Bleached brows are everywhere right now. From the runways of Paris to the front rows of fashion week, the washed-out brow has gone from avant-garde to everyday cool, and Jenna Ortega is one of the latest stars to make it her own. Known for her signature dark, expressive features, Ortega’s unexpected foray into the bleached brow trend stopped everyone in their scroll. It’s bold, alienesque, and strangely soft all at once.
But here’s the best part: you don’t need to commit to actual bleach to get it. The look may be daring, but it’s surprisingly easy (and reversible) to pull off with a few makeup tricks. Whether you want to test-drive the trend for a night out or experiment with your everyday aesthetic, the no-bleach method lets you play without the risk.
Why the Bleached Brow Is Suddenly Everywhere
The bleached brow used to be reserved for high-fashion editorials and avant-garde shoots. But lately, it’s taken on a new identity: less shock factor, more soft rebellion. It’s the perfect visual reset after years of bold, sculpted arches and laminated brows.
When stars like Doja Cat, Bella Hadid, and now Jenna Ortega started showing up with lightened brows, the look suddenly felt wearable, even elegant. It lifts the face, draws attention to the eyes, and adds an ethereal touch that reads both edgy and understated. The key? Balance. Bleached brows shift the focus from the frame to the features themselves, creating space for skin and expression to take center stage.
Ortega’s take on the trend feels especially fresh. Her version isn’t ghostly or washed-out; it’s soft, neutral, and quietly powerful. The brows are lightened just enough to blur their edges, blending seamlessly into her complexion.
The Secret to Faux-Bleached Brows
You don’t need to reach for developer and dye to recreate the effect. In fact, most makeup artists now prefer the “faux-bleach” technique: a makeup-only approach that mimics the look without the commitment. Here’s how to do it, step by step.
Step 1: Brush Up and Out
Start by brushing your brows upward and outward using a clean spoolie or brow gel wand. This separates the hairs and reveals their natural texture, making it easier to coat each strand evenly. For Ortega’s lifted look, a clear gel like Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze works perfectly.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze
Step 2: Conceal and Neutralize
This is the heart of the technique. Take a creamy concealer that’s one to two shades lighter than your skin tone. Try NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, and gently brush it over your brows using a spoolie or small angled brush. The goal is to mute the brow’s pigment, not erase it entirely.
If your brows are naturally dark, add a touch of peach or orange corrector first to neutralize the undertones before applying concealer. This keeps the color from turning gray or ashy.
NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer
Step 3: Set with Powder or Gel
Once the concealer is in place, lightly set the brows with a translucent or skin-toned powder. This step keeps everything from sliding and adds that soft matte finish you see in Ortega’s version. For an extra pop, you can go over the brows again with a light-tinted gel, something with a blonde or taupe base, to enhance the illusion of bleached hairs.
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder
Step 4: Adjust the Rest of Your Makeup
Bleached brows can dramatically change the balance of your face, so it’s important to adjust the rest of your look. Since the brows lose definition, lean into contrast elsewhere: a bold lip, soft contour, or diffused liner can bring harmony back.
Ortega often pairs her bleached brows with smudged liner and rosy blush, creating a contrast that feels lived-in and intentional.
Finding Your Balance
The magic of the bleached brow is its ability to shift mood instantly. On lighter skin tones, it gives an angelic, barely-there feel; on deeper tones, it can look striking and sculptural. The trick is to play with intensity.
If you’re new to the trend, start with a light wash of concealer so your brow color still peeks through. As you get comfortable, you can go bolder by layering more product for that high-fashion edge.
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