We know what you’re thinking: “Is there a halal way to shape your brows?”. According to some, there definitely is, and we’re here to break down the do’s and don’ts so you don’t have to compromise on your deen in the pursuit of looking perfectly groomed.

If you’ve spent any amount of time on TikTok, you’ve probably come across halal-tok—a space on the app for Muslim girlies to share their best God-honouring beauty tips, from hijab styling to grooming. Now, there’s an absolute wealth of information on there, but one thing that caught our eye was the countless tutorials for “halal eyebrow shaping”.

Now, you may not be aware, but some schools consider the plucking, trimming and shaving of the eyebrows to be prohibited in Islam. According to Saudi Islamic scholar Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen, the “plucking of women’s eyebrows is not permissible. That’s because the Messenger of Allaah (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) cursed the one who does it. It is haraam and is not permitted.” 

So, how can you keep your brows shaped and tidy without the use of tweezers or threads? Well, the Muslim TikTok girls are coming in clutch with plenty of suggestions. It’s important to note that there are some conflicting opinions on this topic. However, if you’d rather stay on the safe side, we’ve found three alternate ways to shape your brows that don’t involve plucking or shaving ahead:

OPTION 1: Bleach your brows

Here’s a nifty loophole—by bleaching your brows to blend in with your skin, you can create the appearance of groomed, shaped arches without needing to reach for the tweezers. That said, it can be a laborious process. Not to mention, because we’re working with bleach so close to the eyes, it’s important to do a patch test to prevent any dangerous reactions (Writer’s note: Trust me—it’s not worth it).

Fortunately, there are plenty of tutorials to guide you through the process. With a bit of practice, you’ll be looking snatched in no time! Plus, even if you do mess up and go a little overboard, the beauty of the process is that you can always dye your brows back to their natural colour should everything go wrong.

@eechamika How I shape my brows the halal way! #eyebrows #browtutorial #halalbrows #browroutine #halalbrows #facialhairremoval #easybrows #dermaplaning ♬ Countless – BCD Studio

Essentially, the steps are simple:

1. Map out the brow shape you’re aiming for with a brow pencil
2. Apply the bleach onto any areas that haven’t been mapped
3. Leave it on to process according to directions (use plastic wrap to insulate the bleach and improve lift)
4. Tone as needed with purple shampoo
5. You’re done!

It’s important to note that some do argue that bleaching the brows is haram as it also could be considered to be “changing the creation of Allah”. However, given that hair dyeing and bleaching are permissible in Islam (with the exception of dyeing the hair jet black), other argue is that bleaching the brows is okay. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what you’re comfortable with doing!

OPTION 2: Shape them with concealer and lots of brow gel

If you’re not fully comfortable with the bleach route, fret not—there is another more risk-free option! When equipped with a good brow gel (or, if you’re in need of some extra heavy-duty stuff, actual hair gel) and a little concealer, you can effectively carve out your brows to create the illusion of perfect brows. Below, Muna Mohammed details her halal brow routine:

@munxmua Reply to @debaaura10 This is the fastest that I’ve been able to do my brows 💪🏽 #fyp #fypシ #clearness #browtutorial #brows #halalbrows #browsonfleek #browshaping #browsonpoint ♬ Stylish Jazz HipHop – Future Oriented Triad

OPTION 3: Enhance your natural brows

Okay, so you’re iffy on bleach and you can’t seem to nail the concealer method—now what? You just have to embrace your natural brows? Well, yes, actually. But you don’t have to settle for bushy, unruly arches! In this case, we recommend brow lamination.  Not only can lamination tame and shape your face framers beautifully, but it also cuts down your morning routine considerably.

@dermawave.nl See this as your sign to stop plucking your brows. 🫶🏼 It’s not worth it girls, in 2023 we are going for Halal Brows only! 🤩❤️ #halalbrows#halalwenkbrauwen#stoppluckingyoureyebrows#limburg#weert#naturalbeauty#embraceyourself#noplucking#halal#eyebrowlady#browlamination#halalbrowlamination#deenoverdunya#workforyourakhirah ♬ Beat Automotivo Tan Tan Tan Viral – WZ Beat

READ: The best brow studios in KL and PJ

Find more beauty reads here.