
Threading, waxing or tweezing?
Each method removes hair from the root, but they suit different needs:
- Threading follows the brow line closely and removes fine hairs that tweezers struggle to grip. Only the hair is touched, not the skin around it.
- Waxing is quick over larger areas, but the wax also lifts a thin layer of skin, which some people find leaves them red or sore.
- Tweezing is handy for the odd stray hair at home, but slow for a full shape and easy to overdo.
Many people have their brows threaded every few weeks and leave the tweezers alone in between, so the shape grows back evenly.
Who should wait before threading?
Threading pulls on the skin, so it is better to wait or skip the area if you have:
- sunburn, a rash, cuts, cold sores or active spots on the area
- used a retinoid cream on the area recently
- taken prescription acne tablets in the last six months, as the skin can be fragile and tear easily
- had a peel, laser or microneedling on the face very recently
If any of these apply, tell us when you book so we can suggest a better date.
Aftercare and how often to come back
For the rest of the day, keep the area clean and avoid touching it, heavy make-up, saunas, steam rooms and strong sun. A soothing, unperfumed moisturiser helps if your skin feels warm.
Most people come back every three to five weeks, depending on how quickly their hair grows. Leave the brows to grow between visits rather than tweezing, so there is a full shape to work from.
Eyebrow threading: your questions answered
How much is eyebrow threading?
An eyebrow clean-up starts from £7 and a full eyebrow shape from £9.
Is threading better than waxing for sensitive skin?
Many people with sensitive skin prefer it, because no wax or heat touches the skin and only the hair is removed. Your skin may still turn pink for a short while.
How long does it take?
Brows only take a short time, so threading is easy to fit into a lunch break. A full face takes longer than brows alone.
Can I wear make-up afterwards?
It is kinder to your skin to leave the threaded area bare for the rest of the day. If you need to, use clean brushes and a light, non-greasy product, and avoid anything heavy over the brow bone.
Can you thread my upper lip and chin together?
Yes. Upper lip and chin threading together starts from £7, which costs less than booking the two separately.
Do I need to grow my brows before an appointment?
For a new shape it helps to let them grow for a few weeks, so there is more to work with. For a clean-up, come whenever they look untidy.
Can I come in on a Sunday?
Yes. On Sundays and bank holidays we open from 1pm to 5pm, and on other days we are open until 8pm, which makes an evening brow tidy easy to fit around work.
