Straight Eyebrows Are Back—and They Look Great on Almost Everyone

Eyebrows may seem like a minor detail impervious to the gravity of beauty trends, but take one look at images of people across the decades and you’ll see they’re very prone to evolution. From ultra-thin high arches in the 1920s and full and fluffy brows in the ‘80s, each era reflects its own beauty ideals. Today we’re diving into the latest eyebrow trend—straight brows—which embraces a clean, thick, and straight brow line with minimal arching. 

The Rise of Straight Brows 

Straight brows have a flat, horizontal shape with little to no arch, creating a soft, natural look that follows the brow bone's natural line. Makeup artist Ashley Gomila says it's a more defined, high-fashion look that’s in direct contrast to the arched bushy brow look. 

“A lot of people are going for more lifted looks overall and having a straighter, less angular brow is lifting while looking minimal and modern,” she says. “It's very much a trend right now to have a sleek, less arched brow.” 

This straight brow trend started making headway in the mid to late 2010s, especially in South Korea, where they were seen as youthful and natural. K-Beauty has a stronghold on much of the world, so it only makes sense that the trend was adopted across the globe. 

“With TikTok and social media and everyone creating their own makeup content, the straight brow has become more popular,” says Amber Kerns, celebrity makeup and hair expert. “It is also very reminiscent of the ‘80s Gothic-inspired brow.” 

The look is all over social media right now, but celebs are wearing straight brows, too. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Doja Cat, Kendall Jenner, Cardi B, Natalie Portman, and Zoë Kravitz are all embracing straight brows. 

Face Lift Effect 

The straight brow trend has a lot going for it. There’s the youthful touch that it can add to someone’s face, with some even going so far as to call it an instant face lift. Kerns says there’s some merit to this idea, noting that “brows are like the curtains to the face, and a very groomed straight brow tends to lift the face.” 

Gomila adds that a lot of people are shaving off the tail of their eyebrows, especially if the end turns down. “Doing so creates an opportunity to draw on or fill in a higher area of the brow bone which will help to instantly lift the eye,” she says. 

Compared to other eyebrow trends over the years, including the ultra-manicured brows that were super popular in the 2010s, straight brows are considered more natural looking and arguably require less maintenance. It’s also helpful when it comes to the rest of your makeup application.

“It creates a great canvas for makeup, especially an extended eye makeup look, such as a cat eye, as it pulls up the eye,” Kerns explains.  

RELATED: Brow Lamination vs. Microblading—Which Is Right For You?

How to Get Straight Eyebrows 

The straight brow is flattering on everyone, Gomila says. It just depends on whether that’s the look you’re going for. If you already have a full brow, then it’ll be easier to achieve since you can shape the brow to your liking with tweezers and waxing. 

After creating the right shape, Kerns says you can further define your brows using an eyebrow palette or pencil. From there, a key part of the straight eyebrow look is brushing the hairs upward. 

“A great affordable option, especially if you are on the go, is to take a clean mascara wand and use it with a hair product, either a pomade or hair gel, and brush your brows up,” Kern says. This will help lock your brows in place, as well.

If you have thinner brows, you’ll probably need to do more penciling-in to recreate the look. Kern also suggests seeing a brow specialist who can help you create a longer-lasting straight brow look via microblading.