Soap Brows Are the Only Method to Ever Tame My Thick Eyebrows
Makeup artists share how to get the laminated look.
I am forever grateful for my bushy brows, but I'd be lying if I said the coarse hairs and stubborn stragglers don't pose a few styling challenges. I’ve swiped on countless eyebrow gels, combed through all varieties of waxes and pomades, and even get my eyebrows threaded every three weeks to keep my temperamental hairs in line. But it wasn't until I tried soap brows that I actually found a styling process strong enough to set—and keep—my eyebrows in place.
Brow trends are cyclical, so the separated, feathered, and glued-down brow look isn't necessarily anything new. Soap brows entered the mainstream orbit in 2016, with celebrities Kim Kardashian, Hailey Bieber, and Zendaya all co-signing the style. Then, they had a second coming with the laminated brow craze of 2021. However, the strong brow aesthetic has remained a mainstay on my TikTok FYP (the hashtag currently has 24,000 posts), so I was inspired to try the timeless look.
Technically, I could use the glycerin bar soap sitting in my kitchen. But thanks to the persistence of soap brows, brands like Patrick Ta, Anastasia Beverly Hills, and e.l.f. have launched brow soap beauty products that make knowing what to use—and how to execute the look—much easier.
I also tapped celebrity eyebrow specialist Joey Healy and celebrity makeup artists Lisa Aharon and Judi Gabbay Braha to get their tips on how to do soap brows, which products are best, and how to avoid a sudsy mess. Keep reading for all their answers and an in-depth review of the soap eyebrow trend.
What Are Soap Brows?
Soap brows are a modern brow-styling technique where people use actual soap (yes, the one you use to wash your hands or do the dishes) as an alternative to a brow gel, wax, or pomade. "The result is a very flat, sleek brow that mimics brow lamination, but without the chemicals," Healy explains.
"It involves lifting and fluffing the brow hairs upward to create a chic, feathered look," says Braha. It's perfect for achieving full, lifted brows with an effortless vibe.
How Do I Do Soap Brows?
Get Your Brows Ready
"It's essential to start with a clean slate," Braha says, who recommends removing any moisturizers, oils, or leftover makeup around your eyebrows with a Q-tip dipped in a bit of alcohol. Once your brows are clean, brush them into place using a spoolie or clean mascara wand, Aharon adds.
Activate Your Soap With Water or Setting Spray
Aharon and Braha agree a light spritz from a spray bottle is enough liquid to get the job done. Once you have a slightly damp surface, "work a clean spoolie back and forth across the surface until the product fully softens," Braha shares. Healy adds that using a glycerin-based soap is key "because it helps the brows stay in place."
Apply Product
Gently brush the soapy spoolie through your brows, evenly coating every hair from root to tip while shaping them to your desired levels of arch and fluff.
Let Them Dry
Allowing your brows to air dry is an important part of ensuring a "long-lasting hold," says Aharon. Once they're fully dry, fill in your eyebrows with a brow pencil so you don't smudge and remove the product.
Are There Any Risks With Soap Brows?
Fortunately, soap brows don't come with many risks. Braha warns that using actual soap can sometimes "dry out the skin and cause irritation." However, she shares a quick fix, suggesting "products specifically formulated for safe use around the eyes." Check that the best brow soap products are dermatologist or ophthalmologist-tested before use.
While not necessarily a risk, Healy and Aharon note that finding the correct ratio of water to soap can be tricky, as too much or insufficient water will affect the hold. "If the brush is too wet, it can also get sudsy, which you want to avoid," says Healy. Weather can also affect the holding power of soap brows, so you might want to opt for another option if it's a particularly humid day. "If you tend to run hot or if it’s summer, the soap can lose its hold," Healey says.
My Soap Brow Review
Freelance Beauty Writer Emma Aerin Becker tries soap brows
I'm going to start this review off with some honesty. I'm not usually a fan of feeling like my brow hairs are glued down to my skin, so I went into this testing process with skepticism. But—for the sake of beauty journalism—I committed to executing the look.
I was a little fearful of drying out my already dry and sensitive skin, so I opted for West Barn Co.'s Soap Brows Essentials kit over real glycerin soap. After carefully using their eye-safe soap, prep mist, and spoolie, I was blown away by the result.
Freelance Beauty Writer Emma Aerin Becker uses West Barn Co. Original Brow Soap
My eyebrows were locked in place without feeling stiff or sticky and shaped and tamed to look freshly threaded (though they were nowhere near freshly done). They also looked extremely full and fluffy—I didn't even pick up my brown pencil after applying!
I always thought my bushy brows would have to settle for the light hold of a clear brow gel to stay fluffed up, but soap brows have officially proven me wrong. Needless to say, I will be adding soap brows into my everyday routine—even on my no-makeup days. It's just that good.
Freelance Beauty Writer Emma Aerin Becker tries soap brows
@catmelycat I hope this was helpful (ʋ •ﻌ• ʋ)
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The Best Soap Brow Products
As the original soap brow makeup product (aside from actual soap), it's no surprise that West Barn Co.'s take on the trend comes highly recommended by Braha. While their Soap Brows Essentials kit may be sold out online, you can buy the brow soap by itself and all the individual products on their site.
Using a transparent and glycerin-based soap is essential to perfecting soap brows yourself. Pears soap is inexpensive and conveniently available at places like Amazon and Walmart. You can't go wrong with the basics!
The only way to apply soap brows is by using an eyebrow spoolie or clean mascara wand. This pack of 100 is just under four dollars on Amazon. While you can reuse your spoolie, having a disposable option is nice and sanitary.
If you already have a hydrating setting spray in your makeup collection, a few quick spritzes will do the trick to activate the soap. If not, fill up this teeny spray bottle with water, and you're all set.
Why Trust Us
To accurately and fairly give soap brows a try, we tapped two professional makeup artists and one celebrity eyebrow specialist to share step-by-step instructions and their go-to soap brow products. They also helped answer any and all questions regarding the eyebrow trend. Marie Claire is also a long-standing expert in the brow space, having written about the best eyebrow pencils, eyebrow gels, eyebrow waxing, and eyebrow pomades.
Our writer for this piece (Emma Aerin Becker) has combed through countless eyebrow products to help tame her bushy, stubborn brows, making her uniquely qualified to test soap brows.
Meet The Experts
Judi Gabbay Braha started her journey as a makeup artist at the young age of 13 years old. Working summers at a beauty store, she swept floors and did simple inventory all to be a part of the magic of makeup. Finding her passion at a young age enabled her to hone her talents through dedication and the desire to learn. Not so shortly after, Judi was being flown around the world for her talents. She has shot for brands such as BEBE, Catherine Malandrino, Buxom Cosmetics, and English Laundry. She's worked with networks such as Bravo, TLC, ABC, and more. Judi continues to create polished and flawless looks for all of her clientele.
Lisa Aharon is a New York-based, Vancouver-born makeup artist. She specializes in highlighting her clients’ natural beauty by creating flawless skin looks, working regularly with a wide variety of high-profile clientele, the likes of Rachel Brosnahan, Florence Welch, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Bock, and Anna Kendrick, among others. Her work lives in the pages of Cosmopolitan, L'Officiel, The New York Times, Elle, Schön! Magazine, et al, and Aharon has worked with major brands and photographers such as Ralph Lauren, David Yurman, Annie Leibowitz, and Jurgen Teller.
Known for his classic approach and technical skill, Joey Healy has become one of the most influential eyebrow specialists in the industry. With his skill for crafting the ideal arch, Joey launched his eyebrow empire in 2010 with his signature product line, Joey Healy Eyebrow Collection, following in 2011. Located in the heart of NYC's Village, Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio is a stylish eyebrow sanctuary for his jet-setting clientele.
