For years, celebrities have meticulously shaped their eyebrows with tweezers, pencils, and tints. However, at Monday night's Met Gala, a host of A-list attendees—including Kylie Jenner, Lena Dunham, Madonna, and Emma Chamberlain—abandoned their natural dark arches in favor of a striking bleached look.
The Bleached Brow Trend: New or Recurring?
Brow expert Laura Kay, founder of Laura Kay London, observes that while bleached brows have appeared intermittently, they tend to remain a red-carpet phenomenon. 'I feel like celebrities use it to make a statement, to look different and to be more 'wow' with their eye makeup at big events,' says Kay. 'It gets attention and sparks conversation. However, as an everyday trend, I don't think it's going to become popular.'
Beauty guru and presenter William Grande, known as Snatched by Will, agrees, adding that it is more of a red-carpet affair but can be 'cool if you want your makeup to look more editorial and high fashion.' Grande believes the trend will particularly resonate with a younger audience. 'Kylie is a trend-setter, and all the Gen-Z girlies love to copy her beauty looks. So now that Kylie has done it, they are all going to be bleaching their brows,' he predicts.
Makeup That Complements Bleached Brows
Kay notes that bleached brows are often paired with one of two makeup styles. 'Celebs are either doing bleached brows with bleached hair and hardly any makeup, or they go full-on glam with dark hair, a muted lip, and dark eyes, like Kylie,' she explains. 'Kylie's brows and makeup at the Met this year really made her cheekbones pop. Losing that definition in her brows created a massive contrast with her hair.'
Grande adds that bleached brows shift attention to the eyes. 'I think people notice your eyes much more when you bleach your brows, because you're just looking at the eye makeup, which makes your eyes really pop.'
To replicate Kylie's look, Kay recommends using glowy and nude products. 'Stick with bronzes, nudes, and high-shine products rather than matte to create a more youthful and glowy look,' she advises. 'Use a lightweight foundation with a luminous finish, a thick volumizing mascara, and a bronze or coppery eyeliner for definition.'
Emma Chamberlain's double brow and hair bleach was also a standout at the Met Gala. 'I loved Emma Chamberlain's Met look; she looked unreal,' says Grande. 'Anyone can bleach their brows, but it looks particularly sick when it matches bleached hair.'
How to Achieve the Look
For those wanting to try the trend temporarily, Grande suggests using concealer. 'You can achieve the same look by brushing a light concealer through your brows with a spoolie brush.'
However, for a more permanent solution, Kay strongly recommends consulting a professional. 'I would always recommend going to a professional because it's very easy to singe your own brows,' she warns. 'You might over-process hair with bleach at home, causing brow hair to fall out. You might also burn your skin if you leave the product on too long.'
Doing thorough research is essential. 'Find a professional who does it all the time, not someone experimenting. Look at their previous work and understand the risks involved,' Kay advises.
The brow expert also notes that toner is sometimes necessary. 'A lot of people use purple shampoos and toner to get rid of the yellow or orangey tinge. The final colour depends on the darkness of your natural brow hair and how long it is processed.'
Bleached brows are also high-maintenance. 'If you bleach any hair and have naturally dark hair, dark roots will start to come through, and it can look quite leopardy over time. Therefore, bleached brows can be very high maintenance,' Kay concludes.
