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Can you raise one eyebrow (without the other)? Is it possible to learn how to do this?

103 replies

janeandmarysmum · 05/12/2025 16:07

As per the title. I can't, and would like to be able to. As I'm getting older, there are more and more situations that I would like to (non-verbally) respond quizzically to. Raising one eyebrow would seem to be the perfect way. Is it possible to "teach yourself"??
TIA.

OP posts:
EchoedSilence · 05/12/2025 16:08

Hmm No.

WrylyAmused · 05/12/2025 16:08

I can't do it, but an ex girlfriend told me she taught herself this as a teen - apparently involved many hours pulling faces in a mirror until she figured out which muscles to move and how to isolate them.

So apparently yes.

everywhichway · 05/12/2025 16:10

Roger Moore made a very successful career out of doing that!

NooNakedJacuzziness · 05/12/2025 16:12

I can, but only the left one - cannot do it with the right, I just look confused

janeandmarysmum · 05/12/2025 16:13

WrylyAmused · 05/12/2025 16:08

I can't do it, but an ex girlfriend told me she taught herself this as a teen - apparently involved many hours pulling faces in a mirror until she figured out which muscles to move and how to isolate them.

So apparently yes.

Thanks. Not sure I want to look quizzical that much!!!

Although your username suggests you can...

OP posts:
GeorgeMichaelsCat · 05/12/2025 16:13

I can. As a kid I watched Star Trek a lot

ResusciAnnie · 05/12/2025 16:13

I can on one side but not the other.

Can you make clockwise circles with your right foot (ankle) and draw a 6 in the air with your right hand without your foot stopping?

NebulousSadTimes · 05/12/2025 16:13

I can do it on one side but not the other. I've no idea how I learned to do it, maybe it just happened because I'm so judgy 😁

evtheria · 05/12/2025 16:14

Yes, I could from a young age AND I taught myself to do the other one as well, so I can wiggle them alternately (though one is naturally stronger).

NebulousSadTimes · 05/12/2025 16:15

Can you make clockwise circles with your right foot (ankle) and draw a 6 in the air with your right hand without your foot stopping?

I've just tried that three times, it makes my foot go in the other direction. Hours of fun 😅

Abracadabrador · 05/12/2025 16:16

Yes, I taught myself how during maths when I was young, by just moving the arch of my eyebrow up and down with my hand until I figured out how to move the right muscle to do it.

Calamiday · 05/12/2025 16:17

NooNakedJacuzziness · 05/12/2025 16:12

I can, but only the left one - cannot do it with the right, I just look confused

Me too, just the left one 😅

PashaMinaMio · 05/12/2025 16:18

Yes, but only my right eyebrow!
it’s a very strange phenomenon. I wonder why?

AngeloMysterioso · 05/12/2025 16:19

Calamiday · 05/12/2025 16:17

Me too, just the left one 😅

Me three!

AudHvamm · 05/12/2025 16:21

Yes. Like others I taught myself as a preteen by using my fingers to push my eyebrow up and working out which muscle/s to isolate.

I can only do it on one side. Just tried the other and I can't work it out at all. Maybe it's time to train it up so I can waggle like @evtheria 😃

civetcat · 05/12/2025 16:22

I can raise both separately - taught myself as a child. The left one came naturally but I had to work on the right (I think I did it by trying to frown on one side and raise eyebrow on the other)

stayok · 05/12/2025 16:25

My friend taught herself to do this by spending hours holding one brow down while raising the other.

Shockhorror22 · 05/12/2025 16:25

I can do both. This skill was the main achievement of my teenage years.

sprigatito · 05/12/2025 16:26

I do it constantly, to the extent that one of my Y2 classes nicknamed me “The Eyebrow”.

Toddlerteaplease · 05/12/2025 16:27

Yes. I love wiggling them independently. I had no idea until a few years ago that most people can’t do it!

evtheria · 05/12/2025 16:27

AudHvamm · 05/12/2025 16:21

Yes. Like others I taught myself as a preteen by using my fingers to push my eyebrow up and working out which muscle/s to isolate.

I can only do it on one side. Just tried the other and I can't work it out at all. Maybe it's time to train it up so I can waggle like @evtheria 😃

It will take rigorous practice, intense focus, and good self discipline, but I believe in you.

Twasasurprise · 05/12/2025 16:28

I taught myself as a child. Good luck with the training.

It comes so naturally that my left brow automatically shows my inner thoughts of disbelief sometimes. My bullshit meter is involuntarily on display 😆.

Saltwatersoothe · 05/12/2025 16:29

I taught myself as a kid too and it took hours of manually holding one eyebrow down and forcing the other in front of the mirror to learn the moves. Huge regret now as I swear that's why I need my forehead pumped full of botox 😂🙈

BernardButlersBra · 05/12/2025 16:30

WrylyAmused · 05/12/2025 16:08

I can't do it, but an ex girlfriend told me she taught herself this as a teen - apparently involved many hours pulling faces in a mirror until she figured out which muscles to move and how to isolate them.

So apparently yes.

This is what l did to master it

Jaq27 · 05/12/2025 16:31

I learnt to do this aged about 11 as my favourite Star Trek character Mr Spock would often raise a single eyebrow and say dryly, 'Interesting, Captain.'
Took me hours in front of mirror to master it.
... just practised it now after 50 odd years. Yep I can still raise a single eyebrow :D