Tatiana Dias
The past year has witnessed a resurgence of various 90s trends, from brown lipliner to butterfly clips and glitter. Simultaneously, there’s also been a marked shift in eyebrow styling. Gone are the days of pencil-thin brows; thick brows have taken centre stage with their ability to accentuate and add definition to facial features. But the evolution doesn’t stop there. We’ve progressed from the casual, unkempt look to a more refined version that perfectly aligns with the soft girl aesthetic of 2024—the neatly brushed, fluffy brow.
“Soft fluffy brows that are not overly filled and natural and effortless,” is how makeup artist and MAC’s Global Senior Artist describes this trend. “The brows are softly defined using brush strokes creating hair-like filling and then brows are brushed up using a clear brow gel. It goes well with nude or no makeup looks.”
An easy fix
In the era of soft and clean girl aesthetics, the brushed brow is an easy fit. According to makeup artist Riddhima Sharma, the fact that it works on many types of brows and even helps tame the bushiest of them is what makes this trend so popular. “It’s a great way of achieving fuller brows and can be done with a good brow gel.” In other words, those who aren’t blessed can fake it and those who are can tame it—it’s a win-win.
A 2-step guide
The technique is simple. “It involves separating your eyebrows to make them look thick, natural, fluffy and textured, as opposed to thin, made up, and overly done,” adds makeup artist Tanvi Marathe.
Step 1: Brush your brows upwards with a clean spoolie or a brow comb. Marathe advises separating each of the brow hairs when doing so—especially those that are settled on top of one another.
Step 2: You can either use a thin eyebrow pencil or pen to fill in your brows, or straight away use a brow-setting gel or wax.
If you are using a pencil, fill in any sparse areas with hair-like strokes. Make sure to use light pressure for extra definition—you want to mimic the brow hair by filling in the gaps. According to Marathe, the key to getting that perfect look is to brush the brow hair up before and during filling. Avoid powder filling as she says that it can make the brow look more flat and not fluffy. “I recommend using two different shades of eyebrow pencils—one the colour of your hair and one slightly lighter, for added definition,” adds Sharma. Finish off with an eyebrow gel, brush it upwards, and set the brows in place.
Benefit Cosmetics Precisely My Brow Pencil
M.A.C Eye Brows Styler
Makeup Revolution Precise Brow Pencil
ETUDE HOUSE Drawing Eyebrow
If you are using a brow setting gel or wax, use the same spoolie brush, and brush the brow diagonally upwards at a 45-degree angle for fluffy brows. Marathe advises to work in less quantities. “The brow gel or wax holds up the brow and separates the brow hair so that it looks fluffed up while emphasising the texture”
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Gel
Charlotte Tilbury Brow Fix
e.l.f. Cosmetics Clear Brow & Lash Mascara
Pro tips to retain the look for Longer
#1: Hairspray goes a long way. Use a good quality strong hold hairspray on the spoolie brush to increase the longevity or the hold.