The ’90s Thin Eyebrow Controversy

The greater part of the last decade has been all about fluffier, fuller brows, and people have purchased all the eyebrow pencils and microblading treatments to achieve them. However, before there was Cara Delevingne and her iconic bold brows, thinner, highly arched eyebrows ruled the runways.

“Bianca Lawson, Nia Long, Lil Kim, Brooke Shields, and Cindy Crawford all sported the look effortlessly [in the 1990s],” says makeup artist Jaeleesa Jaikaran. These celebs and their perfectly manicured eyebrows influenced a generation of femmes who plucked their eyebrows into submission with little regard for whether or not they would ever grow back.

We can’t ignore the allure of the well-groomed, high-fashion look that thin brows offer, but consider your level of commitment to this trend before you go all-in with tweezing. Plucking or threading brows is generally safe when done infrequently. However, consistently over plucking can cause scar tissue to develop in otherwise healthy hair follicles, resulting in brows that won’t grow back, no matter the trending look. To avoid brows that say Bye, Bye, Bye forever, try not to pluck more than once every two months.

Behind the Thin Eyebrow Trend Today 

Looking back in history, beginning in the 1920s, eyebrow grooming has been a key part of women’s beauty routines. There seems to be a steady cycle of brows that begin thin and defined, slowly become soft and fluffed, transition into full and overgrown, and then the cycle returns to thin arches. Alas, we have arrived at the beginning of the brow cycle again.

Those of us who are still recovering from the overarching of yesteryear couldn’t fathom ever returning to ’90s thin eyebrows, but according to our TikTok algorithms, the look is back. “Fashion runway shows seen at Paris and New York Fashion Week often dictate beauty trends, and we’ve seen from runway shows spanning from 2022 to today that thinner brows are in,” says Jaikaran.

And these models aren’t only sporting their thin arches on the runway. Bella Hadid’s style choices often end up on our mood board, and she is one of the celebs at the forefront of the razor-thin brows trend. Doja Cat has also popularized the style, and Jodie Turner-Smith has also been seen on the red carpet with paper-thin brows. Bleached brows were all the rage in 2023, so this seems like a natural progression in popular beauty. As nostalgia for the ’90s and Y2K style increased, it was only a matter of time before this enthusiasm showed up on our faces in the form of Naomi Campbell eyebrows. 

How To (Temporarily) Get the Look!

If you’re ready to try thin eyebrows for yourself, consider yourself lucky that a TikTok filter allows you to try them without the commitment. If that’s still not enough but you’re not ready to pluck, consider getting the look with makeup. After all, “How to fix thin eyebrows” is also trending on TikTok.

Jaikaran suggests, “If you really want this look, your best bet will be to wax or thread your brows to achieve it. However, if you don’t want a permanent arch, create the look with makeup as follows:

1. Brush & Trim Brows

“Start by brushing your eyebrows upward using a clean spoolie brush to reveal their natural shape. Then, trim any excess brow hairs for a more groomed look.

2. Create a Base

Next, apply a full coverage foundation over your brows in order to create an illusion and allow your natural brow shape to take a bake seat.

3. Define

Then, Jaikaran recommends “Using a thin brow pencil to lightly outline the bottom edge of your eyebrows, following your natural arch, and fill in where needed” in a thin, arched shape.

4. Blend

“Once you've filled in your brows, use a spoolie brush to blend the product and soften any harsh lines. Brush through your brows in an upward and outward motion to distribute the product evenly.”

5. Conceal

“For a finished, clean look, use a small amount of concealer to hide brow hairs and sharpen the look. Blend out until it’s smooth and even.”

6. Highlight

“Finally,” Jaikaran continues, “add a highlighter or shimmery shadow beneath the brows for a more glamorous finish.”

“Regardless of your brow shape,” Jaikaran advises to “experiment with different products and techniques to find what works best for you, and most of all, have fun!” We couldn’t agree more. Fads may come and go, but embracing looks that make you feel your most confident is always on-trend.”

Interested in exploring more makeup trends? Check out these eyeliner looks to show off your creativity, or get inspired by fall wedding makeup. Want in on all the IPSY fun? Take our Beauty Quiz now to get started with your own IPSY beauty subscription. Already an IPSY member? Refer your friends to earn points, which you can use toward products. Either way, don’t forget to check us out on Instagram and TikTok @IPSY.

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