Eyebrows have long been an important feature of the face, as they sit above the windows to the soul. However, in recent years, it has become an increasing obsession, especially among millennials, to obtain eyebrows that are “on fleek”. The eyebrow meme of being on fleek started in the summer of 2014 with the iconic vine by Peaches Monroe in which she declared her eyebrows were “on fleek”. Since then, droves of think-pieces and BuzzFeed listicles have attempted to pinpoint what exactly eyebrows on fleek are and how to get them. The first part is simple: eyebrows on fleek are full and bold, usually with a clearly defined arch. How to get thicker eyebrows is slightly more complicated as thicker, shapely brows are a more recent trend in female grooming habits.
Thick Eyebrow Shapes and Trends Through the Decades
One of the earliest brow trends co-opted by celebrities of the era was the pencil-thin shape with a severe downward curve in the 1920s. By the 1930s, old-school Hollywood actresses left the slope in favor of a more rounded look with an upward bend over the brow line. Marlene Dietrich’s less severe arch bridged the gap to the 1940s trend of full, heavy brows popularized by Joan Crawford. By the 50s bombshell era, Marilyn Monroe paved the way for more well-groomed, pointed arches, also seen in Eartha Kitt and Elizabeth Taylor. Audrey Hepburn defined the 1960s eyebrow trend with her thick brows, made even darker with the use of a brow pencil. Diana Ross’ sharp brow arch set the trend for thinner, more pointed eyebrow shapes in the 1970s. Thick, well-groomed eyebrows made a comeback in the 1980s with Brooke Shield as the poster child. The 1990s took a turn toward thin, over-plucked arches, which corrected itself slightly in the 2000s as women started to grow their eyebrows out a little more. Since then, thick eyebrows have made their back to the trending chart, re-popularized by celebrities like Cara Delevingne and Miley Cyrus.
Thick Shaped Eyebrows: Trending Now & (Hopefully) Forever
One of the more enduring trends seen in the brief history above is the sleek, full look of thick brows. Brooke Shields is an icon to anyone who grew up in the 80s, not just for her screen presence, but for her bold browline that combined Audrey Hepburn’s memorably thick brows with a natural arch. The result was a timeless elegance; it is apparent that out of all the trends above, the one embodied in Brooke Shields is constantly cycling back into favor. Cara Delevingne, model-turned-actress, initially grabbed the attention of designers with their expressive, naturally thick brows. Actresses Megan Fox and Lily Collins have also embraced the thick brow aesthetic. As seen in the timeline, trends that involve over-plucking and thin, exaggerated arches fall out of style rather quickly.
Microblading, Tattoos, and Drawn on Eyebrows
Unlike Brooke Shields, not all women can grow their eyebrow hair to achieve this effect naturally. When these women consider how to get thicker eyebrows, they generally resort to methods like microblading, tattoos, and using makeup to fill in gaps. These methods, however, have certain drawbacks which limit both their effectiveness and desirability. Microblading is a type of tattooing in which semi-permanent pigment is applied in individual strokes to mimic the appearance of actual hairs. The process requires time-consuming maintenance, like a follow-up session one month after the first session, and yearly touch-ups after that. Even with this upkeep, the end result has the potential to look artificial. More basic forms of eyebrow tattoos are not much of a solution either since they are typically used to create thin arches, rendering them useless for women trying to obtain thicker eyebrows. In fact, a patient in one such situation consulted with Dr. U in Los Angeles about covering her eyebrow tattoos with an eyebrow transplant.
There are several makeup techniques that can help sparse eyebrows look dense, but this is not an ideal long-term solution for women who want thicker eyebrows. Makeup has to be reapplied on a daily basis and cannot be exposed to certain elements or touched for fear of ruining the pigment application, which can be cumbersome. The application itself can be tricky, as drawn on or filled in brows have a tendency to look cartoonish if not applied by a professional. Instagram makeup artists, however, make it look easy. Some Instagram makeup artists even post how-to videos on brow wigs. These lace front adhesives were originally created for people experiencing hair loss due to alopecia or chemotherapy. When applied on brows that are not experiencing significant hair loss, however, they can look bizarre and obviously artificial.
How to Get Nice Thick Eyebrows with Dr.UGraft™ Eyebrow Transplant
It would be much more simple and effective to simply show a photograph of the eyebrows you want and receive something to that effect. Fortunately, Dr. Umar from the Dr. U Hair and Skin Clinic in Los Angeles has developed an advanced FUE hair transplant system that is capable of doing just that. The sophisticated procedure was featured in Elle magazine for its innovative approach to delivering natural, permanently thicker brows. Using the Dr.UGraft™ system, Dr. Umar is able to safely and effectively extract fine, slow-growing hair from the nape of the neck, forearm, and legs. These finer hairs are a much closer match to eyebrow hairs than a traditional eyebrow transplant is able to provide. They also grow to a more limited length, which makes them ideal for the eyebrow because it means less frequent trimming.
Video: Brooke Shields Inspired Eyebrow Transplant for Thicker Eyebrows
The patient in the video below consulted Dr. Umar for an eyebrow hair transplant with the request that her eyebrow mimics that of Brooke Shields. She had long admired Brooke Shields and her classic, bold eyebrow look. Upon further discussion, Dr. Umar used the celebrity’s eyebrow shape and density as a guide during the transplant procedure. The end result, as the patient attests to, is an effortlessly elegant natural look that accentuates her natural features.
With a Dr.UGraft™ eyebrow transplant, women can obtain the natural look they want without fear of artificial results. An eyebrow transplant with Dr. U provides women wondering “Can you make your eyebrows thicker?” with the hope of making that a reality. The hair that is implanted onto the eyebrow area is their own–which is the best alternative for women who want thick eyebrows but are unable to get them due to sparse growth.
It was philosopher George Santayana who said: “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” Hopefully, the 90s taught us all a lesson on the disastrous results of pencil-thin, over-plucked eyebrows. For now, most women are enjoying the expressive look of full eyebrows.
Wondering if an eyebrow transplant is right for you? Consult with Dr. U for free by clicking the link below!
Frequently Asked Questions – Thicker Eyebrows
How can I get thicker eyebrows with makeup?
This YouTube tutorial provides a step-by-step explanation for an everyday eyebrow look. The key to thicker brows with makeup is the right placement and a light touch. Many women overdraw their brows because they do not know where to start or end. In order to find the ideal place for your brows to start, line a brush along the side of your nose. Then, point the brush to the corner of the eye to find where the brow should end. Use a spoolie brush to angle your eyebrow hairs up–this lets you see the shape of your brows more clearly and also spot the areas that need to be filled. Fill in the sparse areas softly with short, quick strokes of a pencil that match your brows. Now that the brow is filled, you can further define the shape of your brows by applying more pigment with an angled brush. Blend the colors with a spoolie to soften hard lines, and set the look with brow gel (pigmented or clear).
Are there any benefits to getting thick eyebrows over thin eyebrows?
While the thickness of the eyebrow is mostly an aesthetic concern, there are benefits to having thick eyebrows. An eyebrow that is more densely packed with hair is easier to mold into the desired shape, while the grooming that is required for thinner brows can result in over-plucking.
Can I grow thicker eyebrows naturally?
For women fortunate enough to grow out their eyebrows fully, the process requires minimal intervention–just some light plucking here and there to form a well-groomed shape. However, for women who have sparse eyebrows, this is not a feasible option. To fill their eyebrows with their own hair would require a hair transplant. Dr. Umar’s advanced FUE Dr.UGraft™ system can implant hairs onto the brow that matches the hairs already there in caliber and length, which gives women previously unable to grow out full brows the proper amount of grafts to do so.
Further Reading
Find out more about eyebrow transplantation procedure by reading this medical journal in which Dr. U describes the use of nape hair for eyebrow transplants.
Read about another case of eyebrow hair restoration by Dr. U.
Learn more about hair transplant surgery.
