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Then as years went by, my thick eyebrows became more sparse and so faded you could hardly see them.
So, instead of plucking my eyebrows a few times a month, I have to pencil them in every day.
That's when I noticed how different I looked without my thick eyebrows and wished I had them back. I looked tired, drained, and washed out. And, dare I say, older!
Could brows make that much of a difference in your appearance and perceived age? Apparently so.
There have even been a few studies on this topic that suggests prominent or thick eyebrows are a sign of youth. But why?
Do lighter eyebrows make you look younger? Thin, sparse, faded eyebrows can make you look older.
Faded eyebrow color or eyebrow hair loss can make you look older because of the lack of facial contrast! Eyebrows can make you look younger!
Studies suggest that high contrast of certain facial features (like eyebrows and lips) against skin tone can make one appear younger.
Facial color contrast probably explains why wearing a little makeup as we get older can help us look more youthful.
When we were young, our facial features have more color contrast. Eyebrows, eyelashes, eye color, and lips are more vibrant and richer in color.
Faces with higher contrast appear more youthful. 1
"Eyebrow contrast may be specifically important for age perception since facial hair becomes gray and of lesser quality with age." Porcheron A, Mauger E, Russell R., Aspects of Facial Contrast Decreases with Age and Are Cues for Age Perception
However, as we age the opposite is true. The hair on our head and eyebrows start to thin, fade or turn grey. The once vibrant color of our eyes and lips fade too.
As a results, there is less contrast between our features and skin tone, which can make us look faded, washed out, or tired. And, this is a cross-cultural perception, crossing all ethnic groups and skin color.
Regardless of how dark your skin tone or eyebrow color is, when it fades to the point where there is not much contrast between facial features and surrounding skin tone.
This cou;d make you look older than you are. 2
Find pictures of yourself from 5, 10, 20 years ago to see what your eyebrows looked like.
You’d be surprised how light, sparse or thin your brows have become. Then try some of these tips to make your eyebrows standout again.
For Thin Eyebrows:
Fill in those brows for a thicker, fuller look!
Use an eyebrow pencil, powder, balm, or even a tint (as shown above) to fill-in sparse or bald spots.
This can help make your brows fuller looking. Try using a slightly darker color if your eyebrows have faded or turned gray.
But be careful here. Overdrawn, too thick, or too dark eyebrow can look fake and harsh which will only age you more.
For Eyebrow Hair Loss:
Try products that help encourage brow hair growth, like hair regrowth serums. You can find more information on topical eyebrow growth serums here on this page.
Or consider microblading (which is like a tattoo) that gives the appearance of eyebrow hairs.
If you’ve lost a significant amount of eyebrow hair, especially on the outer 1/3 of your eyebrows, consider speaking with your doctor since this type of eyebrow hair loss could be linked to low thyroid function.
Note: I tried using a popular prescription drug (originally used to treat glaucoma) to encourage the growth of fuller, thicker eyebrows.
I heard it might help grow eyebrow hair, so I gave it a try. But, it's VERY expensive and I never noticed much difference.
So I switched to Liasion Eyebrow Bond because it's very affordable, and I've had great results using the Eyelash Bond. Check out my before and after eyelash pictures here. The transformation is AMAZING!
Wear Eye Makeup:
Don’t be afraid to wear a little eye makeup. To add more contrast to your facial features, try lightly lining the rims of your upper and lower eyelids.
If done correctly, this can make your eyes standout more. Click here Eyeliner Makeup for simple tips and step-by-step instructions.
So you want to know the perfect eyebrow shape to look your best?
The answer is simple: Everyone is different, and the best look is what you were born with. Try to achieve the natural eyebrow shape, thickness, and color you had when you were younger.
For example, if you never had very dark or straight eyebrows, don't try to create that look. It will appear strange and could make you look older.
Instead, bring your eyebrows back to where they were when you were younger. Looking at pictures of your younger self is a good idea for the most natural look.
As stated earlier in this post - too dark or thick eyebrows can look harsh and may age you if that's not what you were born with.
So try to achieve what you naturally had.
What's your eyebrow experience? Have you lost those thick eyebrows of yesterday? Have you found a great eyebrow makeup pencil or solution? Got any great before and after pictures? Share with us.
Q: Can eyebrows make you look younger?
A: Yes! Studies even prove it! Research indicates that creating a noticeable contrast between specific facial features such as darker or thicker eyebrows against the skin tone has the potential to create a more youthful appearance.
Q: What eyebrow shape makes you look younger?
A: It's important to keep the natural eyebrow shape you were born with. For a more youthful look, you want to highlight your natural aches. This will help lift your eyes and faces.
Q: What color eyebrows do you need to look younger?
A: To achieve a youthful look, your eyebrows should be slightly darker than your hair color. This subtle contrast can define your facial features and provide a youthful appearance.
Q: Do thick eyebrows make you look older?
A: Thick eyebrows are associated with youth.
Q: Can bushy brows make you looking older?
A: No, it's just the opposite. As we get older our brows thin and fade which can make our face look tired and washed out. Filling in your brows and following their natural shape can brighten the whole face.
However, unruly, unshaped, or droopy brows can make your face look older. So it's important when you fill in your brows that you follow their natural shape.
If you're uncomfortable or not sure what your natural shape is, try having them done professionally first. Then just follow that shape each time you pencil them in.
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References:
1. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0057985
2. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01208/full
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