Ever glanced at old photos and cringed at your brows? Or perhaps you’ve hesitated to touch them, fearing a mishap that would require a painfully long wait for them to grow back after an overzealous pluck. Brows, after all, are a defining feature of the face. Lately, BeautyTok has been abuzz with a new conversation: brow blindness. It’s a topic that hits home, especially after years of brow trends that had us doing all sorts of things to our faces.
From the pencil-thin brows of the ’90s to the bold bushy arches of the 2010s, the pendulum has now swung to extremes like bleaching or even completely shaving them off. With these constant changes, it’s no wonder brow blindness has become a topic of interest—losing sight of what actually suits us amidst the trend frenzy. To explore further, we chatted with make-up artist Kat Zhang, who shares her thoughts and insights on this growing online discussion and offers invaluable tips and tricks for achieving brows that harmonise perfectly with your facial features.
@jonetwmakeup Replying to @Gris 🖤💕🖤💕 #greenscreen Eyebrow Blindness pt. 2 Cardi B #browblindness #eyebrowblindnesss #cardib #browshaping #eyebrows ♬ Gnarls Barkley Crazy Stephen Kramer Glickman – Gustavo Rocque
What do you think is driving the rise in conversation about ‘brow blindness’ on TikTok?
I noticed that trends these days move very quickly. Sometimes we see bold brows, then suddenly thin brows or no brows at all. ‘Brow blindness’ means not knowing what brow styles look good on you because of trends like laminated or super bold brows.
To me, brow blindness isn’t new. Remember Kylie Jenner’s era with super arched brows? People kept making their brows bolder and closer together without realising it. Once you get used to seeing something so dark and impactful on your face, you want to enhance it even more, leading to brow blindness. The same happens with eyeliner. It gets thicker and bolder until you can’t tell what suits you anymore. The trend of laminated and bleach brows is so common that people forget their natural features. On social media, we often enhance our features to look better on camera, which also contributes to brow blindness. Social media accessibility makes everyone want to look their best online, but this can distort our perception of what looks good in real life.
How can individuals find the best brow shape and style that complements their face?
The main reason we draw brows is to frame our face shape. Brows bring a certain attention to your features and acts to hold your features together. They should sit nicely on the angle that wraps up your features, aligning with where your brow bone sits.
To find the best brow shape, many make-up artists use a mapping method based on the golden ratio to determine the length, angle, and arch of the brows. However, I recommend starting with your natural features. Consider whether your brows are dark or light, thick or thin, and whether they need trimming. After analysing your natural brows, pair them with your personal style. Ask yourself if your style is clean, sleek, and minimal, or if you are more adventurous, trendy, and fashionable.
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Are current eyebrow trends contributing to ‘brow blindness’?
When a trend is widely accepted by society, it makes it hard to tell if it actually looks good or if it’s because everyone is doing it.
With the trend of bleaching your brows, the visual attention shifts from the brows to the eyes. This moves the visual weight lower, focusing more on the eyes. For someone without strong features, this can make the face look spaced out and unframed. It’s a form of ‘brow blindness’.
Any tips and tricks for achieving the perfect brows?
Consider how your brows can enhance your facial features. For example, if your brows are very close together and dominate your face, you might want to bleach them to create more space around your eyes. This helps to balance the attention on your eyes and brows.
If you have a lot of empty space on your face and want to look sharper, well-shaped brows can frame your face and bring your features together. For those with less defined brow bones, creating a stronger arch can enhance the appearance of your brows. Conversely, if you have large features and strong brows, you might trim or tint them to achieve a more feminine look.
Ultimately, the best brow shape depends on your style, preferences, and features. If you are unsure, consult a professional or experiment with an eyebrow pencil to see what works best for you.
Kat Zhang’s favourite products or tools for brow make-up and grooming
- Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and Brow Powder Duo—“A staple in my kit.”
- Shu Uemura eyebrow pencil hard formula—“For a softer yet defined brows.”
- Benefit Gimme Brow—“To tint and change up the brow colour.”
- Benefit 24 Hours Settler—“Best clear gel I have tried that helps to hold up even stubborn and thick Asian brows.”
- Tweezerman Slant Tweezers—“A good tweezer will solve a lot of problems.”
