Just as the 2020s killed monoculture, the first half of the decade also drastically changed the trend cycle as we know it. In the same vein of viewers leaning into their niche interests rather than watching the same collective movies and TV shows, trends are now much more fractured, with shoppers leaning into TikTok-friendly “aesthetics” rather than runway-inspired trends. This means that at any time, “edgy soft grunge girl,” “polished quiet luxury,” and “free-spirited bohemia” are all the biggest trends of the moment, depending on who you ask.

This disjointed nature also applies to our eyebrows. Where the past several decades can be defined by a single, dominating eyebrow look—arched and manicured in the ’50s, thin yet feathery in the ’70s, and full and bold in the ’80s—the 2020s are a little blurrier, without a clear answer on the decade’s It brow. Hailey Bieber’s and Lori Harvey’s fluffed-up brows live in harmony alongside Alix Earle’s freshly thinned arches and Jenna Ortega’s bleach job.

Even looking at a photo of Gabbriette and Charli XCX, two of the coolest girls on the planet, doesn’t provide an answer—Gabbriette’s brows are nearly nonexistent, plucked into an ultrathin ’90s arch, while Charli’s are full and thick, verging into monobrow territory (her words, not mine). 

And don’t even get me started on the plethora of products and treatments that pros and social media declared as the future of brow styling that have left me more confused than ever. Are we laminating? Mircroblading? Bleaching? Plucking? The answer is not so clear.

Ahead, we deep dive into what, exactly, we’re doing with our eyebrows in 2026. Consider it our brow State of the Union. 

How Did We Get Here?

Considering that brow trends are generally a pendulum swing from what came before them—think ’80s bushy to ’90s ultra-plucked, and the 2010s “boy brow” as a reaction to Y2K tweeze trauma—it’s important to look at the brows of the past few years to figure out where they’re going next.

“The 2010s brow was bold, sculpted, and uniform. The ‘Instagram brow’ defined a whole era,” explains brow expert and owner of Imani Imani Studio, Jasmine Imani. “But it wasn’t always wearable, and it didn’t account for the nuance of different face shapes, lifestyles, or natural hair patterns.”

In a typical trend cycle, that would mean the 2020s would swing back to a skinnier brow—which did have more of a novelty moment right after Covid—but the 2020s brow is evolving with the bold brows of the past decade rather than rejecting them.

“We’re with a thicker brow, and it’s being interpreted in different ways,” explains Joey Healy, eyebrow expert and owner of NYC’s Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio. “It’s more nuanced, and if I’m looking back from 2016 to 2026, it’s getting softer and more natural.” 

Healy adds that while the past decade was all about “jumping through hoops” to get to a fuller shape—from precise powders and stiff gels to services like lamination—where we’re at now is much more relaxed and is more about making the most of what you already have.

So What Exactly Is the 2020s It Brow?

As it turns out, there isn’t one answer to this question. Per the pros, the biggest brow trend is individuality, with the word “customization” coming up countless times in both conversations. 

“The 2020s are about soft customization,” says Imani. “Brows are more natural, more textured, and more aligned with the individual. Clients want brows that support their features, not compete with them.” She adds that her clients are also more focused on long-term hair health and results that last over quick fixes.

Healy explains that if it feels like brows are a little directionless, in a macro sense, it’s because they are. He stresses that instead of chasing trends, the 2020s are all about customizing and tailoring brows to fit their owners. “As a result of social media, our clients come in way more informed than they used to, and they really know what they’re after,” he says. “They have examples of what they don’t want, which is as helpful as knowing what they do want. Customization is a big thing. That’s why you’re seeing people kind of take a little bit from here and a little bit from there.”

If you’re looking for guidance on shape, the 2020 brow is somewhere in between a Gabbriette pencil and an XCX fluff. Per Healy, it’s all about a full yet tailored brow with a “micro arch.” He points to Emma Chamberlain as a modern brow muse. While the previous decade was all about adding bulk at the expense of anything else, Healy’s current clients are much more focused on symmetry, thanks to the rise of “tweakments” and fillers, as well as facial filters on social media. “There was more acceptance for this very full brow that was maybe a little imperfect before, but now people have their standards of what they want, and that includes symmetry.” 

Another buzzword that came up with both pros was “ease.” We’ve all seen the TikToks about being high-maintenance to be low-maintenance, and this applies to brows as well. “In 2016, people were chasing a look. Now they’re chasing ease, clarity, and confidence,” says Imani. “Post-pandemic, we’ve seen a major shift in how people approach beauty. Clients want brows that domore with less, that simplify their morning routine but still feel elevated and tailored.” 

Finally, both experts agree that while brows are more important than ever, we may in fact be post-trend. “It’s a very positive thing, because it’s really about authenticity, and I love that there’s no real trend,” says Healy. “From what I’ve seen in my career over 15 years, those trends come and go, and you look at your Facebook memories, and you regret them. I don’t think we’re leaning into as many regrettable decisions and are coming from a place of more authenticity and also a lot less damage.”

What’s Going On With Brow Services?

For a moment, it felt like there was a fun new brow service to try every time you checked the beauty news—microblading, laminating, tinting, bleaching, thinning, and more. But is anyone still doing it? I checked in on a few popular services from years past to see what’s still popular and what we should be doing instead.

Microblading: Microblading has fallen out of popularity, since a bold, filled-in look is no longer trending, and it’s not as temporary as customers were led to believe. Now, many women are dealing with discoloration left behind by the service—Healy points out the irony that those who got microblading for an easier morning are now some of the only ones using heavy-duty brow products. 

Instead, Imani has been exploring nanoblading, which fades more softly and looks more natural. She recommends it as a spot treatment for any areas that will never grow back, but notes that her clients are still cautious. 

Lamination: “Lamination gets mixed reviews in trend cycles, but it’s not out,” declares Imani. “It’s evolving. Many people associate it with stiff, glossy brows, but that’s outdated and false.” Her studio specializes in Baby Lifts, which use a partial lamination on unruly areas to create a unified look. “We also use lamination to achieve a look for up to six weeks—think wanting a thinner tail but not having to pluck out the hair. Instead, we laminate the tail of the brow and style it to give a thin look.”

Healy, on the other hand, has never offered lamination in his studio due to the risk of damage. If you want a similar effect, he recommends a glossy gel, like Brow Structure from his namesake line, or a brow soap.

Ultra-Skinny Brows: While skinny brows have had a moment on the celeb set and downtown NYC girls, when it comes to Healy and Imani’s clients, “skinny” is still a dirty word. Imani shares that many of her clients are still on a recovery journey from the 2000s, but some are willing to experiment with a thinner shape. “We’re not following trends as much as we’re adapting them to real-life. For example, a ‘skinny brow’ today doesn’t mean over-tweezed; it might mean keeping the front full and tapering the tail with a subtle lift for a cleaner finish.”

Healy agrees, saying that his clients are loving a tailored brow but want to keep tweezing to a minimum. “There are people who have finer brows who need a little bit more tailoring, but I think it’s a knee-jerk reaction [to hear the word skinny and not want that].” He adds that for his older clients, he’ll go a little thinner for some extra lift but refers to it as “structure.”

Bleaching: Bleaching, like skinny brows, had a jolt of popularity during the pandemic as people experimented more with their beauty looks. However, it hasn’t really stuck around in the mainstream. “Bleaching is a curiosity. People love the idea of it, but it’s high-maintenance,” explains Imani. She says that, even if her clients like the look on someone else, bleaching doesn’t necessarily fit into their lifestyles. 

Healy’s clients also aren’t asking for bleach, but he has noticed a shift toward cooler-toned products. While warm, rich brunette products were everywhere circa 2016, “now people are much more into cooler-tone taupes,” says Healy. Not only does a cooler palette mirror overall beauty trends, but it also gives a bit of a faux-bleach effect without “deleting” the brows, as Healy puts it. 

What’s Next for Brows?

As we (somehow) enter the latter half of the decade, brow trends should continue to crystallize. Expect to see a continued emphasis on authenticity, customization, and tailoring. 

“2026 will be defined by versatility and reversibility,” predicts Imani. “Clients want the freedom to shift their look without committing to something permanent. That’s why Baby Lifts will become even more popular. Lifting just the front or tail can completely change your brow silhouette for six weeks without removing a single hair.”

Healy expects to see the “skincarification” that’s come for the body and hair categories to also come to brows (expect to see brow masks dropping any day now). He also predicts seeing “brow glazing” come into play, which translates Hailey Bieber’s signature glossy skin and low-key energy into glossy, lightly fluffed brows. Just like everyone wants healthy, effortless skin, the same is true of our brows, and a “soft sculpt” is where we’re heading for the next few years. 

If you wanted to try a new service tomorrow, both experts recommend tinting. “Full tinting has never been more popular,” says Healy, adding that now most of his appointments include a tinting service. “Everyone wants low lift, something that’s easy and a little bit more effortless, but that’s still making the most of their brows.” 

“Clients want tinting that enhances their features, not darkens by default,” adds Imani. “We custom-match tint to their undertones, natural hair color, and even the season. Brows are finally being treated with the same level of care and detail as makeup or hair, and that’s overdue.”

What’s also overdue? The idea that we could finally be free from trends. Take the pro’s advice with a grain of salt, and pluck, laminate, or bleach to your heart’s desire. It’s all happening.