Eyebrows have a discreet but powerful impact in defining our face and has shifted over the years, from from the thin brows, to arched & defined to all natural. The power of our eyebrows should not be underestimated, they can change our facial expressions and even shape our eyes.
The Era Of Thin Brows
The 1920s,1990s and early 2000s were the focal point of the thin brow, they were heavily plucked and redrawn with a brow pencil. First starting from the influence of silent film stars of black and white film that relied on dramatic facial expressions for clarity, and redrew their eyebrows to create the desired facial expression.
This made a comeback in the 90s and early 2000s, due to many celebrities and artists over-plucking their eyebrows to create this look, leaving a large amount of space for a striking eyeshadow look. Despite this,a major downside to this trend was that over-plucking caused sustained damage to the hair follicles and disrupted the natural growth of eyebrows.
The Arched Brow
The 2010s saw the rise of the thick arched brow, largely as a result of the rise of social media, primarily YouTube and Instagram. This look was created through brow pomade, pencil and concealer for a polished sculpted effect.
There were two major leading cosmetic brands that quickly became the forefront of the eyebrow industry; Benefit Cosmetics and Anastasia Beverly Hills.Their brow kits, gels, and pomades were showcased in every Youtube tutorial and Instagram post, creating the perfect ‘Instagram brow’.
This new era, also led to a rise in eyebrow treatments such as tinting, threading and microblading, making it possible for long lasting brows that require little maintenance.
Present Day
Today, peoples brows take many different shapes and forms:
- Gel Brows – A polished yet effortless look achieved using a brow gel
- Natural brow – Embracing your natural brow shape by brushing them out using a brow brush
- Gentle Arched Brow – A soft arch brow that creates a subtle lift without going overboard
- Thin Brow- Thin brows have subtly creeped back in on TikTok and red carpets.
Finding the brow shape that suits you
The most important thing is finding a brow shape that complements your face shape, and the best way to do this is by using your natural brow shape as a guide. Changing your brow shape in line with each trend can be quite harmful. The best way to improve your brows safely is to see a professional, though this is not accessible for everyone. You can also try filling your brows lightly or brushing them. Take baby steps until you are comfortable experimenting with different looks.
Each face shape has a different brow shape that compliments it:
- Round face – A high, sculpted arched brow lifts and makes your face look longer.
- Oval face – Most eyebrow shapes compliment this face, so have fun experimenting which you like the most!
- Square face – A soft angled brow helps balance strong jawlines.
- Heart-Shaped Face – A round arch compliments the chin shape.
The brow trend is ever-changing, from thin to arched to inclusive brows; who knows what the next trend will be? Try different styles until you find what makes you feel most confident in yourself.
XOXO,
Idman