Whether you’re a first timer or you’ve worn glasses for years, the look and style of your spectacles is just as important as your vision.
But you have this nagging uncertainty…
Is it OK if my glasses cover my eyebrows?
Depending on the fit, style, size and thickness of your glasses, they may or may not cover your eyebrows. Chunky glasses are likely to intersect your brow line. Whereas slim or wire-rimmed frames are much less likely to cover your eyebrows.
The fit of your glasses affects the frame’s position on your face. This is largely determined by the nose pads and bridge width.
Glasses which are too wide for your nose will rest much lower on your face. Therefore, the top half of the frame is much more likely to be below your eyebrows.
Inversely, glasses which are too narrow for your nose will rest much higher on your face. This can be uncomfortable, pinch your nose and will likely make the frame cover your eyebrows or sit above them.
Using the links below, select a glasses frame type to understand whether they should cover your eyebrows or not.
Quick links
Chunky glasses
Combination glasses
Wire frame glasses
Rimless glasses
Sunglasses
Chunky glasses have very thick rims, especially in the upper half of the frame. Classic spectacles like these are good for drawing attention to your eyes, but naturally, their bulky rims can encroach your brow line.
Depending on their shape, full-rim glasses like these can intersect or cover your eyebrows. This isn’t bad or wrong, just as long as the bridge and nose pads rest comfortably on you.
With acetate frames, the nose pads are the little plastic ‘humps’ which should make contact with the nasal bones on either side of your nose.
Instead of the lower rim of the frame resting on your cheeks, these nose pads are what poise your glasses properly on your nose. If the bridge width of your glasses is too wide, your frame will sit too low, slip down and inevitably annoy you.
Glasses that’re too wide need constantly pushing back up. This means you touch your frame more often, thus leading to dirty lenses and frustration.
Glasses size guide
Combination glasses are a hybrid of acetate and metal and commonly feature adjustable metal nose pads. With their chunky acetate rims, glasses like these are still likely to cover your eyebrows depending on their size and how the nose pads fit your nose.
The benefit of frames with metal pad-arms is that the pads can swivel and adapt to the shape and width of your nose. Furthermore, the pad-arms can be carefully bent by your optician if your frame needs adjusted.
Once more, the size, style and fit of your glasses influence how they look on your face. Large combination eyeglasses are likely to cover your eyebrows which is part of their look.
Smaller, finer combination frames may sit a little lower on your face and therefore may sit below your eyebrows.
If your glasses cover your eyebrows, but feel comfortable and fit you correctly, this is the best long-term solution.
Example of adjustable nose pads
Wire frame glasses are much thinner and finer than acetate glasses. Even if they intersect your eyebrows, wire eyeglasses won’t fully cover them because they’re so thin.
Depending on the bridge width and their lens shape, wire frame glasses can sit either above or just cover your brow line. It’s unusual for your eyebrows to be completely below the upper-rim of your spectacles unless the frame shape is particularly large.
Wire spectacles regularly feature metal pad-arms which can be carefully adjusted to the width of your nose. The pads themselves are usually either silicone or metal which can tilt for a very comfortable fit.
Like any spectacles or sunglasses, the pads should be the main point of contact. They should keep the lower rim of your glasses from touching your cheeks and rest comfortably on either side of your nose.
Depending on their material and make, bridge-widths vary across all kinds of glasses. Be sure to choose a glasses frame which fits you correctly, not too wide, nor too narrow.
Rimless glasses are the most minimal style of spectacles and don’t have any material surrounding the prescription lenses.
Sleek glasses like these are the least likely to cover your eyebrows. At most, they may cover them at the very top of their lenses.
However, it’s worth mentioning that glasses like these are very utilitarian and generally lack character. They also have a habit of making you look older, so that’s something to keep in mind.
Glasses to make you look younger
Sunglasses are designed to protect your eyes from the sun, therefore tend to be much larger and more dominant on your face.
The various shapes and styles of sunglasses are endless, but their main purpose is to block the harmful rays of UV light from entering your eyes.
Sunglasses will likely cover your eyebrows and therefore cover your eyes too.
Don’t be afraid to go big and bold with your choice of sunglasses. Not only do they look good, but large lenses alleviate eye strain and keep your eyes safe from the sun.
Sunglasses size guide
Do glasses go above eyebrows?
Ideally, the top of your glasses should follow your brow line. It’s perfectly okay if the frame covers them slightly as large or thick spectacles can often do this. If your eyebrows are below the top of your gasses, your bridge-width may be too wide or the frame may be too large for you.
Your eyebrows are the most expressive part of your face and communicate your emotion with subtle facial gestures. As a spectacle wearer, your glasses actually help to draw attention to your eyes and expressions, which can be a characterising and flattering addition to your perception.
This is why full-rim glasses made from acetate are generally thickest near your eyebrows. This top-heavy aesthetic draws attention to your eyes, the main focus of human interaction.
How do you know if glasses are too big for your face?
If the lower rims of your glasses touch your cheeks or if the frame sits very low, they’re probably too big for your face. Ideally, your eyes should be approximately in the centre of each lens, equidistant from the inner and outermost edges of your glasses. It’s okay for your pupils to be slightly higher-up in your lenses, as long as they’re relitively centred.
Glasses size guide
How do you tell if glasses are too small for your face?
If your glasses are difficult to put on or pinch the sides of your head or nose, they’re probably too small for your face. Another tell-tale is if the temples (arms) are too short and don’t tuck behind your ears. All of these factors lead to discomfort and poor optical performance with your glasses.
Glasses which are too small can create pressure points on your nose and the sides of your head. Over time, this can lead to headaches and your frame to eventually become warped.
To avoid these issues, check out our blog article below.
How should glasses fit your face
Why do my glasses go over my eyebrows?
Your glasses can go over your eyebrows due to the way they fit and how thick the frame is. Your glasses bridge width informs how high they rest on your face. The thickness of your glasses can also mean they’ll cover your brow line. This isn’t a bad thing, as long as your spectacles are comfortable and fit you properly.
A common misconception is that you have low eyebrows and that all glasses will cover them. But the fact is, most spectacles will cover your eyebrows unless they sit very low on your face.
Glasses size guide
Where should your glasses sit on your face?
The main contact-point of your glasses should be the nose pads and temples (arms) where they tuck over and behind your ears. Ideally, your frame shouldn’t rest on your cheeks as this indicates the frame is too large or the bridge is too wide for you.
There are various aspects to spectacles which influence how they fit and look on your face. Here’s a quick run-through.
Bridge width denotes the distance between your lenses and how your glasses rest on your nasal bones. If your spectacles are too wide, your frame’s lower rims will incorrectly rest on your cheeks. Too narrow and your glasses will ‘pinch’ and rest very high on your face covering your eyebrows.
Nose pads vary across different kind of spectacles and influence how your glasses fit you. Acetate frame usually have in-built nose pads, sculpted into the material of the frame. Wire or metal rimmed glasses usually have adjustable nose pads which can swivel to the shape of your nose.
Temple length denotes the length of your frame’s arms/legs. Most adult frames have temples which range between 130mm to 155mm long. Temples which are too long result in the glasses slipping down your nose. If the temples are too short, they’ll rest on top of your ears and tilt your glasses forwards or pull them closer to your face.
Frame shape plays a role in how your glasses rest on your face. Very large spectacles like those worn in the 80’s have particularly large lenses. Spectacles with very tall lenses can cover your eyebrows and reach as low as your cheeks. Frames like these can be very bulky and heavy due to the size of the lenses. It’s crucial to get the correct bridge-width and temple length for a comfortable fit.
Rim thickness can influence the fit, style and look of your glasses. If you have especially thick spectacles, their rims are likely to cover your eyebrows and look very dominant. Thick frames made from acetate can be incredibly robust and have an inherently bold aesthetic.
Are glasses better with or without nose pads?
Most glasses use nose pads to help them rest properly on your face. Nose pads can either be built-in to acetate frames, or added as metal arms with pads on them. The pads help keep your glasses in place, resting comfortably on your nasal bones. This prevents them sliding down your nose and resting incorrectly on your cheeks.
Acetate glasses generally use inbuilt nose pads that’re sculpted into the frame itself. These little bumps aren’t easily adjusted therefore it’s important to attain the correct bridge width from the get-go.
However, you can purchase adhesive silicone nose pads online to decrease your bridge width and aid the comfort of your glasses.
On occasion, skilled makers (like us) can widen acetate nose pads by filing them down and carefully removing the acetate. This method is less common and not recommended.
Metal or wire glasses usually have pad-arms with silicone or titanium nose pads attached to them. These are incredibly versatile as the pads can swivel and adjust to the shape of your nose.
Better still, silicone nose pads can be very gentle but provide excellent grip to your nose. This can be especially helpful if you have oily skin, play sport or require a particularly narrow bridge width.
Example of nose pads
Should glasses be wider than your face?
Glasses are generally the same width or marginally wider than your face. This way, the temples (arms) can wrap around the sides of your head for a secure but comfortable fit. Glasses that are much wider than your head won’t fit you properly and will likely slip down your nose. Glasses that are too narrow will be awkward to put on and become misshapen from repeated flexing and continuous strain.
What's the latest trend in eyeglasses?
Large acetate frames with intricate detailing and coloured tinted lenses are a popular eyewear trend in 2022 and 2023. Coloured transparent acetates such as blue, green and nude are a trending style with the addition of lightly tinted lenses.
Are oversized glasses in style 2022?
Under and oversized glasses are in style for 2022, made from various colours and thicknesses of acetate. Fashion brands and niche optical companies are pushing the boundaries of technology and craftsmanship to make incredibly detailed, high-quality frames, especially in the upper end of the market.
Eyeglass styles
How do you choose glasses that make you look younger?
Mature complexions and hair colours call for colourful, characteristic glasses that can help make you look younger. Classic spectacle shapes made from materials like tortoiseshell acetate have a youthful appearance, bringing warmth and depth to your aesthetic.
It’s advised that you avoid rimless glasses as they lack definition and have a habit of making you look older. For a guide to choosing glasses to look younger, hit the link below.
Glasses for grey hair
What glasses suit thick eyebrows?
Both chunky or thin frame glasses frames can suit thick eyebrows. By contrast, thin spectacles can emphasize the thickness of your brow line making them look fuller, whilst chunky frames can cover them slightly making them seem less dominant.
This is highly subjective, but if you have especially thick eyebrows, your choice of glasses can help accentuate or cover them.
The choice is yours.
Why can I see the frame of my glasses?
You can see the frame of your glasses as they’re within your peripheral vision. This is perfectly normal with full rimmed glasses as they have material surrounding your lenses. If you’ve recently started wearing glasses for the first time, you’ll eventually get used to seeing them at the edges of your vision.
Hopefully you found this article helpful. Please check out our otherguides to choosingglasses.Thanks for stopping by.
