Just like how certain fashions come and go throughout the years, so too do eyebrows go through their own trending phases. From the thin, over-plucked brows of the late 90s and early 2000s (I’m looking at you, season 1 cast of The Hills) to the bushier brows of today, popularized by people like the Kardashians and Cara Delavigne, sometimes the style can take a pretty drastic turn. It seems like the turn this time around has been a bit too much for some people who may have over-plucked with a bit too much enthusiasm, meaning that they need a little help to achieve the bold new brow that’s so popular at the moment. And that’s where eyebrow extension come into the equation.

Woman gets eyebrow extensions

Working in a similar manner as eyelash extensions, eyebrow extensions are the latest craze taking over salons. Aestheticians use tweezers to carefully place tiny hairs (usually synthetic, mink, or silk) to either your skin or to your existing brow hair. Just like with lash extensions, the hair is held in place with glue. The extensions can last for about 2 to 3 weeks, and the application takes about 2 hours, depending on how many hairs need to be applied. This treatment is great if you have sparse or thin eyebrows and you’re tired of constantly filling in your brow line with pencils or powders. The before and after pictures are really crazy, and show just how much your brows can affect the overall appearance of your face.

I think this is a great compromise between constantly penciling in your brows and more permanent solutions like cosmetic tattooing. Eyebrow tattooing has always made me a bit wary—as I mentioned earlier, eyebrow shape is subject to trends too, and I cringe thinking about some of the styles that have come before that some people might have chosen to make permanent. While bushy is back in, I can’t imagine if eyebrow tattooing had been around when 80s Brooke Shields-levels of bushiness were all the craze—it would’ve been rough getting through the early 2000s with those babies.

The process is a bit pricey, costing upwards of $150, but the results seem to really be worth the money. It’s a pretty labor intensive application process, so I don’t think it’s an unreasonable amount for the service. You also have to be somewhat careful with them after application, sleeping on your back and using oil-free cleansers (so as not to loosen the glue) are recommended to keep them lasting longer. If you want to step up your brow game and are sick and tired of your brow pencil, then definitely look into eyebrow extensions to get yourself the thick, bold brows you’ve been striving for!