table of contents:
- different eyebrow shapes of the past
- different eyebrow shapes: the 1920s had thin and dramatic brows
- different eyebrow shapes: the 1940s had softly arched and feminine brows
- different eyebrow shapes: the 1960s had bold and structured brows
- different eyebrow shapes: the 1990s had ultra-thin and overplucked brows
- different eyebrow shapes: the 2010s had full and feathered brows
- master different eyebrow shapes with subtl’s 3-in-1 brow bff
different eyebrow shapes of the past
with a quick brush through time, it’s apparent there were different eyebrow shapes for each decade – the roaring 20s had thin, expressive brows, while many are still recovering from the overplucked 90s trend. considering brows can say a lot about your aesthetic, it’s not shocking they’ve always been a defining, trend-setting feature of a makeup look and decade’s style.
tiktoker @jasminechiswell shows us how constantly-shifting eyebrow shapes can be:
@jasminechiswell 100 years of EYEBROWS!! 👀 Omggg who started these trends!!! why are some of these soo BAD!!! 😭🥴
♬ original sound - Ciara_makeup
but no matter the time or what’s “in,”one thing remains constant: the need for a reliable, versatile tool that can take your brows from trend to trend with ease – but more on that innovation soon. read on for the different eyebrow shapes through history and how to achieve them.
different eyebrow shapes: the 1920s had thin and dramatic brows
during the roaring 20s, eyebrows shapes were thin, elongated, and drawn downward to give a drooping effect that gave film stars a soft, more dramatic look (it also highlighted their facial expressions on screen!). as movies, jazz, and flapper dresses became all the rage, women everywhere began donning their own thin, roundly-arched brows to pull together a full 20s vibe.
examples of different eyebrow shapes in the 20s: clara bow, gloria swanson, louise brooks, greta garbo, joan crawford, colleen moore, norma talmadge, lillian gish, marlene dietrich
getting the eyebrow shape: to recreate the 20s vintage, ultra-expressive eyebrow shape, grab a quality brow pencil. next, lightly draw thin, sleek lines that follow your natural brow shape, ensuring they arch slightly. subtl’s 3-in-1 brow bff, for example, has a fine tip pencil that makes it easy to control so you can seamlessly mimic the exaggerated brow shape that defined the 20s.
different eyebrow shapes: the 1940s had softly arched and feminine brows
when it comes to the different eyebrow shapes during the 40’s, most had a refined, full, softly arched shape, which complemented the elegant, feminine feel of the era. not only did this eyebrow shape highlight bold lips and sleek hairstyles, but it framed the face beautifully. during ww2, women worked meticulously to keep their arched eyebrows, often penciling them in.
examples of different eyebrow shapes in the 40s: lauren bacall, rita hayworth, bette davis, ava gardner, gene tierney, ingrid bergman, joan fontaine, veronica lake
getting the eyebrow shape: to capture the polished, feminine look of a 40s eyebrow shape, brush your brows upward for a natural lift. using a brow pencil with a fine tip, trace the natural shape of your brows, focusing on a subtle arch that sits above the outer half of your eye. a tool like subtl’s 3-in-1 brow bff is ideal, giving you a pencil for precision, a spoolie brush to blend, and a setting gel to lock everything in place – perf for recreating the soft, elegant arches of the '40s.
different eyebrow shapes: the 1960s had bold and structured brows
eyebrow shapes in the 60s took a turn toward statement-making brows. mostly inspired by the mod era, brow shapes became thicker, straighter, and less-arched, accurately harnessing the playful spirit of the decade. the 60s brow shape gave a youthful, fresh-faced vibe that complimented other bold trends of the era (think graphic eyeliner and lashes – very coachella).
examples of different eyebrow shapes in the 60s: twiggy, audrey hepburn, brigitte bardot, jean shrimpton, raquel welch, elizabeth taylor, jackie kennedy, barbra streisand
getting the eyebrow shape: start by brushing your brows upward and out, bringing emphasis to their natural thickness. using a brow pencil, fill in any sparse areas, avoiding creating too much of an arch – instead, focus on making a straight line that follows your natural eyebrow shape. with subtl’s 3-in-1 brow bff, apply a light coat of freezing gel for that mod 60s flair.
different eyebrow shapes: the 1990s had ultra-thin and overplucked brows
90’s overplucked brow victims, stick with us.
the 90s eyebrow shape underwent a big transformation – from bold, full brows to thin and minimalist. the result of ultra-thin, highly sculpted brows? many found that while their sparse, sharp shape gave them an edgy, cool vibe, it caused a lasting overplucking epidemic. the 90s brow did have some purpose: it defined and elongated the eye for a dash of sophistication.
examples of different eyebrow shapes in the 90s: kate moss, pamela anderson, drew barrymore, jennifer aniston, gwen stefani, christina aguilera, winona ryder, courtney love
getting the eyebrow shape: (heads up: we don’t condone overplucking!). to get a 90s brow, start by cleaning up any stray hairs around your natural eyebrow shape. keep the lines sharp and minimal, making your brows look intentionally sculpted. use the subtl 3-in-1 brow bff to define and set your eyebrow shape in place for a precise look – minus the overplucking.
different eyebrow shapes: the 2010s had full and feathered brows
in the 2010s, eyebrow shapes for women and men shifted toward a bold, full, and heavily defined look; they encompassed volume, shape, and precision. gone were the days of sparse eyebrow shapes, with people embracing the “instagram brow” – a thick, bushy, meticulously groomed eyebrow that created a strong frame for the face, drawing attention to the eyes.
examples of different eyebrow shapes in the 2010s: cara delevingne, kim kardashian, gigi hadid, kylie jenner, zendaya, lily collins, rosie huntington-whiteley, bella hadid
getting the eyebrow shape: to get the bold, defined eyebrow shape of the 2010s, start by filling your brows in with a pencil to add fullness and definition, making sure they’re strong and angular. try focusing on building a defined arch that enhances your natural brow shape. finish with a brow gel to lock everything in place. subtl’s 3-in-1 brow bff can help recreate this eyebrow shape with its pencil for precision, spoolie for blending, and setting gel, delivering a sleek look.
master different eyebrow shapes with subtl’s 3-in-1 brow bff
different eyebrow shapes might just define an era (we think so, anyway). but whatever the decade, one thing stays: the need for a versatile, high-quality brow product to help you master ever-changing eyebrow trends – whether it’s the 20s feminine shape or the 60s structured look.
get ready to take your brows to the next level, no matter the shape or era you want to channel.
meet subtl’s 3-in-1 brow bff – our most requested product.
subtl’s 3-in-1 brow bff is jam-packed with nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil, vitamin e, and rosa canina oil, so your brows stay conditioned and hydrated. its talc-free, cruelty-free, and vegan formula also guarantees you're treating your skin to only the best, without compromise.
what is it? an innovative 3-in-1 brow tool (and enhancer) that combines everything needed for trendy, beautiful brows, no matter where you are in the world; simply fluff your brows with its built-in spoolie, fill them in with its precise pencil, and freeze them in place with the locking gel.
check out this video on different eyebrow shapes and the 3-in-1 brow bff by subtl beauty:
embrace different eyebrow shapes and be one of the first to grab subtl’s brand new 3-in-1 brow bff here.