The Skinny on 2024’s Biggest Brow Trends

“If you examine every decade of makeup trends, the brows are always era-defining,” says celebrity makeup artist Sofia Tilbury. Silent film stars like Anna May Wong sported thin, expressive arches during the Roaring ’20s; Audrey Hepburn’s blocky brows enraptured audiences in the ’50s and ’60s; disco queen Donna Summer opted for slender curves in the ’70s; and ’80s beauty Brooke Shields made bushy brows her signature. Then, an entire generation plucked their eyebrows into oblivion in order to imitate ’90s supermodels like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, while crisp, clean arches flooded social media feeds in the 2010s thanks to the Kardashians and their brow guru Anastasia Soare, CEO of Anastasia Beverly Hills.

As an elder Millennial, I fell victim to ‘tadpole’ brows in an attempt to emulate early aughts icons like Christina Aguilera and Avril Lavigne. Now, much to my surprise, the skinny strips of hair I spent decades regretting and regrowing are back on the scene – along with a myriad of other options ranging from full and feathery to lifted and laminated.

“In previous years, it seemed like there was an ideal version of what an eyebrow should look like, but now it all depends on what you prefer,” says Steve Kassajikian, Head of Global Artistry at Urban Decay.

Arches have also become the main focus of a makeup look “rather than an afterthought or an extra,” notes Tilbury. “People are starting to understand the power of a brow.”

Zendaya, Tyla and Doja Cat exemplified the trend at this year’s Met Gala and eye-catching arches stole the spotlight at couture shows like at Maison Margiela, Jean Paul Gaultier and Armani Privé. “When brows are expertly shaped, they tie all other features together, making the face feel balanced, lifted, rested and even more youthful,” says Soare.