How To Keep Your Bleached Eyebrows Looking And Feeling Their Best
Although the bleached eyebrow trend may seem like a relatively-new TikTok sensation, they're actually a style hundreds of years in the making. Queen Elizabeth I rocked barely-there brows in the 16th century, and naked foreheads quickly became a must among England's elite. "People also used walnut oil on their children's foreheads to prevent eyebrows growing in at all," hair expert Rachael Gibson detailed in a conversation with W magazine.
Fortunately, hair removal techniques have improved significantly in the subsequent years. In the '90s, drag queens and club kids shaved off and re-drew their brows back on, and the runways were dominated by the super plucked, super light supermodel look. Much like clothing, body hair is part of an ever-evolving trend cycle. Today's celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Julia Fox, and Lizzo are at it again, waving goodbye to their brows in the name of fashion.
Although it's definitely best to do it with the help of a professional, it is possible to bleach your eyebrows at home. Before you get started, patch test to ensure you don't have any sensitivities and protect the skin around your eyes with Vaseline and plastic wrap. If you bleach at home, there will always be a risk of chemical burns and hair loss. Finally, once you've successfully lightened your brows out of existence, maintaining them properly is crucial.
Avoid using products that will irritate sensitive skin
Although bleaching your brows opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to makeup, it can also lead to long-term skin irritation, redness, and overall dehydration if you're not careful. After bleaching your brows, steer clear of any overly-stripping cleansers, exfoliants, or actives like retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids for about a week.
Likewise, "Avoid using products that contain alcohol denat as this type of alcohol is drying and can cause further damage to hair that is already weakened by bleaching," makeup and brow stylist Dani Vincent informed Allure. Instead, incorporate hydrating and fragrance-free products into your routine to avoid triggering any underlying conditions like eczema or acne. Specifically, emollients will protect your skin barrier while it recovers from bleaching.
If your brows turned out a bit more orange than you intended, invest in a purple toning shampoo like Olaplex No. 4P. Apply, and wait for 10 minutes before washing away with a gentle baby wipe or warm water. Further, YouTuber Mirror and Haze warned against getting foundation or other pigmented makeup products in your brow hair since you may have trouble getting the color out. Focus instead on using clear brow gels and strengthening serums.
Wait for your natural color to grow back before bleaching again
It can take up to two months for bleached brows to completely grow out. However, you'll start seeing dark roots forming just a week after lightening your hair. Although it can be tempting to go in with another round of chemical treatments during that awkward regrowth stage, wait patiently. As makeup artist and brow expert Monica Ninh pointed out to Byrdie, "There's no way to occlude already bleached hair from getting bleached again."
Applying layer after layer of chemicals can lead to irreversible hair loss — not so chic. At the very least, wait two weeks before treating your brows again. The good news is that you should be able to let them develop for less than the recommended 20 minutes the second time around. What's more, keep in mind that bleaching your hair multiple times in a single day is never advisable.
If you're not up for the risks, there are ways to achieve the bleached look without using any chemical treatments. TikTok creator Diamond Marie (aka @snoopdiamond) showed her followers how to achieve the bleached look with a layer of white concealer, a concealer that matches your skin tone, and pigmented powder. Or, take inspiration from Doja Cat and shave off your brows altogether.