Eyebrows
Start with shape and thickness, then show what they do when the face changes.
01Start with a plain description
thick · thin · dark · light · arched · straight · bushy · sparse
02Add shape
arched · straight · rounded · angular · S-curved · high-set · low-set · slanted · flat across the top · tapering to a point · softly curved
03Thickness & density
heavy · bold · bushy · thin · sparse · wispy · feathery · patchy · barely there · a dark slash · nearly invisible
04Color & texture
dark against pale skin · a shade lighter than the hair · graying · coarse · wiry · silky · so fair they vanished · sun-bleached
05Grooming
tweezed thin · threaded sharp · penciled in · shaved and redrawn · left wild · brushed upward · trimmed neatly · overplucked
06Distinctive features
a scar splitting one brow · a lone white hair · one brow set higher than the other · brows that nearly meet · a gap where a piercing used to be
07Movement
- Raised
- a questioning lift, one brow cocked, both climbing toward the hairline
- Lowered
- knit together, drawn down, furrowed, a deep crease between them
- Mixed
- one up and one down, a quick flick, a slow arch
- Subtle
- a brow twitch, a tiny dip, a lift that vanishes in a blink
08Brows & emotion
- Skepticism
- one brow arched
- Anger
- brows slashed low
- Worry
- inner ends drawn upward
- Surprise
- both lifted high
- Concentration
- knotted together
- Amusement
- one brow quirked
What they can reveal
brows that give away a lie the rest of the face is hiding · a habit of lifting one when asking a question · a brow that betrays amusement before the mouth does
09Alternatives to “eyebrows”
brows · brow line · arch · brow ridge · the line above the eyes
10Examples in a sentence
Shape
“Her brows were dark, high arches that gave every look a hint of challenge.”
Thickness
“He had thick, unruly brows that moved before he spoke.”
Movement
“One brow crept upward as she waited for him to finish lying.”
Distinctive
“A pale scar cut through his left brow like a gap in a hedge.”
Emotion
“His brows drew together before he said he understood.”
Minimal
“She frowned, brows drawn tight.”
11Writing notes
- Use brows for subtext. They often give away what the rest of the face is trying to hide.
- Don't overwork the raised eyebrow. It is a familiar reaction, so vary the movement and context.
- Match grooming to character. Brows can reveal routine, taste, age, fashion, or how much attention a character gives their appearance.
- Pair them with other features. Brows become more expressive when combined with eyes, mouth, or posture.
- Keep small reactions small. A tiny twitch can carry more tension than a dramatic arch.
- Don't assign personality by shape alone. Heavy, straight, arched, or sparse brows are physical features, not personality traits.