Everything you need to know about the 'bleached brows' trend

It’s no secret that brows have the power to completely transform your face – results differ greatly based on whether you like yours thick or thin, arched or straight, fluffy or filled in, etc. So, it’s really no surprise that using bleach to blank them out also offers a very different aesthetic – it’s exactly that look, however, that’s sweeping social media right now, and we're here for it.

Yes indeed, despite the fact that we've spent years growing, nurturing and adding colour to our brows, we’ve now decided to do a total 180, and bleach those bad boys instead. Hailey Bieber was one of the first to kick off the trend’s latest chapter (if Versace says bleach your brows, you bleach your brows, right?), and now it’s only growing in traction.

Long story short, it's no doubt having a bit of a moment in Hollywood. In fact, everyone from Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian to Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams have given it a go.

Perry did so to commit to her incredible Tinkerbell cosplay on American Idol, Kardashian wanted to trial the look for a honey blonde photoshoot, and as for Williams, well, it appears she just thought it looked cool. Which we must say, it definitely does.

That's not all, though; the bleached brow trend has been taking over Hollywood as a whole! Lizzo lightened her arches for a photoshoot, Gigi Hadid sampled the style while strutting down the Versace runway, and Barbie Ferreira lifted her own brows a few shades after switching from brunette to bronde.

The bleached brows trend has had a second wind thanks to that filter on TikTok and Kim Kardashian’s recent Interview magazine ‘American Dream’ cover shoot with photographer Nadia Lee Cohen. The search for the term ‘bleached brows’ skyrocketed at a calculated 212 per cent increase on TikTok after the cover star shared a first glimpse at her blonde brows via Instagram. 

Nicola Peltz Beckham may have landed at Paris Fashion Week with brown arches, but she certainly won’t be leaving with them. The model and actress was spotted cuddling with husband Brooklyn Beckham front row at Valentino, and rubbing elbows at the subsequent after party with the likes of Florence Pugh, sporting a freshly bleached set of brows. C’est magnifique!

One of our favourite lightened looks, however, were the bleached brows that makeup artist extraordinaire, Emily Cheng, created on You and The Haunting of Bly Manor star, Victoria Pedretti. Pedretti first swapped her warm brunette hair for a lighter honey blonde, and now her brows are catching up on the colour switch (and then some – they definitely took it a tad further).

“I did [this lightened look] a lot when I worked backstage on shows years ago so I think it's always been around,” Cheng says of the trend’s resurgence. “It's another way to have fun and experiment with your look! It's like dying your hair!” There’s no need to panic re: results, either: “with facial beard dye you can get your colour back if you absolutely hate it,” she shares.

We’re obviously keen to jump onboard the trend train ASAP, so we chatted to Cheng herself to get the lowdown on exactly how to nail bleached brows, DIY style…

What’s the process for bleaching brows?

“[To bleach Pedretti’s brows, I first] cleaned off the brow and surrounding area, [then] applied [Elizabeth Arden’s] Eight Hour Cream [Skin Protectant] on the skin around the brow to keep bleach from irritating or touching the skin. A patch test should also be performed if you have sensitive skin,” Cheng explains.

“I used Jolen Creme Bleach – [I] mixed the product and applied with a q-tip and spoolie to make sure each brow was coated, [then] left on for about 10 minutes, she says of the process. “[After the time has passed], check hair has been lifted to desired tone, [then] remove [the bleach] and clean thoroughly.”

Is brow bleaching suitable for brunettes, or best for blondes?

“Bleaching darker hair can often go orange, like [it would] on myself [as my hair is darker], so you'd have to do it a couple of times [to achieve desired results],” says Cheng.

“Using a purple cream corrector will help offset the tone [though]. For Victoria's brows I used NYX Faux Whites Eye Brightener in White Smoke [to keep the colour cool],” she explains.

Is there a temporary way to try the ‘bleached brows’ trend?

“A mix of concealer and purple corrector [is perfect for a temporary take on the look],” Cheng confirms. “You obviously won't get a fully ‘bleached’ look but you can achieve a slightly lighter brow.”

Which makeup looks suit bleached brows?

There are really no rules when it comes to which makeup looks bleached brows work best with. Keep your vibe low-key like Pedretti with soft neutral tones or go bright and bold for a striking statement. “I've seen it look great with all sorts of makeup,” confirms Cheng.

Main image credit: @emilychengmakeup

Keen to know which other brow trends will be big in 2021? Here’s what the experts are saying…