An emerging beauty trend on TikTok has people plucking, shaving and reshaping their eyebrows to look like Bella Hadid's.
Videos showing the "straight brow trend", from tutorials to before-and-after looks, had more than 130 million views at the time of writing.
The trend involves plucking or shaving the tail end of the eyebrows to “straighten” them. Fans of the method claim it creates a "face-lift effect", meaning users look younger without surgical treatment.
“Eyebrows frame your eyes, and even shaving just the tail end of the brow can have a big effect on the face,” says Manal El Hage, a beauty therapist at Dr Kayle Aesthetic Clinic in Dubai.
Hadid is not the first celebrity to champion the look. Audrey Hepburn famously had straight, albeit thick, brows during her heyday in the 1950s and '60s.
In the past, the look has also been attributed to Korean pop stars, male and female, who had arch-less brows. The trend caught on in the West including with Miranda Kerr, Victoria Beckham and Suki Waterhouse.
Rumpa Singh, head trainer of Urban Company UAE's salon-at-home services, says the brow shape bodes well with Asian beauty standards, which are geared towards “a more youthful and innocent appearance”.
Hadid, as well as the other celebrities who have opted for an arch-less brow look, have another thing in common: facial structures that are either oval, round or heart-shaped.
“Typically, the brow is defined with a face map — straight brows may be suitable for some, but are based on your face shape. For those with round and teardrop-shaped faces, the technique can add structure to the face and highlight the features,” says Singh.
Otherwise, says El Hage, the brow shape “can draw attention to your jawline and be unflattering as it can unbalance your features”.
El Hage says shaving one's brows requires a strong commitment, as it is “possibly the most unpredictable hair growth on the human body”. She recommends starting with a trial by using make-up to conceal the tail end of the brows. There are also plenty of TikTok videos showing this technique.
“Only when you are positive, should you tackle the hair with a razor,” she adds.
@jeriekaewing How to achieve the straight eyebrow shape. I wanted something different and decided to change the shape of my eyebrows. Concealer used is by @toofaced brow pomade is by @suggacosmetics (they no longer sell it) #fyp #xyzbca #makeuptutorial #makeuphacks #blackgirlmakeup #browtutorial #browtransformation #straighteyebrows
♬ Don't Play With It (feat. Billy B) - Lola Brooke
While the hair may grow back along the line of its original shape, the “texture might not ever be the same”, says El Hage.
“Initially, it will grow back as stubble and the brow hairs will be short and blunt, so they will be impossible to shape. The amount of time it will take for your eyebrows to grow back once they have been shaved is unpredictable too,” she adds.
The average growth cycle of eyebrows is between four to six weeks, but it could go up to 16 weeks for some.
If you have mustered enough courage to finally pick up the razor, El Hage says to keep in mind that the skin around the eyes is relatively thin “so you need to be extremely careful”.
Singh's tips for no-arch brows:
- Apply soap over the eyebrows to hold them in place against your skin. Using a clean mascara wand, brush the eyebrows upwards to help you get an idea of the shape you want to achieve.
- Use an eyebrow pencil to draw and outline the straight brow shape.
- Evaluate the outline up close and be careful not to excessively cut your brows when using a tweezer, facial blade or a trimmer.
- Work from the bottom of the tail of your brow and progress slowly upwards when shaving. Check your progress periodically to avoid over-plucking.
- Once you are happy with the shape, enhance the look using an eyebrow pencil.
- Remove any loose hair and finish with eyebrow-defining make-up, such as clear brow gel or wax to set the brow in place.
