Unibrow
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Frida_Kahlo_stamp.jpg
Unibrow is a term used for the presence of hair between the eyebrows. Copious amounts of this can make the person bearing the unibrow appear to have only one eyebrow. The unibrow is sometimes referred to as a monobrow.
In Western culture, the unibrow is often derided as being a throwback to a "primitive" state or as exhibiting a lack of self-grooming. Hence, especially among women, the region between the brows is often plucked or treated with electrolysis or other forms of depilation. In some countries though this facial hair does not have the same stigma.
The Mexican artist Frida Kahlo often depicted herself with a prominent unibrow and a thin moustache, which was seen as unconventional and purposely unflattering by Western audiences.
As of yet there seem to have been no serious scientific studies of the unibrow in culture or whether or not certain ethnic groups are more prone to developing a unibrow or not (or less likely to pluck them or not). The word is not in either the Oxford English Dictionary or the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Medical dictionaries such as Dorland's Medical Dictionary (http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands.jspzQzpgzEzzSzppdocszSzuszSzcommonzSzdorlandszSzdorlandzSzdmd_s_33zPzhtm) contain the word "synophrys", defined as "the condition in which the eyebrows grow together".
Famous people with a unibrow
- Jim Adkins, lead singer of Jimmy Eat World
- Bill Berry, former drummer of R.E.M.
- Bobby Holik, ice hockey star
- Frida Kahlo, painter
Fictional characters with a unibrow
- Unibrau, Frau Farbissina's lover in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
- Bert on Sesame Street
- Ed, of the Cartoon Network's Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy
- Baby Gerald, Maggie's arch-nemesis on The Simpsons
- Leela on Futurama, though she was a cyclops.
- Count Olaf from the A series of unfortunate events book series.
- Helga Pataki, Arnold's nemesis/love interest on the cartoon series Hey Arnold!
- Morgana Rothschild from the novel Brave New World