Eyebrows, we all have them, but what are they actually for? While eyebrows help to prevent debris, sweat, and water from falling into the eye socket, they serve another important function too – and it’s all to do with how they move and human connection.
We already know that our modern minds often reflect the ways our ancestors needed to work together to survive in the distant evolutionary past. But it seems our anatomy reflects the importance of getting on with other people as well. As our new research published in Nature Ecology and Evolution suggests, the ability to look either intimidating or friendly is reflected in our bones – at least where the shape of the skulls is concerned.
We all know that ancient species of humans, such as Neanderthals, looked a little bit different from us. But the most obvious difference is that archaic humans possessed a pronounced and very distinctive brow ridge which contrasts with our own flat and vertical foreheads. And for scientists, this difference between us and them has been the hardest to explain. It was even famously said that Neanderthals would go unnoticed on a New York subway if only they could wear something like a hat to cover this distinctive feature.
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But our latest research may have found an answer to explain why archaic humans had such a pronounced wedge of bone over their eyes (and why modern humans don’t). And it seems to be down to the fact that our highly movable eyebrows can be used to express a wide range of subtle emotions – which could have played a crucial role in human survival.
Research has already shown that humans today unconsciously raise their eyebrows briefly when they see someone at a distance to show we are not a threat. And we also lift our eyebrows to show sympathy with others – a tendency noticed by Darwin in the 19th century.
So with my colleagues Ricardo Godinho and Paul O'Higgins we looked at the iconic brow ridge of a fossilised skull (known as Kabwe 1) to find out more about its purpose. Ricardo used 3D engineering software, to shave back Kabwe’s huge brow ridge. And in doing so, found that Kabwe 1’s heavy brow offered no spatial advantage.
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The brow ridges in archaic humans also serve no obvious function in relation to chewing or other practical mechanics – a theory commonly put forward to explain protruding brow ridges. As when the ridge was taken away there was no effect on the rest of the face when biting. This means that brow ridges in archaic humans must have had a social function – most likely used to display social dominance as is seen in other primates.
For our species losing the brow ridge probably meant looking less intimidating, but by developing flatter and more vertical foreheads our species could do something very unusual – move our eyebrows in all kinds of subtle and important ways.
Although the loss of the brow ridge may have initially been driven by changes in our brain or facial reduction, it subsequently allowed our eyebrows to make many different subtle and friendly gestures to people around us.
Historically speaking, these marked changes in the face occurred at a time when the emergence of important social changes began to take place. Mainly the collaboration between distantly related groups of humans.
This was a time when modern human groups began to exchange gifts across large regions. Being able to create distant friendships probably helped early humans to colonise new environments – as they had friends they could rely on and retreat back to.
Modern humans also lived in larger and more diverse groups than previous species reducing interbreeding. So the impact of friendly and mutually supportive relationships with people outside one’s own group were far reaching. And the development of mobile eyebrows may have been a key part of all these changes.
But these changes weren’t just exclusive to humans – the developments seen when wolves became domesticated are in some ways similar. Dogs have more waggy tails and flatter faces than wolves. And dogs who are better able to look cuter by raising their brows are more likely to be selected from shelters.
It seems then that for humans (and dogs), being able to get along with others was key to survival. And for our ancestors, the evolution of the eyebrows performed an important function in expressing friendliness. All of which forms part of a process of “self-domestication” – where our human brains, bodies and even anatomy reflects a drive to get on better with those around us.
At Kim Gallo Esthetics, I can help you achieve beautiful, balanced eyebrows with my eyebrow shaping services. There are a variety of benefits to my eyebrow shaping in Naples, FL, and in this blog, I am going to share some of the best advantages you can receive.
Here are some reasons why shaping your eyebrows is essential:
They say your eyes are the windows to your soul. So to accentuate these vital facial features, take care of your eyebrows and eyelashes. One way to do this is to have your eyebrows professionally shaped.
Shaping your eyebrows might seem easy, but the truth is there is a specific shape that is right for your facial shape and other facial features. Although there is no hard and fast rule about the right kind of eyebrows, you are likely to regret shaping your eyebrows without professional guidance if you are inexperienced.
By having your eyebrows shaped professionally, you will enjoy having a subtle yet significant improvement in your appearance. This is ideal for you if you don’t want to go all out on getting various kinds of facial enhancements.
Having bushy, unshaped eyebrows can easily make you older than your actual age. On the other hand, fully groomed eyebrows act as an anti-aging antidote as they make your eyes appear wider and make you look more youthful and well-rested. Because of this, consider booking an eyebrow shaping appointment as soon as possible if you haven’t trimmed or plucked your eyebrows in ages.
Applying makeup can be relaxing, but let’s be honest: this routine can take up a lot of your time. In fact, lots of people spend hours getting ready to ensure they get their desired look. The good news is that you can get away without tons of eye makeup and simply let your natural beauty shine when you have properly shaped eyebrows.
Everyone has insecurities they try to hide. For example, some consider their small or hooded eyes as flaws. On the other hand, others are embarrassed about having eyes that are far apart. If you are one of those people, hiding them is possible by having well-maintained eyebrows. With the right shape, your eyebrows can add dimension and length to your eyes. As a result, those that you considered your imperfections can become the facial features you will learn to love.
Eye Lift can give you a revitalized look. However, if you don’t want to undergo this type of surgery, you can simply keep your facial features as natural as possible and still get your desired results from eye lift through eyebrow shaping.
Read more: Here’s Why You Should Get Your Eyebrows Waxed By a Professional
Having the right shape of eyebrows can make you look and feel at your best at all times, even without applying tons of makeup or getting lots of facial surgeries done. Now that you know how your eyebrows can influence your overall look, see your local esthetician soon to get your eyebrows professionally shaped.
At Kim Gallo Esthetics, we offer 15-minute eyebrow shaping sessions in Naples for just 25 dollars. With a trained professional, you are assured we will groom your eyebrows to perfection. Schedule your appointment today!
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