If you want to get rid of a unibrow, you have two kinds of options. Temporary methods remove the hair between your brows for days to weeks. Long-term methods, laser and electrolysis, damage the follicle itself. A unibrow is a common, natural trait, so keeping one is just as valid a choice. This guide simply compares the methods, how long each lasts, and the eye and skin risks to know first.
Quick Answer
The simplest way to get rid of a unibrow is tweezing or threading, which last several weeks. Waxing lasts a few weeks or longer. Shaving is quickest but lasts only days. Electrolysis is the only method the FDA describes as permanent. Laser gives long-term reduction after about six or more sessions and must be done with proper eye shields, because the brow sits right above the eye. Do not use depilatory cream between the brows: the FDA says these products should not be used on eyebrows or around the eyes.
What Is a Unibrow?
A unibrow, also called a monobrow or by its medical name synophrys, is when the two eyebrows meet over the bridge of the nose. Unibrow and monobrow mean the same thing. Genetics play a large part. A genome-wide study of 6,630 Latin Americans published in Nature Communications identified the PAX3 gene as a key gene linked to monobrow. PAX3 is a developmental gene, and having the variant is simply a trait, not a health problem.
Hairline shape follows similar genetic patterns. If you are curious about other inherited hair traits, see our guide to the widow’s peak hairline.
Ways to Get Rid of a Unibrow Compared
The table compares each method on how long results last and the main risks. Durations come from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the FDA. Individual results vary with hair colour, growth rate and skill of the person doing it.
| Method | How long results last | Main risks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tweezing | Until the hair regrows, usually weeks | Brief pain, redness, ingrown hairs | Cheapest and most precise at home |
| Threading | About 4 to 5 weeks | Ingrown hairs, uneven shape; rare infection from unhygienic salons | Low irritation; suits sensitive skin |
| Shaving | A few days | Nicks, razor burn, ingrown hairs | Painless and fast; use a small brow razor |
| Waxing | A few weeks or longer | Burns, skin lifting or tearing, irritation | Avoid on isotretinoin, tretinoin or certain antibiotics |
| Trimming | Days | Over-trimming | Shortens hair only; does not remove it |
| Depilatory cream | Longer than shaving | Chemical burns, eye injury | FDA: do not use on eyebrows or around eyes |
| Laser | Long-term reduction after about 6 or more sessions | Burns, blisters, dark spots, eye injury without shields | Works on dark hair only; not blonde, white, grey or red |
| Electrolysis | Permanent once treated hairs are gone | Scarring, burns, infection from unsterile probes; keloids in darker skin | Works on any hair colour; several sessions |
Tweezing
Tweezing is the simplest way to start. First, wash your face and clean the tweezers with alcohol. Warm water or a shower softens skin, which makes plucking less uncomfortable. Next, hold the skin taut and pull one hair at a time in the direction of growth. Work only on the hairs between the brows, and check the mirror often. Finally, apply a cool compress or a fragrance-free moisturiser if the area turns red.
Threading
Threading uses a twisted cotton thread to lift out rows of hair. The AAD notes it is as precise as plucking but faster, and results can last 4 to 5 weeks. Because it causes little irritation, it suits sensitive or acne-prone skin. Choose a salon by recommendation, as inexperienced threaders can leave brows uneven.
Shaving, Trimming and Waxing
Shaving
Shaving is painless and fast, but hair returns within days. Use a clean, sharp eyebrow razor, never a rusty or shared one. To avoid taking too much, mark the inner edge of each brow with a brow pencil first. Then apply a little shaving gel only to the gap. Shave gently in the direction of hair growth, rinse, and tidy any stray hairs with tweezers.
Trimming
Trimming shortens long hairs but leaves the roots, so it suits fine, light hair. Brush the hairs upward with a spoolie. Then snip only the longest ones with small curved brow scissors. Stop once the shape looks even, since over-trimming is the most common mistake.
Waxing
Waxing lasts a few weeks or longer, according to the AAD. Home kits work, but heat the wax exactly as the label says and test the temperature on your inner wrist first. Wax that is too hot can burn. Apply it only between the brows, press on the strip, and pull it off quickly against hair growth while holding the skin taut. A cool compress afterwards eases redness.
Some people should not wax at all. The AAD advises against waxing if you take isotretinoin or took it in the past 6 months, use topical tretinoin, or take certain antibiotics, because these can thin the skin so it tears. FDA guidance adds that wax labels may warn people with diabetes or circulation problems not to use them. Salons should use a fresh wooden stick for each dip, never double dip.
Laser and Electrolysis: The Long-Term Options
Laser hair removal uses light absorbed by pigment in the hair. The AAD says about six treatments are usually needed, and hair grows back finer after each one. It does not work on blonde, white, grey or red hair. Results also depend heavily on operator skill. Inexperienced operators can cause burns, blisters, infection or dark spots.
Electrolysis passes a small current into each follicle. It works on any hair colour, needs several sessions, and the FDA describes it as permanent because it destroys the follicle. Risks include scarring and burns from inexperienced operators, infection from unsterile probes, and keloids in people with darker skin.
Why “Permanent” Means Different Things
Clinics often call laser permanent. Regulators and dermatologists are more careful. The FDA calls electrolysis permanent because it destroys the follicle one hair at a time. Laser instead disables follicles in bulk, so some regrow, usually finer. The AAD says laser is permanent after six or more treatments, except on a woman’s face, where hormonally driven regrowth is common. The brow area is facial, so plan for occasional top-up sessions.
Therefore, if you have light or grey brow hair, or want a truly finished result, electrolysis is the better fit. If you have dark hair on lighter skin and want fewer sessions, laser is faster, but expect maintenance.
How to Get Rid of a Unibrow Safely
Laser near the eyes. The brow sits just above the eye, and closed eyelids do not block laser light. A published case described a 38-year-old woman who developed anterior uveitis, an inflammation inside the eye, after alexandrite laser to both eyebrows without protective eyewear. She only closed her eyes and covered them with her fingers. She recovered with treatment, but the authors recommend metal eye shields as mandatory. Never agree to brow-area laser without them, and do not use home laser or IPL devices near the eyes.
Depilatory creams. FDA guidance states these should not be used on eyebrows, around the eyes, or on inflamed or broken skin. For other areas, patch test first: apply a small amount, leave it for the labelled time, and rinse at once if it burns or stings. If there is no reaction in 24 hours, it is usable on that area.
Threading and salon hygiene. Case reports describe molluscum contagiosum and flat warts spreading along the brows after threading, likely from reused thread, cotton or towels. Choose a salon that uses fresh thread for every client and washes hands between clients.
Scarring is not normal. Mild redness and swelling after laser or waxing are common and settle within hours to days. However, blisters, crusting, scarring or dark patches are not expected. Contact the clinic or a doctor if they appear. Lingering bumps or rashes are worth checking too; our guide to skin rashes: 8 common types, causes and when to get help covers the warning signs. If you are weighing facial hair removal by blade, read avoid dermaplaning regret: what could go wrong first.
US and UK Rules for Laser and Electrolysis
In the US, the FDA treats lasers for hair removal as prescription devices that should be used only under the direction of a licensed practitioner. Who may operate them is set state by state, so check your state’s rules and ask who will hold the device.
In England, there is no national licence for laser hair removal yet. The government’s August 2025 consultation response placed non-surgical laser hair removal in the lowest-risk tier of a planned licensing scheme. That scheme still needs further consultation and legislation. Electrolysis, by contrast, is already registered with local councils under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. Until national rules arrive, ask about training, insurance and eye shields before booking.
What the Evidence Says
| Claim | Where it stands |
|---|---|
| Laser is the only permanent way to remove brow hair | Not supported. The FDA describes electrolysis as permanent. Laser is long-term reduction, and facial hair often regrows. |
| Unibrow and monobrow are different things | Not supported. They are two names for the same trait. |
| A unibrow is mainly genetic | Supported. PAX3 is strongly linked to monobrow. |
| Scars or red patches after laser are normal | Not supported. Brief redness is common. Scarring, blisters or dark patches need medical review. |
| Depilatory cream is fine between the brows | Not supported. The FDA says not to use it on eyebrows or around the eyes. |
| Threading is gentle on skin | Supported, with a hygiene caveat. Reused thread can spread skin infections. |
| Anyone can wax their brows | Not supported. Avoid on isotretinoin, tretinoin or some antibiotics. |
| A unibrow is a sign of luck or strength | Folklore. There is no evidence either way. |
Good aftercare for any method looks a lot like a good skincare and hair care routine. Our hair care routine guide covers gentle handling, and our exfoliation tips explain why you should skip acids on freshly waxed skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A unibrow is a common, natural trait and it is not a health problem. Whether you remove it is a personal choice.
Mostly genetics. A large genome-wide study of 6,630 Latin Americans linked the PAX3 gene to monobrow. Unibrow and monobrow mean the same thing, and the medical name is synophrys.
Tweezing is the easiest and cheapest. Clean the tweezers, pull one hair at a time in the direction of growth, and only remove hair from the gap between your brows.
The American Academy of Dermatology says threading results can last 4 to 5 weeks. Waxing lasts a few weeks or longer, while shaving lasts only a few days.
Electrolysis is the method the FDA describes as permanent because it destroys each follicle. Laser gives long-term reduction after about six or more sessions, but facial hair can regrow and may need top-ups.
It can be, with a skilled operator and proper metal eye shields. Closed eyelids do not block laser light, and eye inflammation has been reported after brow laser without eye protection.
No. FDA guidance says depilatory creams should not be used on eyebrows or around the eyes. Tweezing, threading or waxing are safer choices for the brow area.
People taking isotretinoin now or in the past 6 months, people using topical tretinoin, and people on certain antibiotics, because their skin can tear. Wax labels may also warn people with diabetes or circulation problems.
Related Reading
- Widow’s Peak Hairline: Genetics, Causes and Styling
- Avoid Dermaplaning Regret: What Could Go Wrong
- Hair Care Routine: Daily and Weekly Steps Dermatologists Back
- Exfoliation Tips: How Often, Which Acid, and What to Avoid
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology. 6 ways to remove unwanted hair. aad.org
- US FDA Consumer Update. Removing Hair Safely (republished by Drugs.com). drugs.com
- Anterior uveitis following eyebrow epilation with alexandrite laser. International Medical Case Reports Journal. Dove Medical Press
- Kedia P, Madke B. Unilateral molluscum contagiosum following eyebrow grooming. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2019. jcdr.net
- Adhikari K, et al. How we discovered the genetic origin of the monobrow and other hair traits. The Conversation (on the Nature Communications study). theconversation.com
- MedlinePlus Genetics. PAX3 gene. medlineplus.gov
- UK Department of Health and Social Care. The licensing of non-surgical cosmetic procedures in England: consultation response. August 2025. gov.uk
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and does not replace advice from a dermatologist or doctor. If you use acne medicines, have diabetes or have sensitive skin, ask a professional before waxing, laser or electrolysis.
Last reviewed and rewritten November 2026.
