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Over the years, trends in women’s hairstyling and grooming have changed dramatically. Often these changes are associated with other fluctuations of the time. A study published in 2003 by Izzat Jarudi and Javid Sadrs in Perception, a scientific journal specializing in the psychology of vision and perception, suggests that the eyebrows play an important role in facial recognition. While this study may provide more information on the development of artificial facial recognition systems, it may also provide a better understanding of why eyebrows have become so important in women’s beauty standards.
The study consisted of a test in which a group of people were shown 25 snapshots of celebrities without eyebrows, and then another 25 images of celebrities without eyes. Study participants correctly identified 56% of celebrities without eyes, but only 46% of those without eyebrows. The study concludes that the eyebrows play a more important role in the recognition of faces than of eyes.
Eyebrow trends over the years
Looking at the different brow trends over the decades, some patterns will emerge that the Perception study could shed some light on. Beginning in the 1920s, women wore very thin and dramatically shaped eyebrows, either with long, curved tails or with exaggerated bows. The 1930s retained the leanness of the previous decade, but incorporated rounded upward curves, as well as straight lines that only sank into the very edge. In the 1940s, bows generally had a less severe and thin shape. In the 1950s, women had slightly thicker eyebrows than in the previous decade, with a steeper angled arch and a shorter tail. Elizabeth Taylor, an icon of the film industry, applied matte pigment to further darken her thick brows. In the 1960s, Audrey Hepburn popularized the practice of filling in the brows for a thicker appearance. Also around this time, English model and actress Twiggy sported her thin, arched eyebrows, recalling the trend of the 1920s. In the 1970s, the eyebrows were once again thinner and formed into arches and curves. However, the trend for thick brows made a comeback in the 1980s thanks in part to celebrities like Brooke Shields and Madonna. The ’90s resurrected pencil-shaped brows, which grew slowly in the early 2000s.
In the last ten years, thick brows have become popular once again, popularized by celebrities such as Cara Delevingne, Kylie Jenner, and Emma Watson. The thick brow trend has seen several iterations in the past century. And each comeback has been associated with an iconic figure of the time, like Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, and Brooke Shields. This suggests a relationship between the thickness of the eyebrows and the memorability of the face.
The empowerment of thick eyebrows
According to Jarudi, one of the study’s co-authors, thicker eyebrows stand out because they resemble a more masculine shape. The result of thicker eyebrows in women is a distinctive effect that attracts attention. Stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn are remembered for the intensity of their expressions, further accentuated by their thick eyebrows. Similarly, Cara Delevingne often makes headlines for her bold eyebrows.
The outstanding quality of thick eyebrows in women can be helpful in situations that require women to make an impression, such as meeting someone for the first time, being considered for a job promotion, modeling during a photo shoot, etc. Co-author Sadr goes as far as comparing today’s thick eyebrow movement to the popularization of shoulder pads in women’s suits in the 1980s – both trends were statements of female empowerment through the use of masculinizing characteristics.
Take back your power
Many women who want to feel empowered in the image they present to the world have bolder, more square eyebrows. However, not all women are able to grow hair naturally. And for that reason they resort to other methods, such as makeup, tattoos and microblading. These techniques can result in artificial or overly harsh looks, negating the empowering aspect of the look. An eyebrow transplant can provide women with their own hair to grow into the eyebrows in order to obtain the look they desire, emancipating them from the clutches of the makeup and cosmetic industry.