How to pull off the thin eyebrow trend

Thin was the name of the game in the ‘90s. From ‘heroin chic’ to Kate Moss’ infamous “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” remark, as far as the '90s were concerned, thin was in.

The sentiment carried through to beauty routines with skinny arches reigning supreme for more than a decade. And although we thought we’d seen the back of the badly-drawn beanpole brows synonymous with the era, the inherently cyclical nature of fashion and the cultural permeability of TikTok has seen the premature resurrection of the thin eyebrow trend.

Even ‘it’ girls like Nicola Peltz Beckham, who we trust for classic beauty looks and fashion moments alike, have decided to dabble in the trend. The model and actress recently bleached her brows for Paris Fashion Week, and updated the look to a set of skinny pencil brows for the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles.

We’re doing our best to embrace this polarising trend revival. Thankfully, we live in a day and age where brow experts like Lana Tarek exist to stop us from causing undue damage to our eyebrows (again).

The dos and don’ts of thin eyebrows

So, you’ve decided to venture into the no man’s land of eyebrow territory. Rest assured you can go forth and try the thin eyebrow trend without causing serious injury to your arches.

The key, Tarek explains, is ensuring that you pluck your brows in a way “that complements the shape of the eyes.”

“When going for a more thinner brow look it is important to soften the arch,” she insists. “This will soften the overall appearance of the brows.”

What happens if you ignore this advice and create angular arches? It can result in an unnatural and over-plucked look, which we definitely don’t want. 

As Tarek says matter-of-factly, “thin and arched don't mix well.” 

As for brow products? Tarek says to steer clear of the hard-lined and penciled eyebrows of the ‘90s, and opt for a more modern alternative. 

“It's best not to use any product other than clear brow gel to style [your eyebrows] into [your] desired shape and thickness,” she explains.

After a clear brow gel to give the thin eyebrow trend a go at home? We recommend:

Benefit Cosmetics 24-Hr Brow Setter Invisible Brow Gel ($45 at Sephora); Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel ($38 at MECCA); and M·A·C Cosmetics Brow Set ($41 at MECCA).

And when the cache of the thin brow trend wears off? You can test an eyebrow serum or two.

Main image credit: @bellahadid