Brows Through the Decades: PMU Brow Style Trends from the 90s to Today
Eyebrows frame the face and can dramatically change one's look. As brow styles have evolved over the past few decades, semi-permanent makeup (PMU) techniques have allowed people to achieve the trending looks of each era. Tracing PMU brow trends from the 90s to today shows how eyebrows can define the aesthetic of an entire generation.
Thin and Tweezed - The 90s Brows
The 1990s were known for thin, over-plucked eyebrows. Celebrities like Pamela Anderson, Christina Aguilera, and Gwen Stefani sported barely-there brows, setting the standard beauty aesthetic of the time. This was a continuation of the thin brow trend from the 1980s and many women ended up going overboard, essentially erasing their arches. PMU microblading techniques were not mainstream yet, so women relied on plucking, waxing or penciling in pencil-thin brows. However, the tide started to change in the late 90s as women realized thin brows aged them and could look harsh. Popular culture began embracing fuller brows again, foreshadowing the 2000s.
The Growing Brow - Y2K Style
The early 2000s saw the rebirth of fuller, natural-looking brows. As youth culture and Y2K fashion took over, a fresher "girl next door" look emerged in contrast to the high glam 90s style. Celebs like Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba and Halle Berry exemplified this trend with their thick, groomed brows that framed the eyes beautifully. PMU brow tattoos could now provide women with realistic hair strokes and a soft powdered effect to fill out brows. However, the desired look remained a full yet groomed brow that looked like it grew naturally - not obviously tattooed. The Y2K brow was fuller than the 90s but still shaped and cleaned-up.
The Rise of the Bold Brow
By the early 2010s, full was in. Big, bold brows took over as the new "it" trend, with Cara Delevigne leading the charge. Models walked the runway and graced magazine covers sporting thick, untamed brows that became an essential part of the look. Brow mapping and shading PMU techniques were perfected to help women achieve impressively full arches. The look was often boxy, dense and defined. No more plucking - it was all about filling in and enhancing the brows you had. Soap brows also emerged, using soap to coat hairs in place for a feathered effect.
Bushy & Boy Brow Style
Today, brows have reached peak fullness. The trend is big, bushy brows with a fluffy, natural look. Little shaping is done - it's all about letting your arches grow wild. The aesthetic is slightly undone but still polished for an effortless vibe. PMU artists now focus on precise hair strokes to give the look of individual brow hairs filling out the arch fully. Some shading and powder effects are used but the goal is blended naturalness - not solid blocks of pigment. The boy brow maintains fullness while looking softly natural.
The Future of Brows
Brow trends go through cycles, filling out and thinning down over the decades. Yet newer PMU methods allow people to stay on trend without over-tweezing or completely removing their brows. The future holds more inclusivity too, as people embrace their natural brows regardless of shape.
Overall, expect brows to remain prominent as people selectively enhance their natural arches using semi-permanent makeup. The days of chasing ever-changing trends by damaging brows are gone. Now PMU experts help clients accentuate their own brows healthily for flattering, fashionable styles customized to each face. With advanced techniques, brows can be timeless instead of trendy.
