100 Years of Brows | Allure

Discover the last on hundred years of eyebrow beauty. Thin, bushy, tattooed: Our intrepid eyebrows have been through it all. That’s why we’re paying them the ultimate homage by packing 100 years of brows in under five minutes—with the help of makeup artist and eyebrow specialist Maribeth Madron. Of course by now we’ve mastered the art of the perfect brow. Getting here was a long road, with plenty of sparse zones and wiry strays along the way. While power brows are in right now—we’re looking at you, Brooke Shields, our patron saint of arches —a full natural brow wasn’t always appreciated in the beauty world. In fact, eyebrow trends have changed a lot over the past century, and this compilation of looks throughout the years will show you the startling versatility of the humble facial feature. It all starts with the unforgettable paper-hin brows of the 1920s, courtesy of screen siren Clara Bow, then moves to the tapered arched brows of the ’50s, all the way to the Cara Delevingne–esque brows we’re all currently obsessed with. However, as the video plays on you’ll see that it’s not just the shape of eyebrows that has changed. With each new trend comes new tools. In the ‘80s, brow gels helped women achieve full, feathered styles, and waxing grew in popularity during the ’90s. (Yeesh. Remember that?) Then there are also the more peculiar trends, like the stack of eyebrow rings at the 2014 Rodarte show or the colorful stains that have probably filled your Instagram feed—if not your own arches—as of late. Maribeth Madron Brows Artist Instagram @mbmadron Still haven’t subscribed to Allure on YouTube? ►► ABOUT ALLURE The best daily makeup tips, skin-care advice, hair tutorials, product reviews, and videos from beauty experts. 100 Years of Brows | Allure