Skinny Brows: The Unexpected Beauty Trend Bella Hadid Wants To Bring Back In 2022

Particularly brought up to date by Bella Hadid, the ultra-fine eyebrow line that ruled the 1990s is back in the spotlight. An expert gives her advice to those who would like to rock the trend.

Could this be the end of thick eyebrows? If we are to believe the new makeup trend that is causing a stir on social media, Cara Delevingne's bushy eyebrows and Kim Kardashian's impeccable eyebrows would have already gone out of fashion. In 2022, make way for "skinny brows", the extremely bold thin line.

A recent report by Lookfantastic, the UK's beauty e-commerce site, found Internet searches for the keywords "thin eyebrows" have increased 450% in recent months. On TikTok, where the hashtag #thinbrows has more than 22 million views, many users are passionate about a time warp filter that shows what that vintage look would look like on their face. Generation Z icon model Bella Hadid even made it her new signature makeup look, which she proudly flaunts on her Instagram account. Whether we approve or not, it looks like thin eyebrows are officially back.

First real appearance in the 1920s

“The skinny brow first appeared in the 1920s”, says Marianne Lecocq, trainer and eyebrow expert at Benefit Cosmetics. “The eyebrows were very thin and very rounded in shape as seen on Edith Piaf and Josephine Baker, it was very popular at the time. Then, in the 1930s and 1940s, they were larger and thicker like Marilyn Monroe's. The look later vanished in the 1970s-80s, before making a comeback in the 1990s".

"It was in vogue in the 1990s and 2000s, as eyebrows were inspired by movies and fashion shows of the time," continues the expert. "We also saw the trend on top models like Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Cindy Crawford."

The comeback of thin eyebrows confirms the current obsession with the aesthetics of the years 1990-2000, both in fashion and beauty. After the lip liner and vintage hairstyles (the highponytail and the mini-braids), the thin eyebrow is back with thisretro wave dominating the trends. “Generation Z is nostalgic for the years 1990-2000. They are passionate about these decades reminiscing of childhood, the "good old days", observes Marianne Lecocq. “We are again seeing messy updos, bunchesand everything that was done back then. It's exactly the same in makeup, we're back to doing the eyebrows of the 1990s. The new generation of Tiktokers draw inspiration from iconic models to bring this era back to life. "

Step by step

In 2022, there is no way of completely returning to the superfine line of yesteryear. “We have to find a happy medium. The line is thin, but thicker than in 1990 and 2000”, announces the makeup expert. "It's a straight, slightly rounded eyebrow. Unlike the 1920s, it is only thin at the tip today”.

To perfectly try out the trend, the specialist advises to use an eyebrow pencil as fine and precise as possible. "Use the brow mapping technique to get the ideal eyebrows shape." Place your pencil vertically against your nostril and make a first point between the two eyes. Tilt it so that it crosses the pupil to mark the second point. Finally, rotate it a little more to mark the last point at the end of the eyebrow. "This is what will allow you to draw your line with precision", assures Marianne Lecoq.

Then, it is time to "clearing". “The right technique is to work line by line. Gently pluck the hairs with your tweezers withoutpulling everything out at once”, she advises. "The goal is to have a thin eyebrow, but in a right way." Start by plucking from below the brow line in order to keep the arch shape intact.

Adjust, if necessary, with a small pair of eyebrow scissors which will not damage the hair follicle. With the pencil, draw the line hair by hair and fill in any spaces. Finish by brushing with eyebrow gel to set the brows in place. One detail that changes everything: "On the skinny brows we see today, the brow bone is particularly highlighted, especially with a touch of highlighter underneath", she reveals.

An Overview 

As a start, "nothing prevents cheating with makeup products", suggests Marianne Lecoq. “Before going through the waxing box, you can completely refine the eyebrow line with a concealer. Using a brush, apply a concealer with a very good coverage below the brow line to reduce it". This way, you willhave a preview of the whole look before making the move.

Even if the result may be scary, this opposite response to the dominance of bushy eyebrows also has its benefits. “If the thick, tousled eyebrows give a lot of character, the skinny brow helps to emphasize the structure of the face. It softens the look and the eyes”, notes Marianne Lecoq. “It particularly flatters a diamond or oval face and fine features".

However, beware of excess hair removal which may be irreversible ... Especially since "at a certain age, the eyebrow line tends to thin out naturally" which makes regrowth more difficult, warns Marianne Lecoq. If the worst-case scenario happens, all you have to do is redraw your eyebrows with waterproof makeup while waiting to go to a specialist to recover the damage.