Also known as eyebrow cuts, eyebrow slits have become very fashionable these days, especially among people who are bold and unapologetic about their sexuality. Although this fashion trend isn’t associated with any particular gender or sexuality, it’s commonly worn by members of the LGBTQ+ community.
So, what’s the meaning of eyebrow slits in LGBTQ+? Read on to find out.
What Are Eyebrow Slits?
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As the eyebrow slit trend continues to spread across communities and countries around the world many people have come up with all manner of suggestions about where it originated from and what it means. Essentially, an eyebrow slit is a thin vertical cut in your eyebrow hair. This cut can be done by a professional hairdresser, makeup artist, or barber.
You can also do it at home using a shaving blade. If you are doing it at home, be careful with the blade to avoid injuries. You could even ask your friend or relative to do it for you, especially if they have a steady hand.
This fashion style became popular in the ‘80s when the hip-hop culture was at its peak in the United States of America. For instance, a renowned hip-hop artist MC Big Daddy Kane was one of the first celebrities to have an eyebrow slit.
However, the trend died down in the early 2000s, giving way to contemporary eyebrow and makeup styles like eyebrow pencils. Today, the eyebrow slit style has resurfaced, with many fashion bloggers giving it prominence.
The idea of splitting the eyebrow for beauty is rather blurred in its origin. Normally, a slit in the eyebrows occurs when you suffer a gash in your eyebrows during a fight or an accident. Therefore, many actors and actresses in action movies have this cut because of the numerous times they get involved in fights. Most of these stars have to make vertical cuts in their eyebrows to depict injuries sustained during fights.
For instance, one of the major stars in the popular TV series Game of Thrones, Jason Momoa had the eyebrow slit, which is believed to have given the eyebrow slit style a new life. However, his is an actual cut that he got from a bar fight. Therefore, it’s safe to say that Jason turned his scar into a beauty feature.
What Do Eyebrow Slits Symbolize?
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As mentioned above, this trend was originally worn for aesthetics. It was made popular by hip-hop artists, who used it to make a fashion statement. However, the trend has evolved over time, with some people now using it to deliver different messages.
Therefore, the specific meaning of an eyebrow slit depends on the person wearing it. For instance, some people slit their eyebrows as a way of identifying themselves with certain gangs. The style and shape of the cut vary with each gang.
Other people use the eyebrow slit to portray their sexuality. For instance, many members of the LGBTQ+ community use this fashion style as their identity. However, this doesn’t imply that anyone with this cut belongs to the community. It’s also important to note that the eyebrow slit can mean anything you want and give the specific expression you want to put across.
Also, this slit is not gender-specific. So, it’s common to find men and women with slit eyebrows. In some cases, the slit is just part of the haircut. For example, if you want to get a fade haircut with two lines on the sides, your hairstylist may suggest that you put two slits in your eyebrows to show a continuation of the two lines in your hair.
Some people prefer to have the shaved lines in their skin fade, while others like an undercut or a taper fade for more contrast. Some guys with beards even extend the slit into their beard style. Ask your hairstylist to use the same angle for all the cuts so that they can appear unbroken.
Meaning of Eyebrow Slits in LGBTQ+
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The eyebrow slit trend has become very popular in the LGBTQ+ community, with members of this community inventing different shapes and styles of the eyebrow slit in a bid to create their unique identities. While the majority of the straight people use this slit as a fashion style or a sign of gang affiliation, the LGBTQ+ community us it as a signal or label to identify themselves and let other people know about their sexuality.
In some cultures, the LGBTQ+ community is considered an abomination. In fact, many members of this community have been victimized and even killed for engaging in same-sex relationships. Therefore, many of them aren’t willing to come out publicly for fear of persecution.
So, they use the eyebrow slit and other coded signs to identify themselves. If you belong to the LGBTQ+ community, you can put a slit in your eyebrows to let other members of the community that you are one of them. It’s a more conservative way to identify yourself with the community than wearing cuff jeans or undercuts.
Which Eyebrow Should I Slit?
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There’s no standard rule requiring you to slit your left or right eyebrow. However, if you are cutting your eyebrow as a sign of an association with a certain gang, group, or community, you have to follow the group’s specifications. Some groups and gangs make slits in the left eyebrows, while others put them in their right brows. If you are a true member of any of these gangs, you have to follow their guidelines when slitting your eyebrows.
But if your eyebrow slit is purely for fashion, you are free to choose the eyebrow that flatters you the most. You also have to choose the eyebrow that has healthy hair growth so that your slit can be visible. In other words, you should pick the eyebrow that guarantees you the best results. You should talk to a professional hairstylist for advice on which eyebrow to slit for the best fashion statement.
Since hairstylists spend most of their time working on different clients, they understand which eyebrow slit will look great on you. They’ll also advise you to either have a single or double eyebrow slit.
Is the Eyebrow Slit Exclusive to LGBTQ?
No. Although the eyebrow slit is now associated with the LGBTQ+ community, it doesn’t mean that it’s exclusively worn by the members of the community. As noted above, this slit is an old fashion style that was popularized by hip-hop artists in the 80s and 90s. Therefore, the majority of the people wearing it are just trying to look cool and fashionable.
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