No Eyebrows? No Problem! Shaved Brows are the New Beauty Trend
This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Brianna Allison. Find her on Instagram at @ballison7. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Eyebrows are an ever-changing beauty trend. In the 90s, over-plucked, thin brows were the way to go. More recently, everyone wanted them to be extra thick. At one point, we drew them on and outlined them in concealer. Then, the more natural and fluffy brow was in style. Now evidently, the new beauty trend is to have no eyebrows.
Yeah, you read that right – TikTok is full of people shaving their eyebrows off! Some are shaving just the ends, while others are shaving off their entire brow. Wouldn’t this have been a useful trend when most of us accidentally shaved off part of our eyebrows that one time in middle school? At that time, it seemed like the end of the world. Who knew just a decade or two later that the same shaved eyebrows off look would be trending!
Why are people doing it?
So why are people shaving their eyebrows off? There are a couple of different reasons.
Some people are doing it because it allows you to draw your brow on in a way that better compliments your face. Those with hooded eyelids have been completely removing their brows and drawing them higher on their face for more eyelid space.
Others only shave the ends of their brows to lift their face rather than their entire eyebrow. People are even calling this “free botox” because you’re creating the illusion that your face is snatched by drawing on the tail of your eyebrow at a higher point.
People with very thick and unruly brows have been shaving them off so they can easily shape, laminate or do a brow cover.
Many people just shave their brows because they like to have the option to be artistic and creative with them. Shaving them off gives them the freedom to better customize their makeup or even just their brows to a desired look or style. It essentially gives them a blank canvas they can work on each day.
If you don’t think any of these situations apply to you, remember that you don’t NEED a reason to shave off your brows!! If that is what you want to do, then just do it! They will always grow back – usually within 2 to 3 months.
How to do it
If you’re thinking about taking the plunge and shaving off your brows, there are a few things that you’ll need to make sure the process goes smoothly.
First off, you obviously need a razor. But you shouldn’t just use your everyday razor. Mona Gohara, a Connecticut dermatologist recommends using a one or two-blade razor like a dermaplaning one. This allows you to have more control as you shave a portion of your brow or even the whole thing off. It will also help to reduce razor bumps or inflammation. Here are some options:
Next, you will need some shaving cream or an oil-based cleansing balm. Adding one of these on top of your brows before shaving them helps to create a buffer between your hair and skin, reducing irritation. If you were to remove the hair without the shaving cream or cleanser, then your hair is essentially being yanked out of the skin. However, with one of those on top of the brow, the hairs are removed more gently because it provides lubrication.
After you have all of the proper tools, get to shaving! Make sure you shave with the grain of your hair growth with short strokes to ensure less irritation. Repeat the process until you achieve your desired look!
Celebrities, like Doja Cat, Amelia Gray Hamlin, Madonna, Jared Leto, Jodie Turner-Smith and more have jumped on the eyebrow-shaving trend. And drag queens (who deserve most of the credit here) have been doing it for decades! It seems like everyone on TikTok seems to be doing it too. No peer pressure, but are you going to give the shaved eyebrow off look a try?
Once you’ve shaved your eyebrows off, the styles and possibilities are endless! But make sure to do your research, really think it through and then do whatever you want! It’s your face, be as creative as you like!
So what do you think? Are you going to try shaving your eyebrows? Let us know down below what you think of this viral beauty trend!