If the Prada runway beauty look from today's fall 2019 show is to be taken literally, then long, ultra-glossy braids are in for next season and eyebrows are out. Dozens of models hit the catwalk with their eyebrows bleached into invisibility, including supermodel Gigi Hadid, Cindy Crawford's daughter Kaia Gerber, and eyebrow legend Cara Delevingne. Yes, even the latter let her signature brows get bleached into oblivion.
It's not uncommon for models to bleach their eyebrows for a runway show. Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang, Givenchy, and Alexander McQueen have all forced models to lighten their brows for a trip down the catwalk. The process isn't always fun for the models themselves, who often have to dye their brows back right after the show.
"I've been asked to alter my appearance in so many ways, it's not even funny! I think the worst is when designers want to mess with my eyebrows, though," Kendall Jenner wrote on her now-defunct blog back in 2016. "It always freaks me out because every time they do it, I lose them. They literally fall OUT!' It's bad—I really hate getting a bleach. And, it's not like you can condition your eyebrows!"
Hadid, Gerber, and Delevingne have all previously dyed their hair for runways, ad campaigns, and red carpet appearances like the Met Gala.
Taylor Hill, a model and Victoria's Secret Angel, previously told Glamour that she cried the first time she bleached her brows. “I was 18, and it was my first major London Fashion Week. My eyebrows are my thing! They’re my look, they’re my staple,” Hill said. “I was crying, saying I couldn’t do it. And then Pat [McGrath] looks at me and she’s like, ‘Darling, it’s McQueen!’ So I did it.”
Major Celebrity Eyebrow Transformations
If bleached eyebrows are not in your beauty future anytime soon—we get it. Instead, shop some of our favorite pencils for faking naturally-fuller brows:
The 17 Best Eyebrow Pencils to Fake Fuller Brows in Minutes
Pros
- Features an ultra-fine tip for hair-like strokes
Cons
Dior customers agree: this retractable brow pencil is a must-buy for natural, yet polished runway-ready brows. The ultra-fine tip is sturdy, so it won't snap off the second you press it against your skin.
One satisfied customer writes: "Love this brow pencil. Have tried others and always come back to it. Precision and ability to stay put is amazing." —Mary
Pros
- Paraben-free
Cons
Since makeup legend Gucci Westman developed this popular angled brow pencil, you know it's good. It also nicely comes in four shade options, and contains a naturally-derived formula along with a fluffy spoolie brush for easy blending.
Fenty Beauty Brow MVP Ultra Fine Brow Pencil & Styler
Pros
- Waterproof
Cons
With 14 shade options for blondes, brunettes, and redheads, you're practically guaranteed to find a perfect match in this ultra-fine pencil from Fenty Beauty. With a four-star rating and over 1,600 customer reviews, it's definitely one of our brow MVPs.
One satisfied customer says: "Perfect shade, easy application. Goes on smoothly and is easy to blend. Fine tip allows for precise shaping. Only complaint would be that I felt like I went through it so quickly but that’s probably a personal problem, so this still absolutely deserves five-stars." —Raye S.
Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Pencil Waterproof Eyebrow Definer
Pros
- Long-wearing
Cons
One of the top-selling pencils at both Ulta and Sephora, this ultra-precise pencil from Benefit is best for faking natural-looking hairs. Use it on areas where you're sparse, then soften the lines with the attached spoolie. The best part? This tiny pencil is sturdy, so you don't have to worry about it breaking off.
One satisfied customer writes: "Benefit knocks it out of the park with this pencil. It has been my go-to for a few years now. There are many brands that make the micro-tipped pencils but this ones formula glides on and stays put. I also appreciate the cool grey as I have a dark ash brown root and most brown shades are too warm for me." —Dawnie83
Pros
- Waterproof
Cons
- Doesn't include a spoolie end for blending
Created by beauty extraordinaire Bobbi Brown, this eyebrow pencil is completely waterproof, which means it's especially ideal to wear while sweating it out during a tough workout. Plus, since the pencil features shea butter as a main ingredient, it's able to seamlessly glide over your natural brow hairs.
One satisfied customer writes: "The best brow pencil I’ve ever used—blends beautifully with sparse brow hairs, and the color matches perfectly." —Micki M.
Pros
- Ultra-fine tip for hair-like strokes
Cons
- Shade range may not be ideal for blondes and redheads
Buzzy beauty brand Ami Colé knows a thing or two about creating cult-favorite products, which includes this pigmented, retractable eyebrow pencil. It nicely has an ultra-fine tip that makes crafting hair-like strokes a total breeze.
It Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Brow Pencil
Pros
- Customizable
Cons
Here's a coveted pencil from It Cosmetics that comes in four universal shades suitable for a wide range of hair colors. Its formula is designed to not only mimic the look of natural eyebrow hair, but adjusts to its color based on the amount of pressure you use to fill them in with.
One satisfied customer writes: "Favorite brow pencil! It lasts for a long time and the universal taupe is the best color. For the quality and price, perfect!" —KJK8
Valentino Brow Trio Eyebrow Liner
Pros
- Includes both a brow pen and liner marker
Cons
This is more than just a brow pencil—it's basically a transformer. On one end is a spoolie, and on the other is a brow marker that's ideal to sketch in a few flicks of "hair." And under the spoolie? A third product: an angled pencil, which is ideal for elongating shorter brows.
One satisfied customer writes: "The best high-end brow pencil! I hope it will never discontinue because I will be in trouble—I recommend this brow pen to everyone." —prettygirlas
Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Brow Harmony Precision Eyebrow Pencil
Pros
- Waterproof
Cons
Another editor favorite, this pencil from Selena Gomez's brand Rare Beauty provides soft, blendable lines that look natural when brushed through. It also has a near perfect rating at Sephora, if you're looking for extra incentive to buy.
One satisfied customer writes: "Love—it darkens my brows and it’s an amazing color match!!! It stays on all day!" —sylviaboldy
Pros
- Self-sharpening
Cons
Here's an Amazon's Choice recipient and editor-favorite pencil that's made in Japan, and contains a blend of moisturizing ingredients like vitamin E, squalane, and jojoba for a smooth application.
One satisfied customer writes: "Literally a Godsend. I've never been more satisfied with an eyebrow pencil. I'll get random compliments on how good my brows look, and people are shocked when I tell them I use pencil. And then they want it. As they should. It is unreal how real it looks." —Chavie L.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz
Pros
- Smudge-proof formula
Cons
This artist and editor-beloved brow pencil has a cult following for a reason. Associate beauty commerce editor Tiffany Dodson explains, "I've tested and reviewed a number of eyebrow pencils, and I keep coming back to this one from Anastasia Beverly Hills. Not only is it practically foolproof, but its formula and pigmentation is definitely one of the best."
Pros
- Self-sharpening
Cons
This best-selling eyebrow pencil from L'Oréal not only is budget-friendly, but also has a super-fine tip that makes it easy to create thin, hair-like strokes with minimal effort. And since its formula is waterproof, you won't have to worry about your brows accidentally being wiped away.
One satisfied customer writes: "This is a great little pencil! I love the micro pencil size and the spoolie on the end. Highly recommend if you want a cheap option to the $20 and up pencils out there. This one works just as fabulously as the pricey ones!" —Crazypretty
Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil
Pros
- Angled tip for added definition
Cons
Hourglass's angled pencil has the hold of a wax, precision of a pencil, and impact of a powder. Use the flat end to fill in larger areas in need and its pointy tip to create a few one-off strokes at the front of your brows.
One satisfied customer writes: "This product is amazing! I cannot tell you how many 'blonde' eyebrow pencils/powders/gels I have used that have turned me into Groucho Marx. They always seem to be too dark or otherwise unnatural looking. This pencil is very blendable! The angled brush makes your brows look very natural! Five-stars all the way!" —BBardot
Pros
- Long-wearing
Cons
In addition to being smudge- and humidity-proof, Charlotte Tilbury's eyebrow pencil is also waterproof and refillable, which plays a small role in cutting back on beauty waste.
One satisfied customer writes: "My favorite eyebrow pencil of all-time. The Charlotte Tilbury pencil is durable, and the color comes off pretty easy without having to use much pressure. I'm a huge fan." —amandamarie37
Pros
- Ultra-fine tip for hair-like strokes
Cons
This budget-friendly pencil is practically a steal at under $10. It features a long-wear formula and teeny tiny tip that makes it difficult to go overboard when filling in your brows.
One satisfied customer writes: ""I used to use a much more expensive pencil but once I switched to this one, I've never looked back! The lines are fine, the coverage is great, lasts all day and looks great!" —Liz B.
Patrick Ta Major Brow Defining Pencil
Pros
- Top-rated at Sephora
Cons
Sephora customers are raving about this nearly five-star-rated pencil from celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta, which has a formula that not only lasts all day, but glides on like butter.
One satisfied customer writes: "I have been loving this pencil for my eyebrows! The color shade is a perfect match with my brows and it lasts all day and does not move around. I was concerned it wouldn’t work on my oily skin, but it is perfect for my skin type and texture! Will keep using this from now on." —kassikamal
Refy Brow Pencil
Pros
- Easy to use
Cons
- Limited shade options
Chances are, you've heard the name Refy all over your For You Page on TikTok, and the brand's beloved brow pencil is one reason why. Since it has a highly-pigmented formula, you won't have to put in too much effort to create natural looking, hair-like strokes.
One satisfied customer writes: "Love love love! This is one of my favorite products!! The pencil is so thin compared to other brow pencils. It is so creamy and the spoolie is great too!! Will repurchase so many times over!" —Anonymous
<h2>Meet the Expert</h2>
- Katrina Klein is celebrity makeup artist based in Los Angeles, California, and has created looks for stars like Jessica Biel, Sophia Bush, Lucy Hale, and more.
<h2>Why trust <i>Harper's Bazaar</i>?</h2>
For more than 150 years, Harper’s Bazaar has been the preeminent fashion and beauty resource for women at every age. We cover what’s new and what’s next in beauty by working with the world’s leading authorities in dermatology, plastic surgery, cosmetics, skincare, haircare, and fragrance. Every story we publish has been thoroughly researched and vetted by our team of beauty editors and industry experts.
