Dark brows were shown to make a person look younger in a study that was published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology because humans appear to (subconsciously) correlate distinct contrasts in facial features with youth.
“Making sure your brows have more depth and thickness than a thin pencil line will help any face appear younger. Soft baby strokes appear far more natural than a bold swipe.”
For women of all ethnicities, brow color faded with age—so darkening them may really make people look younger, the researchers say.
They believe thicker eyebrows allow for more clear expressions and, most importantly, the romantic interest someone is having. “There is some recent research showing that people can infer personality qualities such as narcissism, the tendency to think highly of yourself, from eyebrows,” Mogilski said.
Scientists say that women with thicker brows, such as model Cara Delevingne and actor Audrey Hepburn, are more attractive to men — especially those seeking a long-term partner. A study has shown that men prefer women with thicker eyebrows, especially those who want a long-term partner.
Moreover, thick eyebrows are perfect for women (and men) with more prominent facial features such as solid jaws and fuller cheekbones. Thicker brows are also easier to maintain than thin ones, so if you're unsure what shape is the best for your face, go with thicker brows!
Just as there's a limit to how dark your brows should be, you don't want them to go too light. Light eyebrows age you. The tails of the brows get lighter and thinner with age, and you may also notice some patchy areas.
YOUR BROWS SHOULD BE DARKER
We hate to break it to you, but if you thought that your brows should perfectly match your hair, you might want to think again. In fact, your eyebrows should actually be darker than your hair color—unless your tresses are pitch black. This is what looks the most natural.
Just like a new hairstyle, a set of well-defined brows can trim away (literally) the years and help you to look younger than you actually are. Thick, bushy brows are a sign of youth. As you age, the natural ageing process thins the hair on the body whether it is the hair on your head or on your face.
The most popular eyebrow trend for 2022 by far, is brow lamination. The semi-permanent treatment provides perfectly placed, brushed up brows that last for months.
The rule of thumb for maintaining a flattering eyebrow shade is: For lighter hair colours like grey hair or chemically lightened hair, your eyebrows should be two shades darker than your hair. For darker hair colours like brunettes or red-haired girls, your eyebrows should be two shades lighter than your hair.
In 2022, tweezers are back – and so is the skinny eyebrow, last seen in Gen Z's favourite Y2K era.
It's best to brush the brows up first and then just trim a tiny bit so you don't trim too much. An angled brush is perfect for applying powders and pomades. And a spoolie helps us brush the brow hairs up and into their natural position.
A good rule of thumb is to try to stay within two shades of your hair color. If you have dark eyes, pick a brow shade that is lighter than your hair color and vice versa. Exact matches aren't important as long as the shades are complementary. In fact, sometimes matching too closely can ruin your look.
Generally, your brows should be one to two shades darker than your hair and less vibrant. So if your hair is a dark blonde, a cool light brown would be a great choice.
With the above in mind when considering whether your eyebrows should be lighter or darker, I'd suggest the main rule of thumb is… “…to have your brows similar to your hair colour! You can't go wrong! If you wish to go for a slightly different colour, I'd recommend only 1-2 shades darker or lighter!”
In fact, getting older is one of the main causes of thinning eyebrows. One reason for this may be a natural decline in hormones or hormone sensitivity as you age. Lower hormones can affect hair follicles, causing hair to become thinner and not grow as well.
Dark brows were shown to make a person look younger in a study that was published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology because humans appear to (subconsciously) correlate distinct contrasts in facial features with youth.
Just like one finds grey hairs on the head upon ageing, appearance of grey hair on the eyebrows is also a sign of ageing/premature ageing. While for some, these signs start showing up in the 40's or 50's, some folks encounter the problem of grey hair on eyebrows in their 30's.
The '90s Thin Brow
From influences in fashion to music and even hair and makeup, 2022 is ushering in the return of the skinny brow. There are some exceptions though, this time around we are doing pencil-thin brows that don't need to be super skinny to look fresh.
Technically, it's a myth that you shouldn't pluck stray hairs from above your brow - it isn't going to ruin the shape of your brows if you do it carefully. However, never try and slim your brows down by plucking from the top. All shaping should happen from below for a natural look.
Consider eyebrow standards throughout the past century: in the 1920s and 1930s, thin eyebrows were all the rage. They thickened back out throughout the '40s and until the '90s, when society reverted to the thin, rounded shape and stuck with that until the 2010s.