Why Doesn't Anyone Have Eyebrow Tails Anymore?
TikTokers are noticing a big shift in the way we do our eyebrows.
While beauty trends are known to ebb and flow, the constant reinvention of eyebrows is far from coincidental. Over the past few decades, we’ve seen eyebrows evolve from pencil thin to bushy and bold — and we’ve even seen them disappear off our faces altogether thanks to bleached and shaven brows. But in 2025, TikTok is especially in favor of straight and lifted brows — which begs the question, where did our eyebrow tails go?
In the late ’90s and early ’00s, the ultra-arched, thin “sperm brow” was the most prominent brow silhouette. Not only does this brow shape speak to the era’s affinity for dramatic smokey eyes and bold makeup looks in general — like other brow trends, they clearly define the aesthetic preferences of the time. Specifically, the thin arched brow speaks to the supermodel glam aesthetic that ruled the period. Beauty trends were dramatic and feminine, so naturally, eyebrows followed suit.
@_kellygoochJustice for eyebrow tails🥺♬ original sound – YT: Kelly Gooch
Similarly, the popularity of the 2020 undone-soap-brow came as a result of the stripped-down “clean girl” aesthetic. Since beauty trends emphasized the Hailey Bieber no-makeup makeup look, brows leaned into the natural look by favoring clear brow products over pencils or powder. More recently, however, TikTokers have started to inch towards a more lifted brow by shaving off their eyebrow tails altogether.
Harping on the internet’s obsession with a “lifted” face, tailless brows are meant to give your features an upward illusion. Seen on models like Bella Hadid, the popularity of the lifted look stems from a desire to look youthful and sculpted. While commenters argue that an arched brows ages you — the short, straight brow has become a symbol of our fantasies for a perfectly contoured face, free of any signs of aging.
@hiraliciouss Relax they will grow back tomorrow😂 #eyebrows #wholenewface #shavedeyebrowtail #eyebrowlift ♬ Diet Pepsi – Addison Rae
Regardless of whether or not straight brows actually lift our faces, they’re a direct result of the current status quo. Because as beauty trends continue to change and adapt based on our current trends, brows will always be a clear indication of the most popular aesthetic. Today, that means everyone’s ditching their eyebrow tails — but who knows where brows will go next?
@vivinessis_ #eyebrows #viral #fypageシ #foryoupage ♬ original sound – ᔆᴾ⁰ᴰ ☆
For more on TikTok beauty trends, check out our coverage of princess nails.
