What Is Threading? A First-Timer's Guide
At a Glance
Threading is a centuries-old South Asian tradition, practiced from India to Nepal.
A twisted cotton thread lifts hair from the root, with no heat, wax or chemicals.
An eyebrow shape takes about 5 to 10 minutes and costs $8 at ARC.
Where Threading Comes From
Threading has been part of everyday beauty in South Asia for centuries, from India to Nepal. It's usually learned at home: many girls get their first brow shaping at a neighborhood beauty parlour with their mother, a small rite of passage. Others learn by watching an aunt or older sister and practicing until their hands know the rhythm.
That's where ARC's roots are, too. Our founder is Nepali, and most of our team grew up with threading in South Asia before bringing it to Fair Lawn and Montclair. Every brow we shape carries a skill passed down through generations of women.
How It Works
Your technician twists a single cotton thread into a loop and rolls the twisted section along your skin. As the twist moves, it traps rows of tiny hairs and pulls them out from the root. Because the technician can see every hair, they can shape your brows one strand at a time.
Each hair follows a growth cycle: a growing phase (anagen), a short transition (catagen) and a resting phase (telogen). Your hairs are always at different stages, so new ones keep surfacing. That's why most clients come back every 2 to 4 weeks.
Your First Visit
Tell us the shape you want: a natural clean-up, a defined arch or just the strays.
Relax in the chair and hold your skin taut where your technician asks.
Threading takes 5 to 10 minutes. Most people feel a quick pinch that fades fast.
Finish with a soothing gel and any final tweaks.
For your first shape, our Fair Lawn and Montclair teams thread brows every day. Book a time that works for you.
Aftercare and Upkeep
Some redness is normal and usually settles within an hour. Skip brow makeup for a few hours and avoid harsh exfoliants for a day. Between visits, go easy on the tweezers: frequent plucking can damage the follicle over time and leave brows thinner.
First-timer tip: skip tweezing for 2 to 3 weeks beforehand so we have more hair to shape with.
Book Your Brows for $8
A full brow shape takes just 5 to 10 minutes. Walk-ins are always welcome at both salons.
Bring a friend: when they enter your phone number at their first check-in, you both get 20% off.
Sources: Chatelaine, "Eyebrow threading in the South Asian community"; Altmeyer's Encyclopedia of Dermatology, "Hair cycle".
