If you can stomach internet trolls, take a quick scroll through the comments on Jenna Ortega’s last few Instagram posts. There’s a heated debate afoot amongst the keyboard warriors. Bleached eyebrows: are they high-fashion cool or just plain ugly?
Ortega recently stepped out onto the Wednesday, Season 2 red carpet in a nude, snakeskin-patterned dress and burgundy lip. But one element of her look drew the most attention: her bleached blonde, nearly invisible eyebrows. The internet’s reaction was divided. “What did you do to your face?” one user asked despairingly. “She looks ethereal, the makeup is editorial and [you all] just don’t get it,” wrote another.
Bleached eyebrows have swung in and out of fashion over the last few decades, with stars like Rihanna and Doja Cat joining in on the fun, but they have rarely made their way outside of the celebrity set. The bold look has mainly been the territory of underground club kids and high-fashion editorials, with those outside of the fashion world reluctant to jump on the trend. However, the recent spate of celebrities adding their own spin to the bleached brows look proves that not only is it in the middle of a resurgence, but that it can work on anyone. Ortega’s bold approach divided opinion, drawing comparisons to alt internet starlets like Gabbriette and Amelia Gray. Actresses like Ariana Grande and Michelle Yeoh, however, opted for a softer, more natural version of the look.
If there’s one thing the celebrities on this list have in common, it’s a shared disregard for colouring within the lines. They’re likely well aware that bleached eyebrows invite a little bit of derision. The trend is bold; it revels in the discomfort of an aesthetic that is not obviously pretty, and that is precisely what makes it so alluring.
Read on to get a closer look at all the celebrities rocking bleached eyebrows.
Jenna Ortega
Since Jenna Ortega shot to fame as Wednesday Addams, she hasn’t shied away from pushing boundaries in her work or her style choices. The star told GRAZIA Singapore how makeup is an important form of self-expression in her line of work. About attending big events and red carpets, she shared, “it’s a vulnerable position for a human to be in, and there’s a lot of expectation, so sometimes you’ve kind of got to make that person on the carpet a character.”
Her recent appearance on the red carpet for Wednesday, Season 2 was as a character who wouldn’t look out of place in either a sci-fi film or a high-fashion editorial. With bleached brows, a snakeskin-like dress, and blood red lips courtesy of Rouge Dior, Ortega looked otherworldly. This take on bleached brows sits firmly at the experimental end of the spectrum, with every element in the look serving to enhance its alien glam. It’s a key example of the power of leaning into the weird from one of Gen Z’s premier fashion girlies.
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande’s portrayal of Glinda in Wicked has been nothing short of transformational. Aside from her voice (which is a couple of octaves higher) and her style choices (a lot more pink), her blonde eyebrows and hair have also been the distinctive markers of her Glinda era. Grande’s take on bleached brows is a softer, more feminine version of the trend, and highlights how light eyebrows don’t necessarily need to be edgy or provocative. The distinction lies in contrasts—namely, in lowering the contrast between your brows and your hair and makeup. As Grande’s beauty signatures have long been dark hair, a bronzed tan, and defined eyes and brows, her transformation is proof that bleached brows can work for anyone.
Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh is perhaps the most unexpected addition to this list. The iconic actress’s approach to style is well-defined—regal and timeless, but not one to jump on the latest Gen Z trend. However, Yeoh clearly enjoys occasionally switching things up while still retaining her affinity for the classics. For Paris Couture Week, she stepped out with barely-there blonde brows, which were offset perfectly by the sleekness of her black chin-length bob and Balenciaga dress. This type of brow look is also the most accessible and temporary version of the trend—Yeoh maintained her natural brow shape, only lightening it by a few shades. For those with naturally lighter brows, it may not even require dyeing: concealer and a light-coloured brow pomade will do the trick.
Alex Consani
Alex Consani’s take on bleached eyebrows for her 22nd birthday was a softer and more traditional look than we’re used to seeing from the Gen Z model and TikTok star. Consani’s subtle makeup and pared-down hair allowed the bleached brows to blend into an ethereal, soft-as-a-feather outfit.
Amelia Gray
The next few entries on the bleached brow roundup are cut from the same online it-girl, alt-cool cloth. Though in her current look, she sports dark and defined brows, Amelia Gray’s take on bleached eyebrows was the perfect example of why they’re so popular with alternative fashion girlies—not least because they photograph excellently in bathroom mirror selfies.
Gabbriette
For those in the know re: the online style set, Gabbriette is almost synonymous with barely-there, ‘90s thin eyebrows. The mononymous musician and Instagram model has been at the forefront of the pencil-thin eyebrow revival. Whether her brows are bleached or simply plucked to oblivion, she often pairs them with undone hair and messy, slept-in eyeliner. The style opens up her face and adds an edge to even the simplest of looks.
Julia Fox
Julia Fox is the internet’s favourite muse, and no alternative style trend would feel complete without her take on it. The actress has rocked bleached eyebrows multiple times over the past few years, showcasing the versatility of the look. Here, she leans into the avant-garde feel that bleached brows bring with curly, laid edges and a matte lip.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA Singapore, Author: Anika Deshmukh.
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