You can expect tons of new, different, and fun trends to emerge every year when it comes to beauty and fashion trends. It used to be all you did was pluck your brows paper-thin, and you called it a day, or it's all about the newest way to get your brows semi-permanently dyed.
Now, there are so many different trends, and fashion do's and don'ts for your brows, that frankly, it can be exhausting to keep up with. Well, luckily for you, here at TatBrow, we're always on top of the trends and would never lead you astray.
One of the newest, more confusing trends for some to understand is the brow slit trend. We will admit, it's a bit out there, but we think it's also totally unique and cool. For a long time, it was only something that would be seen on men, but as of recently, the girls have taken over this trend and have made it their own—which we totally love.
Now, if you are confused by the eyebrow slit trend, and are trying to figure out if it's worth a try, keep on reading! We've got all the information you'll ever need on it.
What Are Eyebrow Slits?
An eyebrow slit is a thin vertical cut put through your eyebrow. It doesn't break the skin or anything crazy, but it just leaves your brows looking a bit fancier.
Eyebrow slits were very popular in the 80s in the world of hip-hop but recently started picking up popularity again. If you've ever heard of the hip-hop artist MC Big Daddy Kane, then we're sure you remember he was one of the first artists in the 80s to start reppin' the brow slit.
It wasn't long after that it became a worldwide trend that every young guy was doing. The trend carried over into the 90s and early 2000s as other artists followed Big Daddy Kane’s footsteps. Think Soulja Boy and Vanilla Ice; they were totally notorious for their fresh brow slits!
The fun thing about the eyebrow slit trend is that it can be unique to the person, and there are so many fun variations of brow slits that you can try out. Some people even match them to their haircuts; how cool is that?
Everybody does their brow slits differently. Some people use products like concealer or an eyebrow pomade to make their brows look cleaner. Others go old school and just take a precision razor to their brow.
Traditionally, the eyebrow slit is supposed to look clean-cut, but that's not to say some people don't prefer it to look a bit more rough and rugged.
Where Does the Eyebrow Slit Trend Originate From?
The origin of the eyebrow slit trend could be seen as dark. When a person is in a fight or physical altercation, and their face is stuck, usually the skin will split and begin to bleed. The eyebrow slit is a remnant of getting into a fight.
If you look back at old gangster movies, you can see where actors would shave off or put splits in their brows to mimic the look of being in a fight.
While the trend may have started back in the 80s, it's still very popular and present in people's style today. It's no secret that trends come and go, so it makes sense that the eyebrow slit trend has lost and gained popularity a few times over.
Should You Try the Eyebrow Slit Trend?
We think the brow slit trend is totally fun, and if you want to try it, we say go for it. Definitely don't feel awkward or discouraged if you're a girl. We think it's a total baddie move to rock the brow slit.
Like we said earlier, this trend can be super unique and personal to your specific style. There isn't one kind of slit trend you need to do; you can literally do whatever you want.
The Different Trends
There are tons of different ways you can rock the eyebrow slit. You can be true to your personal style and vibes while still staying on-trend.
Whether you’re someone that wants to rock something out-there and dramatic, but something a little more lowkey—we’ll have all the options for you to read about!
Trend #1: The Double Slit
While traditionally, the eyebrow slit consists of just one thin slit going through one of your eyebrows, a popular variation of the trend is the double slit.
It has two thin slits right beside each other. Usually, if you have a double slit, you'll do it to one of your eyebrows. Still, if you do decide to do both, the second one usually only has one slit.
The double-slit is most popular amongst men, but women pull it off great.
Trend #2: Eyebrow Slit With Joining Haircut
Suppose you're going for a more edgy and intense eyebrow slit look. In that case, we think you should consider trying an eyebrow slit with a joining haircut.
It sounds confusing, but it's really quite simple. All you have to ask for is that your slit follows up to the side of your haircut. It looks totally clean-cut and cool.
Trend #3: Single Brow Slit
The single brow slit might be considered the most basic of all the trends, but we think it's the most versatile of them all. It's classy and allows you a little more freedom when you're doing your makeup.
A single eyebrow slit is a good option if you want to test the waters a bit. Who knows, maybe you'll fall in love with the trend and never look back.
We say go bold with your shadows and lashes. Since the slit is a bit more lowkey than the other ones, you can pull off something a bit more extra.
Trend #4: Haircut Joining and Double Eye Slit
This trend is a variation of the double-slit and the joining haircut eyebrow split trends. Basically, you get a double-slit and add two joining splits into your cut, which is pretty self-explanatory.
Trend #5: Cross Eyebrow Slits
Lines and designs in the hair have never really gone out of style, but we think that lines everywhere should be celebrated. Line in your brows is totally cool, too, especially stylist cross with added bling.
Putting a cross through your brows and adding bling along the edges is another popular trend that we think is so cool!
The Best Makeup With Eyebrow Slits
The fun thing about eyebrow slits is that it adds some extra flavor and spice to your look, which means that makeup becomes a little less necessary. Obviously, if you still want to do your makeup, you totally can, and we think it'll look bomb with your new slits, but we also think you could easily go without it.
The makeup look you choose is really dependent on what slit you choose to do. If you did a more basic simple one, then going all out with your makeup is a no-brainer. But, if you choose one of the more complex slits, then maybe something more subtle will work better!
Either way, we think you'll look fire; just try not to overthink it too much. We know trying a new fashion trend can be nerve-racking, especially when it's something as dramatic as an eyebrow slit. Don't let that make you feel weird or uncomfortable in your own skin.
How To Get Eyebrow Slits
You can go to the salon, or you can do it on your own at home. It's really dependent on your confidence in yourself. If you think you have a steady enough hand, we say try and do it yourself. Just be very careful; we'd hate for you to have a brow emergency.
Doing Them at Home
You will need a thin electric razor and tape. There are a few different techniques, and the way you cut the hair will obviously depend on which kind of slit you decided to do.
The first step is taking your tape and measuring where you want the slit to go. We suggest using clear scotch tape. Then you will take your razor and carefully run it over the taped-off area. You want to keep trimming until you see a noticeable gap in the eyebrow.
It's always a good idea to start thinner and take more off later. You can always take more off, but you can't put your hair back on.
While using an electric razor is probably your easiest option, that doesn't mean you can't use other products too. If you don't have an electric razor at your house, look around for a pair of scissors or an electric trimmer.
Of course, if you don't want to do them yourself at home, you could always ask a friend or go to a barber. Not that we don't have confidence in your skill, but when it comes to eyebrow slits, we always suggest going to a barber (at first). After your first session, you can keep up with the grooming on your own.
TatBrow Tip: A friendly reminder that even though you have a new brow slit doesn't mean you should skip filling in your brows. It might be weird at first, considering you have to work around a gap, but that's when we would suggest that you use our Precision Pen for all those tough-to-reach stops.
Which Brow Should You Slit?
Deciding which brow you should slit can be a tricky decision, but we always suggest that you pick the side of your face that you favor. We all have our good or favorite side, right? Or you could make the decision really easy and just add slits to both eyebrows so you don't have to choose.
Will Your Brows Grow Back?
A common question surrounding brow slits is if they'll grow back or not, and how often you will have to retouch them.
Yes, as long as you just shaved the slit, the hair should grow back in a little under two weeks. Since brow slits are traditionally shaved into your brow, the retouching process is pretty frequent. We say expect to touch it up at least once a week.
Of course, you could look into getting the slit permanently put on your face with laser hair removal, but that's something that you should put a bit more thought and research into. We like the idea of switching it up if we'd like, but of course, it's whatever makes you feel most confident.
In Conclusion
Eyebrow slits have an interesting and unique history behind them. While the very original meaning may have been a symbol of violence, that has definitely turned around. Now when you see eyebrow slits, your first thought is to associate them with the hip-hop culture, thanks to a few really big artists who are starting rocking this unique trend.
Eyebrow slits are just one of many popular trends that have emerged from hip-hop culture in the 80s and 90s.
Here at TatBrow, we know brows, and we have to say that eyebrow slits are one of the coolest and most stylish eyebrow trends we've ever come across. Of course, they aren't everyone's cup of tea, but since they're so versatile, it gives options to tons of different people with tons of different styles and vibes.
Sources:
Eyebrow Slit: History and Tutorial on How to Slit Your Eyebrow | Trip Boba
How Long Does It Take for Eyebrows to Grow Back? | Healthline