Unibrow

The upper part of the face of a young woman with hair between the eyebrows

A unibrow (or monobrow) is a "confluence of eyebrows"; that is, the presence of abundant hair between the eyebrows, so that they seem to converge to form one long eyebrow. The condition of having a unibrow is synophrys.

Beauty culture

In times past and in some cultures, for example Tajikistan^[1], the unibrow is viewed as an attractive quality in men and women alike. In some places, it may be associated with purity and, in men, virility, while most Western societies seem to find it unappealing. Men in Western cultures may pluck, tweeze, or use other treatments for unwanted hair to rid themselves of this feature. In Western perception, the unibrow may make a person seem ugly, fierce, grumpy, or overly serious, so much so that the unibrow has become something of a cliché in fiction, especially with cartoon characters. In some non-Western cultures, however, this facial hair does not have a stigma, and may even be seen as a sign of feminine beauty, where connected eyebrows are a sign of virginity and of being unmarried.

Make up (unibrow simulation)

In many countries of Central Asia and greater Iran a unibrow is considered attractive in women. If there is no unibrow present, or if it is weak, it is drawn with kohl liner or a modern kajal pen to simulate a unibrow. This is only done by women and girls.

Removal

Among western women, the region between the brows is often plucked, waxed, shaved, or otherwise treated with electrolysis or other forms of depilation. Unibrow separation is often the only form of eyebrow grooming (a stereotypically feminine behavior) among men.

Waxing and tweezing are the most efficient methods for removing eyebrow hairs. The eyebrows can shape the eyes and make a considerable difference to a persons appearance.

Science

Medically, some cephalic disorders, particularly Cornelia de Lange syndrome, could be associated with synophrys. However, the vast majority of persons with a unibrow have no such condition, and the connection to developmental disabilities is wildly exaggerated in the popular imagination.

While the prefix of the scientific term "synophrys" links the latter to the preferred medical term, many discount the idea that it stems from developmental disorders. It is notable that most people with unibrows do not appear to suffer from any serious disorders of any kind.

Genetics and prevalence

There have apparently been no scientific studies of the unibrow in culture or whether certain ethnic groups are more prone to developing a unibrow or not (or less likely to pluck them or not).

Superstition

Unibrows have been the subject of various misconceptions and superstitions. Victorian criminologist Cesare Lombroso identified unibrows as a sign of criminality.^[2]

In popular culture

Squilliam Fancyson, the arch-rival of Squidward Tentacles in the popular animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, sports a rich unibrow. He considers it a sign of beauty, as in one episode, Squidward asks him "How's the unibrow?" and he replies with "It's big and valuable" while waving it. As a further sign of narcissism (and to further spite Squidward), Squilliam later has a 130-foot long sculpture of his unibrow constructed out of gilded doorknobs, taking residence on his gaudy rooftop garden.

The Sesame Street character Bert sports a unibrow, which he often wrinkles up as a result of aggravation from his roommate Ernie.

Groundskeeper Willie on The Simpsons is noted for his unibrow. When Willie accompanies Homer, Mr. Burns and Professor Frink to Scotland, it is revealed that every person in Willie's family has a unibrow. Maggie's archnemesis Baby Gerald also sports a very prominent unibrow.

Ed from Ed, Edd, n Eddy is notorious for his unibrow, often referred to by Eddy as a "monobrow" as do the other children of the cul-de-sac.

Multiple characters in Hey Arnold including Helga Pataki, Harold Berman, Big Bob Pataki, and Nick Vermicelli sport unibrows, often referred to as "caterpillar eyebrows".

A red, yellow-lined and grey-roofed diesel, Norman, from Thomas and Friends, has a prominent unibrow.

Frau Farbissina of the Austin Power series has a female lover with a unibrow, aptly named Unibrau.

References

1. ^ Elder, Miriam (November 27, 2010). "Where the unibrow reigns". Global Post. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/tajikistan/101126/unibrow-central-asia-fashion. Retrieved November 13, 2011. 
2. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}