Brows have been through a lot over the last decade. Remember the social media-influenced look that dominated the late 2010s? Ultra sculpted courtesy of plenty of concealer and pencil, it was graphic and striking — albeit unnatural. Then came pandemic-era trends, which called for soap or clear gel, with the intention of fluffing up the hairs, almost as if one was surprised. After years of bigger is better, it seems inevitable that the pendulum would swing back to skinnier shapes. But before you grab your tweezer and begin plucking with abandon, realize that the 2026 take on the look is markedly different and requires minimal tweezing.
As seen on Jennie at the Met Gala or on model Gabbriette, Kristie Streicher, brow artist and founder of KS and Co., described the current wave of skinnier shapes as a response to the last decade.
“We’re seeing a shift away from the overly laminated Instagram brow toward something softer, more experimental. I don’t necessarily see everyone returning to the ultra-thin ones of the late ’90s or early 2000s. What people are really responding to is a lighter, less rigid feeling overall,” she said, citing individuality and personalization being the overarching theme. That translates into a beauty look that feels in tune with their natural features and personal style, versus forcing a popular aesthetic.
Gabbriette Bechtel at LACMA’s Opening Gala for the David Geffen Galleries held at LACMA on April 16, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Michael Buckner/Variety
“It feels less done. After years of very dense, sharply defined arches, there’s a freshness to seeing them look softer, airier, and a little more undone,” she explained.
Who might find appeal in this look? For Streicher, she sees this as a draw for those who are more trend-aware, fashion-forward, and experimental.
“There’s something very striking and high-fashion about a softened or lightened brow because it subtly changes the balance of the face. It can create an almost ethereal effect and allows the eyes, skin, and bone structure to stand out differently,” she said. Another bonus: it photographs beautifully as evident by Gabbriette at the LACMA openings, with her striking features emphasized by a barely there arch, a hint of liner, and a nude lip.
Should you want to recreate this look, Streicher suggests creating the illusion of slim arches by either having the area lightened professionally, using a lighter-toned brow gel, or trying foundation and concealer to mimic bleached hairs. Even brushing your brows to appear flatter can achieve the same effect.
“For products, I prefer sheer formulas that allow the skin and natural texture to show through rather than opaque pomades or heavy pencils,” she added, recommending her tinted brow gel to softly diffuse the density while still keeping dimension. For filling in sparse areas, her microfeathering brow pen resembles ultra-fine hair, keeping the overall effect natural and airy. Whatever you do, put the tweezers down — you don’t need to spend the next decade regrowing your eyebrows.
