An emerging beauty trend on TikTok has people plucking, shaving and reshaping their eyebrows to look like Bella Hadid's.
Videos showing the "straight brow trend", from tutorials to before-and-after looks, had more than 130 million views at the time of writing.
The trend involves plucking or shaving the tail end of the eyebrows to “straighten” them. Fans of the method claim it creates a "face-lift effect", meaning users look younger without surgical treatment.
“Eyebrows frame your eyes, and even shaving just the tail end of the brow can have a big effect on the face,” says Manal El Hage, a beauty therapist at Dr Kayle Aesthetic Clinic in Dubai.
Hadid is not the first celebrity to champion the look. Audrey Hepburn famously had straight, albeit thick, brows during her heyday in the 1950s and '60s.
In the past, the look has also been attributed to Korean pop stars, male and female, who had arch-less brows. The trend caught on in the West including with Miranda Kerr, Victoria Beckham and Suki Waterhouse.
Rumpa Singh, head trainer of Urban Company UAE's salon-at-home services, says the brow shape bodes well with Asian beauty standards, which are geared towards “a more youthful and innocent appearance”.
Hadid, as well as the other celebrities who have opted for an arch-less brow look, have another thing in common: facial structures that are either oval, round or heart-shaped.
“Typically, the brow is defined with a face map — straight brows may be suitable for some, but are based on your face shape. For those with round and teardrop-shaped faces, the technique can add structure to the face and highlight the features,” says Singh.
Otherwise, says El Hage, the brow shape “can draw attention to your jawline and be unflattering as it can unbalance your features”.
El Hage says shaving one's brows requires a strong commitment, as it is “possibly the most unpredictable hair growth on the human body”. She recommends starting with a trial by using make-up to conceal the tail end of the brows. There are also plenty of TikTok videos showing this technique.
“Only when you are positive, should you tackle the hair with a razor,” she adds.
While the hair may grow back along the line of its original shape, the “texture might not ever be the same”, says El Hage.
“Initially, it will grow back as stubble and the brow hairs will be short and blunt, so they will be impossible to shape. The amount of time it will take for your eyebrows to grow back once they have been shaved is unpredictable too,” she adds.
The average growth cycle of eyebrows is between four to six weeks, but it could go up to 16 weeks for some.
If you have mustered enough courage to finally pick up the razor, El Hage says to keep in mind that the skin around the eyes is relatively thin “so you need to be extremely careful”.
Singh's tips for no-arch brows:
- Apply soap over the eyebrows to hold them in place against your skin. Using a clean mascara wand, brush the eyebrows upwards to help you get an idea of the shape you want to achieve.
- Use an eyebrow pencil to draw and outline the straight brow shape.
- Evaluate the outline up close and be careful not to excessively cut your brows when using a tweezer, facial blade or a trimmer.
- Work from the bottom of the tail of your brow and progress slowly upwards when shaving. Check your progress periodically to avoid over-plucking.
- Once you are happy with the shape, enhance the look using an eyebrow pencil.
- Remove any loose hair and finish with eyebrow-defining make-up, such as clear brow gel or wax to set the brow in place.
T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures
Tuesday, October 29
Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE
Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman
Wednesday, October 30
Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one
Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two
Thursday, October 31
Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four
Friday, November 1
Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one
Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two
Saturday, November 2
Third-place playoff, 2.10pm
Final, 7.30pm
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
On sale: now
Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Napoleon
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Liverpool 4-1 Shrewsbury
Liverpool
Gordon (34'), Fabinho (44' pen, 90' 3), Firmino (78')
Shrewsbury
Udoh (27'minutes)
Man of the Match: Kaide Gordon (Liverpool)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOlive%20Gaea%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Vivek%20Tripathi%2C%20Jessica%20Scopacasa%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELicensed%20by%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20World%20Trade%20Centre%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Climate-Tech%2C%20Sustainability%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%241.1%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ECornerstone%20Venture%20Partners%20and%20angel%20investors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Brighton 1
Gross (50' pen)
Tottenham 1
Kane (48)
South and West: From a Notebook
Joan Didion
Fourth Estate
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fifa Club World Cup:
When: December 6-16
Where: Games to take place at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi and Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain
Defending champions: Real Madrid
The winners
Fiction
- ‘Amreekiya’ by Lena Mahmoud
- ‘As Good As True’ by Cheryl Reid
The Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award
- ‘Syrian and Lebanese Patricios in Sao Paulo’ by Oswaldo Truzzi; translated by Ramon J Stern
- ‘The Sound of Listening’ by Philip Metres
The George Ellenbogen Poetry Award
- ‘Footnotes in the Order of Disappearance’ by Fady Joudah
Children/Young Adult
- ‘I’ve Loved You Since Forever’ by Hoda Kotb
The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
