Heian Period Eyebrow Art
Noble women in Japan’s Heian period completely removed their natural eyebrows, drawing new ones high on their foreheads using charcoal paste. These cloud-like eyebrows gave faces a distinctive, doll-like appearance that symbolized refined beauty. Artists carefully smudged the drawings to create the desired effect. Court ladies competed to create the most elegant eyebrow shapes. Traditional beauty manuals detailed proper application techniques.
