The past few years have seen the rise of “soap brows”, a trend that has become the current beauty standard for eyebrow shaping. Models, social media influencers, and TikTok stars alike have displayed soap brows and released tutorials on how to achieve a similar look. Soap brows can be seen as a counter-reaction to the ‘90s and ‘00s trend of thinly plucked arched eyebrows. In the 2010s, celebrities like Lily Collins and Cara Delevingne reintroduced the fad of thick bushy eyebrows. The trend was widely adopted and darkly pencilled-in brows became popular across beauty communities.
Now, the thick 2010s eyebrow trend has morphed into the newly popular soap brow style. Soap brows refer to a specific grooming style, in which the eyebrows are pushed up using soap instead of the typical brow gel. The technique gives the brows a natural lamination effect without the expensive and semipermanent process of actually microblading one’s eyebrows. The brow hairs are left looking softer and fuller, and it gives you more control over how exactly you want them to be shaped. Styling can range from a more subtle lift to a bold model-off-duty look. Lifting the brows can also make your forehead look smaller and lighten up the appearance of your eyes.
Makeup artists recommend using a clean spoolie brush to apply the product, but there is a range of soaps and gels that you can use to achieve the look. Transparent glycerin-based soaps are the least irritating to your skin and provide you with the most natural-looking effect. Bar soaps like Pears are a great option, but you can also find soap brow kits that have been designed specifically for your eyebrows. I personally love the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Styling Wax, and the Patrick Ta Major Brow Shaping Wax and e.l.f Soap Brow Pomade are also widely popular. There are a number of products that can be used to achieve the lifted brow effect, all of which can be used to give even the most uncooperative brow hairs the perfect hold.
While beauty trends tend to fizzle out and be replaced quickly, soap brows are not likely to be forgotten anytime soon. The technique has been used by makeup artists and drag queens for years, since soap gives the eyebrows a perfectly lifted effect that is favourable for photo shoots. The look has been long-associated with the modelling industry due to its fluffy and glamorous effect on eyebrows, and for those reasons will more than likely remain popular within the beauty realm.