View source for Unibrow

{{Short description|Presence of abundant hair between the eyebrows}}[[File:Unibrow Close Up.jpg|thumb|Close up of a unibrow]]
A '''unibrow''' (or '''jacco brow''' or '''monobrow'''; called '''synophrys''' in medicine) is a single eyebrow created when the two [[eyebrow]]s meet in the middle above the bridge of the [[nose]].<ref>{{cite web|title = confluent eyebrow|url = http://www.thefreedictionary.com/confluent+eyebrow|website = TheFreeDictionary.com|access-date = 2016-02-02}}</ref> The [[hair]] above the bridge of the nose is of the same color and thickness as the eyebrows, such that they converge to form one uninterrupted line of hair.

== History ==
The word ''monobrow'' first appeared in print in 1968,<ref>{{cite web|title = mono-brow, n.|url = https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/246082|website = www.oed.com|access-date = 2020-08-14}}</ref> and the adjectival form ''monobrowed'' followed in 1973, in [[Martin Amis]]' novel ''[[The Rachel Papers (novel)|The Rachel Papers]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title = mono-browed, adj.|url = https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/252417|website = www.oed.com|access-date = 2020-08-14}}</ref> The first known use of the word ''unibrow'' was in 1981.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chisholm|first=Elise T.|date=24 Nov 1981|title=How Brooke Shields is raising eyebrows again|page=9|work=Evening Sun|location=Baltimore, MD|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/372988650/?terms=unibrow&match=1|access-date=12 Mar 2021}}</ref>

== Culture and beauty ==
[[File:Sharipov.jpg|thumb|220px|[[Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic|Kyrgyz]] Cosmonaut [[Salizhan Sharipov]]]]
Some nations prize the unibrow. It is a sign of beauty among Baluchi [[Oman]]is, whose women sometimes draw a black line joining the brows as a part of their routine makeup to fake a unibrow. A study found the prevalence of synophrys to be at 11.87% in the [[Oman]]i population.<ref>{{cite journal | pmc=5596643 | date=2017 | last1=Kumar | first1=P. | title=Synophrys: Epidemiological Study | journal=International Journal of Trichology | volume=9 | issue=3 | pages=105–107 | doi=10.4103/ijt.ijt_14_17 | doi-access=free | pmid=28932060 }}</ref> In [[Tajikistan]], where the unibrow is similarly viewed as attractive, some women dry and extract an herb known locally as ''usma'' and daub it onto their brows to mimic one.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/tajikistan/101126/unibrow-central-asia-fashion|title=Where the unibrow reigns|last=Elder|first=Miriam|date=November 27, 2010|newspaper=[[Global Post]]|access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> Urban women may do the same with a [[Kohl (cosmetics)|kohl]] liner or a kajal pen.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mannaerts |first=Pascal |date=28 February 2022 |title=Life on the "Roof of the World" |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20160930-an-ancient-route-through-the-clouds-}}</ref>

[[File:The 6th Duke of Westminster Allan Warren.jpg|thumb|[[Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster]]]]
[[File:Brian MacDonell (cropped).jpg|thumb|New Zealand politician [[Brian MacDonell]]]]
The unibrow has largely been seen as undesirable in the Americas and Europe, with the hairs often [[Plucking (hair removal)|plucked]], [[Shaving|shaved]], or [[Waxing|waxed]] away.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.konbini.com/us/lifestyle/positive-effects-of-embracing-unibrow/|title=People Are Embracing The Unibrow – Here's Why It's A Good Thing|last=Adame|first=Amanda|date=2017-05-25|work=Konbini United States|access-date=2018-08-27|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103144455/http://www.konbini.com/us/lifestyle/positive-effects-of-embracing-unibrow/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/shortcuts/2017/may/03/why-its-finally-cool-to-have-a-monobrow|title=Why it's finally cool to have a monobrow|last=Usborne|first=Simon|date=2017-05-03|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-08-27}}</ref>
Exceptions include the artist [[Frida Kahlo]], famous for her unibrow, which she often depicted in self-portraits,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://shamelessmag.com/blog/entry/an-open-letter-to-the-ago-about-frida-kahlos-unib|title=An Open Letter to the AGO About Frida Kahlo's Unibrow – Shameless Magazine|website=shamelessmag.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.net-a-porter.com/porter/article-633ccbb7977517f1/lifestyle/culture|title=Why Frida Kahlo's unibrow is important|website=NET-A-PORTER}}</ref> and the Greek-Cypriot model [[Sophia Hadjipanteli]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/beauty/102805785/meet-the-model-owning-her-unibrow|title=Meet the model 'owning' her unibrow|website=Stuff|date=4 April 2018}}</ref>

The unibrow is also the trademark of the NBA player [[Anthony Davis]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/anthony-davis-trademarks-unibrow-2012-6?r=US&IR=T|title=Anthony Davis Trademarked His Unibrow|website=Business Insider Australia|date=26 June 2012}}</ref> the football player [[Marouane Fellaini]], and the YouTuber [[ElectroBOOM]]. The boxer [[Roberto Elizondo]] famously sported a unibrow during his professional career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://234fight.com/boxers-from-the-past/roberto-elizondo-boxer-wiki-profile/|title=Roberto Elizondo Boxer – Wiki, Profile, Boxrec|date=7 December 2017}}</ref>

== Medicine ==
=== Genetics ===
The unibrow is a genetic trait.<ref>{{cite web|title = Human Traits|url = http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/jiwilliams/Human_Traits.htm|website = faculty.southwest.tn.edu|access-date = 2016-02-02|archive-date = 2016-01-23|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160123190918/http://faculty.southwest.tn.edu/jiwilliams/Human_Traits.htm|url-status = dead}}</ref> It is associated with the [[PAX3]] gene.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://theconversation.com/how-we-discovered-the-genetic-origin-of-the-monobrow-and-other-hair-traits-55548|title=How we discovered the genetic origin of the 'monobrow' and other hair traits|last=Adhikari|first=Kaustubh|work=The Conversation|access-date=2018-08-27|language=en}}</ref>

=== Medical conditions ===
A unibrow is part of normal human variation, but can also stem from developmental disorders. A unibrow is a recognized feature of [[Cornelia De Lange syndrome]], a genetic disorder whose main features include moderate to severe learning difficulties, limb abnormalities such as [[oligodactyly]] (fewer than normal fingers or toes), and [[phocomelia]] (malformed limbs), and facial abnormalities including a long [[philtrum]] (the slight depression/line between the nose and mouth).

Other medical conditions associated with a unibrow include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Synophrys (Concept Id: C0431447) |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/medgen/?term=unibrow |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |language=en}}</ref>

* [[Michels syndrome|3MC syndrome 1]]
* [[Cantú syndrome|Acromegaloid facial appearance syndrome]]
* [[Acromesomelic dysplasia]] 4
* [[Amaurosis]]-[[hypertrichosis]] syndrome
* [[Arrhinia]] with [[choanal atresia]] and [[microphthalmia]] syndrome
* [[Dominance (genetics)|Autosomal recessive]] [[spinocerebellar ataxia]] 17
* [[Blepharophimosis intellectual disability syndromes|Blepharophimosis-impaired intellectual development syndrome]]
* [[Blepharophimosis-ptosis-esotropia-syndactyly-short stature syndrome]]
* [[Brachycephaly]], [[trichomegaly]], and [[Global developmental delay|developmental delay]]
* [[1p36 deletion syndrome|Chromosome 1p36 deletion syndrome]]
* [[Coffin–Siris syndrome|Coffin-Siris syndrome]] 12
* [[Cognitive impairment]] – [[Coarse facial features|coarse facies]] – [[Congenital heart defect|heart defects]] – [[obesity]] – pulmonary involvement – [[short stature]] – [[skeletal dysplasia]] syndrome
* [[Cornelia de Lange syndrome|Congenital muscular hypertrophy-cerebral syndrome]]
[[File:De Lange Syndrome 3.jpg|thumb|Unibrow in Cornelia de Lange syndrome]]
* [[Cornelia de Lange syndrome]] 1–5
* [[Proud syndrome|Corpus callosum agenesis-abnormal genitalia syndrome]]
* [[Cortical dysplasia]], complex, with other brain malformations 11
* [[Deafness]], [[cataract]], impaired [[Cognitive development|intellectual development]], and [[polyneuropathy]]
* [[Transaldolase deficiency|Deficiency of transaldolase]]
* [[DeSanto-Shinawi syndrome]] due to [[WAC (gene)|WAC]] [[point mutation]]
* Developmental and epileptic [[encephalopathy]] 23, 66, 83, 84, 85 (with or without midline brain defects), 100, and 105 (with [[hypopituitarism]])
* [[Global developmental delay|Developmental delay]] with variable [[intellectual disability]] and [[Dysmorphic feature|dysmorphic facies]]
* Developmental delay, [[Speech disorder|impaired speech]], and [[Abnormality (behavior)|behavioral abnormalities]]
* [[Diamond–Blackfan anemia|Diamond-Blackfan anemia]] 21
* Early-onset progressive diffuse [[Cerebral atrophy|brain atrophy]]-[[microcephaly]]-[[muscle weakness]]-[[Optic neuropathy|optic atrophy]] syndrome
* [[Epilepsy]], [[Sex linkage|X-linked]] 2, with or without impaired intellectual development and dysmorphic features
* Epilepsy-[[telangiectasia]] syndrome
* [[Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis]] and neurodevelopmental syndrome
* Fontaine [[Progeroid syndromes|progeroid syndrome]]
* [[Shprintzen–Goldberg syndrome|Goldberg-Shprintzen megacolon syndrome]]
* [[Child development|Growth delay]] due to [[Insulin-like growth factor 1|insulin-like growth factor I]] resistance
* [[Hajdu–Cheney syndrome|Hajdu-Cheney syndrome]]
* [[Hennekam syndrome|Hennekam lymphangiectasia-lymphedema syndrome]] 3
* [[Holoprosencephaly]] 5, 7, and 11
[[File:Amentia Plate XX (2).jpg|thumb|[[Hydrocephalic]] man with a unibrow]]
* [[Hypotonia]], [[ataxia]], and delayed development syndrome
* [[Intellectual disability|Intellectual developmental disorder]] 61
* Intellectual developmental disorder with or without [[peripheral neuropathy]]
* Intellectual developmental disorder, [[Dominance (genetics)|autosomal dominant]] 64 and 65
* Intellectual developmental disorder, autosomal recessive 68
* [[X-linked intellectual disability|Intellectual developmental disorder, X-linked]], syndromic, with pigmentary [[Mosaic (genetics)|mosaicism]] and coarse facies
* Intellectual disability, autosomal dominant 29, 30, 34, 43, 48, and 52
* Intellectual disability, autosomal recessive 5, 13, 16, 45, 46, and 61
* [[X-linked intellectual disability|Intellectual disability, X-linked]] 21, 73, 97, and 106
* Intellectual disability, X-linked, syndromic 33
* Intellectual disability-[[brachydactyly]]-[[Pierre Robin sequence|Pierre Robin syndrome]]
* Intellectual disability-facial dysmorphism syndrome due to [[SETD5]] [[haploinsufficiency]]
* [[Joubert syndrome]] 35
* [[KBG syndrome]]
* [[9q34.3 deletion syndrome|Kleefstra syndrome]] 1
* [[Lissencephaly]] 6 with microcephaly
* [[Giant platelet disorder|Macrothrombocytopenia]]-[[lymphedema]]-developmental delay-facial dysmorphism-[[camptodactyly]] syndrome
* [[Mandibulofacial dysostosis]]-macroblepharon-[[macrostomia]] syndrome
* [[Marshall–Smith syndrome|Marshall-Smith syndrome]]
* Microcephaly 4, primary, autosomal recessive
* Midface hypoplasia, [[Hearing loss|hearing impairment]], [[Hereditary elliptocytosis|elliptocytosis]], and [[nephrocalcinosis]]
* [[Mitochondrial complex IV|Mitochondrial complex 4]] deficiency, nuclear type 20
* [[Coenzyme Q – cytochrome c reductase|Mitochondrial complex III]] deficiency nuclear type 7
[[File:Mucopolysaccharidosis (Sanfilippo Syndrome) 1.jpg|thumb|Unibrow in MPS-III]]
* [[Sanfilippo syndrome|Mucopolysaccharidosis, MPS-III]]-A to -D
* [[Neurodevelopmental disorder]] with dysmorphic facies and variable [[seizure]]s
* Neurodevelopmental disorder with facial dysmorphism, [[Muteness|absent language]], and pseudo-[[Pelger–Huët anomaly|pelger-huet anomaly]]
* Neurodevelopmental disorder with [[Delayed milestone|growth retardation]], dysmorphic facies, and corpus callosum abnormalities
* Neurodevelopmental disorder with microcephaly, short stature, and [[speech delay]]
* Neurodevelopmental disorder with severe [[Physical disability|motor impairment]] and absent language
* Neurodevelopmental disorder with [[spasticity]] and poor growth
* Neurodevelopmental disorder with spasticity, [[cataract]]s, and [[cerebellar hypoplasia]]
* [[Gray matter heterotopia|Periventricular nodular heterotopia]] 9
* [[Pontocerebellar hypoplasia]] type 7, 8, and 10
* [[Primrose syndrome]]
* Severe [[Dysphagia|feeding difficulties]]-[[failure to thrive]]-microcephaly due to [[ASXL3]] deficiency syndrome
* [[Sialuria]]
* [[Skin fold|Skin creases]], congenital symmetric circumferential, 2
* [[Smith–Magenis syndrome|Smith-Magenis syndrome]]
* [[Spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia]], Genevieve type
* [[Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita|Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia]], [[sensorineural hearing loss]], impaired [[Cognitive development|intellectual development]], and [[leber congenital amaurosis]]
* Syndromic [[X-linked intellectual disability]] Chudley-Schwartz type
* Syndromic X-linked intellectual disability Nascimento type
* Syndromic X-linked intellectual disability Siderius type
* Syndromic X-linked intellectual disability Snyder type
* [[Trigonocephaly]] 1
* Uruguay Faciocardiomusculoskeletal syndrome
* [[Waardenburg syndrome]] types 1, 2A, and 3
* [[Wiedemann–Steiner syndrome|Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome]]
* [[Zimmermann–Laband syndrome|Zimmermann-Laband syndrome]] 1, 2, and 3

== See also ==
* [[Glabella]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons-inline|Category:Unibrows|Unibrows}}

{{Accessory organs of the eye}}
{{Human hair}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Eyebrow]]