The “Anti-Beauty” Beauty Trend: Bleached Brows
For years, many have looked down upon bleached brows as a mistake rather than a beauty statement. The lightened hairs contrast with those on one’s head, creating a dramatic look that is guaranteed to raise eyebrows (pun intended). However, the beauty industry is starting to embrace the tinting as a trend—one that even Kim Kardashian has sported. “Bleached brows have actually been a secret weapon of makeup artists for a long time,” says celebrity makeup artist Tomy Rivero. “I love this trend because it can really open up the face, creating a softer look and giving you the power to adjust the frame of your visage.” Blondie—who has done glam for the Stranger Things cast, Cara Delevingne, Angela Sarafyan, Colton Underwood, and more—confirms the benefits: “I’ve been a longtime lover of the bleached brow trend. It has an editorial edge. If you’re someone who loves makeup, a bleached brow is great for elevating your look.”
How to Go About Trying the Trend
So where does one start in sporting the trend on a daily basis? “First thing’s first: don’t try this at home. Bleaching near the eyes can be dangerous,” Blondie cautions. “The skin around the eye is much finer and more sensitive. Do your research and find a salon that offers the service. If you haven’t had bleach on your skin before, it’s a good idea to do a test patch before you commit to make sure you won’t have a bad reaction.” As for the actual color you are bleaching your brows, make sure to think things through before impetuously trying the tint. “The key is to bleach the brows a flattering shade,” Ramy Gafni, brow expert and founder of RAMY Cosmetics—asserts. “If you make the color slightly lighter or darker than your skin tone, your brows can look very chic. The mistake is when the brows are bleached to match your skin tone, giving the illusion of having no eyebrows, which is not a good look for anyone.”
What To Do If You Change Your Mind (and it’s too late!)
If you wind up regretting the decision or mishandle the bleaching process, don’t fear—there are ways to undo the damage. “If your brows wind up orange, you may need to follow the process with a toner to soften the color,” says Blondie. “I often suggest a toner because a creamier color is more flattering and natural.” If the mistake came from the opposite side of the spectrum (your fibers wind up too light), specific brow pencils are key in creating the illusion of slightly darker hairs while staying true to the lightened brow trend. “Try a taupe pencil like Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz,” Rivero recommends. “It’s the perfect cool tone to create definition at the start and end of your brow, which will accentuate the shape so your brows won’t disappear but still maintain the bleached brow look.”
The Easily-Removable Bleach
For those who want a temporary tint, removable by makeup wipe, Bryan Cantor—who has beautified the complexion of celebrities such as Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex—recommends using makeup to manifest the trend instead. “Choose a corrector shade that corresponds to your hair color to cover each and every brow hair,” says Cantor. “If you have light red or blond brows, Bobbi Brown Corrector in Peach will cancel them out. If you have dark red or blonde or light brown brows, Bobbi Brown Corrector in Dark Peach will cancel them out. If you have medium brown, dark brown, or black brows, use an orange corrector like MAC Cosmetics Studio Finish Skin Corrector in the shade ‘Pure Orange.’” Then, use a concealer that matches your skin tone to block out the hairs. “I like to use Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer,” Cantor asserts. “It comes in a wide range of skin tones, is full-coverage and long-wearing, and is very thin in consistency, making it easy to apply without getting cakey.”
What are you waiting for? Bleached is back. So take a leap of faith—the beauty gods will surely applaud your efforts.