Like all lal-blooded desi girls, I’m mildly obsessed with eyebrows.
Like all lal-blooded GIRLS, I’m mildly obsessed with celeb gossip.
Occasionally, the two, they meet.
It is possible that many of you saw photographs of Sienna Miller on the red carpet (there she is! on the right!), doing her damnedest to bring dark and furry back. Well, ABC News was inspired by her “caterpillars”; they have an entire article about what brows signify and the expert whom they quote is none other than Vaishaly Patel, “London’s eyebrow shaper to the stars”.
Vaishaly’s opinion on Sienna’s dark statement?
“Personally I think they look hideous…When you’ve got blond hair the number one rule is not to have black eyebrows. I think they’re a lovely shape but just on the wrong person.”
So, there is a right person.
Take heart, my brown sisters– YOU are that right person!
Bushy is back as far as eyebrows are concerned. So, poor Sienna was just trying to follow fashion. It’s just that not every fashion suits everyone.
Ah, for once, we (and by we, I mean you) win.
For this apparently lowbrow issue, there’s some highbrow analysis. Eyebrows tell a story of cultures, eras and politics. For example, in Iran “un-groomed” is a sign of virginity. The Mexican artist Frida Kahlo sported a unibrow. It became her signature, an expression of independence and feminist strength.
No comment on what brows meant to Bert, and that’s unfortunate.
There is plenty of history-lite, however, including an exploration of whether certain decades inspired severe arches or fierce tufts. Here’s a summary:
–1940s-50s: Eyebrows are shaved off completely, lest a girl seem “masculine”. Owwww.
–1960s: Girls who are boys, who like boys to be girls, who do boys like they’re girls, who do girls like they’re boys– always should be someone you reeeeally love. Free love = furriness.
–1980s: Yuppies are mean and therefore, women over-tweeze. The end.
–Today: Sensitive and enlightened are we. Pluck we do not.
There’s a backlash against the over-plucked brow, according to Jaimineey Patel, manager of a Blink Eyebrow Bar in London. Patel and a phalanx of eyebrow “threaders” are in the trenches, persuading clients to grow back their brows before they gently shape them with twisted thread held between their teeth.
“We always do a thorough consultation,” explained Patel. “We ask them what they want out of their eyebrows.” What can you want from an eyebrow? More than function, apparently. More than a sponge effect to keep sweat out of your eyes.
We want to be as pretty as can be, DUH.
Apparently they frame your face. “To be honest,” confided Patel. “A lot of clients feel they’ve had a facelift because it opens your eyes out.”
I don’t know about a facelift, but I saw someone get their brows done for the first time this weekend, and suddenly, I was aware of the rare color of their irises AND their ridonkulous lashes. Yowza. Best $25 they ever spent, yindeed.
Eyebrows are the new window on the soul. So be careful Sienna, those caterpillars may reveal more than you want us to know.
New?! Not. Desis have known that truth all along. As for Sienna’s caterpillars, like Madonna and Gwen before her, the girl just wants to be down with the brown, obviously.
Women should never wear their hair back like that, ever. That’s what they make servers in restaurants do.
It’s a sign of strength! Or is that just a guy thing?
She would like awesome even with a unibrow. But the lady has no business lecturing desis on global warming with the Big B
Most Indian don’t have motorized transport and use the bus/trains…does she want them to walk? Will Big B carry the masses on his back. Dishoom !
Personally I like her look.
It’s amazing to me the degree to which women need to “denature” themselves in order to look “naturally” beautiful.
Then again, I’m not sure the total “au naturel” look would really work for guys completely either; this is my bias, but I think semi-groomed facial and head hair actually looks good. Still, light work compared to what women are “expected” to do to themselves in the name of “beauty”.
Sienna has naturally attractive facial features, with or without makeup or dyed hair.
I believe her brows are far more sienna than her hair. As for groomed guys
A N N A, shouldn’t it be “I can Haz eyebrow??” I only says this because I haz high regard for your lolspell technique.
The Big B can definitely do his part by not being a puffed up windbag full of hot air.
Her eyebrows are not cute. The color clashes and they are too thick. Oh well, it could be worse
ooh, ANNA, lovely topic. wwhen i moved to boston, rhere were no desi ladies near me for threading. i finally caved in and went to this russian lady near school – she did an amazing job! i was more than reluctant to pay $18 for a threading session but i was desperate. so glad i did – this woman was amazing – she even busted out her ruler! after that, i found a desi lady who did the upkeep for much, much less. but that shape the first lady gave me was the best i’ve ever had from any threader – completely worth it.
btw, bushy has been ‘in’ intermittently for brows in the last decade or so. i definitely prefer them to that once-popular trend of ultra-skinny brows.
A dumb question – I presume that if one is blonde the eye brows too have to be blonde unless you have put artifical color right ? Can somebody please enlighten me since I don’t know anything about brows.
The one on the right looks like a Bratz doll! Wow.
Kris (11): the answer is “ash.” Think Gwen Stefani.
Kris, maybe this is a case where the drapes don’t match the trimming? As for the carpet, I think it’s just worn down from too much use.
She looks just fine to me. I am not sure what the fuss is all about. What is next? Non brown women doesn’t look good in Saris?
Sienna Miller looks different in every photo. I’m convinced she’s actually more than one person.
Nice to see you back Tamasha. Stateside?
i’m quite sure that many natural blondes have eyebrows that are somewhat darker, though i think when they dye their hair blonder, there is sometimes a corresponding change in eyebrows, depending on how much lighter. as for sienna – that could be her natural colour, but the pulled back hair emphasizes the colour differential.
i have no words, rahul. just shaking my head is all i can do….
tamasha – i agree, i really have no concept of what her ‘true’ face looks like.
I honestly thought this was some Indian who went blonde and that’s what this article was about. Thought to be honest, I was more taken with the LOLCATS reference.
As for getting consulted, I find that most of my consultation with eyebrown threaders involves a somewhat grunt-noise that indicates I should sit down, the words “eyebrows? upper lip” and then the sweet pain of a twisted thread. Also, I totally feel that getting my eyebrows done is like a facelift: i feel like a female again. When my eyebrows are NOT done, people tell me how much I resemble my (handsome-but-male) dad. When they are done, they say I look like my pretty mom. Much preferred.
She does look different…I didn’t even recognize her.
And yes what a difference shaped eyebrows make. A huge difference. I’ve seen before & after shots (mine included) & I am amazed. It pays to be careful though…you’d not want to over tweeze them. My FIL once said to my MIL, “Oh you women & your eyebrows, you pluck & pluck until there’s none left only to pencil it in….”
mmm–she does look different in every pic. btw…anyone have any recommendations for threading or waxing aunties in houston?
What is a natural blonde This http://content-www.cricinfo.com/slc/content/image/301517.html
or is a unibrow http://content-www.cricinfo.com/slc/content/image/299415.html
Speaking of fashion- is that eskimo-boots-over-your-jeans-look over yet? Gag.
Really? I associate the 80s with Madonna’s furry brow look.
Zen,
I don’t mind thick brows on anyone as long as they are groomed and not trying to climb over the top of their head or around the corner of their nose. What I generally dislike is otherwise well dressed and especially with groomed eyebrows, articulate, modern women allowing fuss all over their faces, mustaches, sideburns. Do you not see it in the mirror everyday?
The blond hair brown thick brows don’t do it for me. Too harsh. The shape and thickness is fine, she just needs to lighten them. Maybe she learnt a lesson from Bollywood. Read somewhere she was recently partying it up with Sallu in Mumbai. 🙂
more like doing her damnedest to channel my girl, Audrey
There’s nothing like threading!!I look completely different after a good eyebrow grooming. ak: I just moved to Boston, do you mind giving me info on your threading salon?
Sienna’s brows are fine. It’s her fake dyed hair that looks weird.
I can see those things from outer space!
She reminds of me of Karishma Kapoor (pre-makeover) channeling Bert (of Bert and Ernie fame).
Check it out: http://mypyar.com/pictures/karismakapoor.htm
oh no, you stole the obvious jokes i was gonna make. Ah well, great minds think alike. [less flattering, but perhaps more truthful: On Fridays, humans succumb to the obvious 🙂 Although at least you’re prolific Rahul; I (being nowhere close to being the Energizer bunny you are w.r.t the commenting) have no excuse].
This is a very dangerous development for men I’d say. what about men who do not have thick bushy eyebrows. now women around them would have bushier eyebrows. in addition to all their little rules, women would now have an eyebrow rule: the man must have at least three mm taller eyebrows. Wont somebody think of the men!
We’re not discussing domestic violence, so obviously no one will. 😉
Man, Tamil people have the crazy eye brows going.
To add to my prev. comment, I mean the poor fella takes a job at IBM and Infy and big-brand-name company to enhance his prospects, and bam, it turns out the req. was not cushy job but bushy brow. Louiecypher might have further insights on its implications.
hypertree, i would be glad to do away with this rule – do you know how much work it takes for women to groom the hair – and not just eyebrows. i don’t know, why, or when this dichotomy amongst the genders developed – this concept of female beauty = hairlessness (except scalp), while men are seemingly emasculated if the same formula would apply to them. frankly, i despise it for many reasons. but as we all know, both men and women stick to this view, and might even support your rule! though, i once knew this guy who had the most immaculately shaped eyebrows i had ever seen, as a result of various methods (threading, plucking and waxing). all his friends teased him, but i found it very fascinating, and not at all unattractive.
Here’s an opportunity to market Browgraine For Men with the Fair ‘n Lovely, in one fell marriage assurance package.
Although, ak, more and more guys are having different body parts waxed as well these days 🙂
I think she just needs to lighten her brows and give them a bit more shape. Bushy isn’t a problem if it doesn’t close down your face; you can have well-defined but not too thin eyebrows and look great. It’s really the mismatching hair that makes her look bizarre.
I can never tell who Sienna Miller is.
It actually took me a second to realize that the woman in the photo was Sienna Miller. I think she prepares a different face to meet the faces that she meets. (Floridian, I miss your presence so!)
Rahul, As I was writing my Friday 55 “Ode to Rahul’s Brows”, I noticed your last comment. You always come up with the most clever links….but that last one was searing. My eyes are still hurting, I need some mega-sunglasses to block out all the hate. Please, no more haterade links. Let’s talk about your eyebrows instead. So, are you a metrodesisexual? As for my ode it goes like this, “How I envy you, oh hirsute twins, so close to the brillance just under your perch….”
Especially if it improves their chances to expand their horizons.
No, I’m not a metrodesisexual. (What! Where are your sunglasses now?) But you’re right about my, er, hirsute twins.
I’m so superficial compared to y’all. When it comes to sponge-worthiness, I never consider intellectual brilliance. Because there is little more to life other than being really, really, ridiculously good looking. That’s why I’m exclusively into mermen. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an after-funeral party to attend.
Do not double dip.
I am not in favor of the double standard. When men expect their women to be well “maintained” there is nothing wrong with men maintaining themselves.
This does not go as far as personal hygiene, but still, I think it has to be a two way street. Thoughts?
Wow, I thought that was a picture of Tanya Harding at first.
Fukijama, your reason is not in favor of the double standard but your instincts very much are. what’s more, what you label as reason, is actually a product of emotional influences fuelled by instincts. Sugar-dressed with rationalizations. Buffeted by instincts and influenced by them, the only authentic course is hedonism. Shame on you.
You can see that even Sienna Miller is seeking authenticity. She changes so much from day to day, that she herself could not recognize herself in the mirror each morning. How to be authentic to oneself in the face of such odds. By her brow. Now you know.
Have you seen the new Sephora windows? All the models have those eyebrows. It’s not for me, but that’s her self expression. I guess the con, or maybe pro, to being a celebrity is there will always be someone there to tell you you look like hell and crush your dreams of individuality. Commoners, like me, get the “double head nod” and a “you look fine!” and we usually have to ask for that too.
agreed with louicie..more interesting news
$25!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
am i the only one perplexed by this?? did she get it threaded with 24kt gold string?
Hypertree, nowadays men are also getting their brows done, nothing wrong with that.
In fact, it looks really nice to see a man with long, dark, thick but nicely shaped brows. It really frames the face and gives them a classic look.
Vaat is with this new fangled threading-shredding? Vy did good old fashioned tweezing squeezing go away?