When you picture the heavy-lidded, brooding gaze of a male model, you’re probably imagining hunter eyes. People with hunter eyes have an eye shape that’s deep set and narrow, similar to natural hunters like lions and jaguars. The term has been popularized in online communities like TikTok and looksmaxxing forums. While hunter eyes are mostly a product of genetics, you may be able to get a similar look with facial expressions, exercises, and massage.
Can I really get hunter eyes naturally?
You may be able to use massages and exercises to get hunter eyes, but have reasonable expectations about your results. Naturally-occurring hunter eyes are the result of a particular bone structure and eye shape. While you may be able to train your muscles to give you more of a hunter eye look, you won’t be able to change the actual shape of your face. [1] X Research source
Steps
Eye Exercises and Massages to Get Hunter Eyes
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Try the UUDD exercise to get hunter eyes. UUDD stands for “Up, Up, Down, Down.” To do it, start by lifting your eyebrows like you’re really surprised. Then, look up using only your eyes. Drop your eyebrows back down, then drop your eyes forward. [2] X Research source
- UUDD is thought to help you get hunter eyes because it strengthens the muscles around your eyes, which can help narrow your eyes.
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Massage your forehead to relax your eyebrows. Place your left hand on your forehead above your left eyebrow. Then, use the knuckles on your right hand to massage above your right eyebrow. Massage the entire right side of your forehead, then switch hands. [3] X Research source
- This will help relax your eyebrow area, making it easier to get the glared hunter look. It may also help improve your circulation to the area, which can create a fuller look.
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Squint while you pull outward on the skin beside your eyes. Place your index fingers on your orbital bones so they’re just outside of the outer corners of your eyes. Pull slightly outward—just enough to keep the skin tight, but not enough to be uncomfortable. Then, try to blink or squint. Repeat this about 15 times, working up to several sets a day. [4] X Research source
- The idea behind this exercise is that it will strengthen the muscles around your eye, which will then pull any loose skin tight, giving you narrowed hunter eyes.
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Firm the skin around your eyes with cold compresses. Apply an ice pack over your eyes for several minutes. If you don’t have an ice pack, try sliced cucumbers or chilled black tea bags. You can even put spoons in the refrigerator for a few minutes, then lay those over your eyes. [5] X Trustworthy Source Johns Hopkins Medicine Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital Go to source
- Some people believe that applying cold compresses to your eyes will help you build fat around your orbital bone. [6] X Research source While that hasn’t been proven, cold compresses can help reduce puffiness around your eye, which could give you a narrower hunter gaze.
Facial Expressions to Give You Hunter Eyes
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Relax your eyebrows whenever you think about it. Dropping your eyebrows slightly will drop your upper eyelids over your eyes. This will create a narrower gaze, giving you more of a hunter eye look. Try to hold this look for as long as you can, and repeat it frequently throughout the day. It may only be a few seconds the first time you do it, but over time, try to work up to longer periods. [7] X Research source
- It may help to imagine squinting just a little, but try not to furrow your brow—it will make it more obvious you’re trying to accomplish hunter eyes.
- If you practice this consistently, you may be able to train yourself to have naturally relaxed brows.
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Lower your chin for an intense model stare. Keep your head straight forward and look up with just your eyes, then drop your eyebrows like you’re frowning. Lower your eyes again so you’re looking forward, then tilt your chin down so you’re looking out from just under your brows. [8] X Research source
- This will help shorten the look of your upper eyelids, giving you a narrower hunter eye.
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Shape your brows so they're straight and symmetrical. Trim or pluck your eyebrows —when you're well-groomed, it will be easier to give off the looksmaxxed male model hunter eye vibe that you're going for. Try to trim your brows so they create a straight line. That will create the illusion that they sit lower on your brow. [9] X Research source
Mewing to Achieve Hunter Eyes
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Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth. If you get the okay from your orthodontist, the actual practice of mewing is simple—just push your tongue into the roof of your mouth, close your lips, and breathe through your nose. [10] X Research source
- Proponents of mewing claim that the changes will be most obvious if you start the practice while you’re under the age of 25, when your bones are still growing. [11] X Research source
- Don’t push your tongue against the front of your teeth. This is known as “tongue thrust,” and over time, it can lead to crooked teeth and problems with your speech. [12] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Repeat the process throughout the day. Hold your tongue in the mewing position for several seconds. When your face starts to feel tired, relax. Mew throughout the day—any time you think about it when you’re not eating, drinking, or talking. [13] X Research source
- If you’re having trouble mewing consistently, try setting an alert on your phone to remind you.
- The thought here is that pressure on the roof of your mouth will cause your maxilla bone—the bone at the front of your face—to shift forward and up. This will provide better structure and support for your eyes, which will narrow your gaze. [14] X Research source
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Talk to an orthodontist before you try mewing. Mewing attempts to reshape your jawline and cheekbones by changing your tongue placement. However, it’s important to consult with a trained orthodontist before you try this. If you train yourself to hold your tongue in an improper position for your mouth, it could affect your teeth and even the way you speak. [15] X Research source
- If there’s an issue with the way you’re holding your tongue or how your jaw is aligned, an orthodontist will give you personalized tips on how to correct it.
- Mewing is named after Dr. John Mew, who developed the practice. But keep in mind that even though it was created by a doctor, mewing hasn’t been scientifically proven to work, so your results may vary.
Cosmetic Procedures to Get Hunter Eyes
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Consult with a medical team to determine if you’re a good candidate. Cosmetic procedures are expensive and can be dangerous, so this isn’t a decision to undertake lightly. Be sure to speak to a licensed medical professional, like an aesthetician or a cosmetic surgeon, before making any decisions about procedures to give yourself hunter eyes.
- If you can, embrace your own unique look! However, if you’re self-conscious about your eyes to the point that it impacts your self-image, a medical professional may be able to recommend specific procedures for you.
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Botox injections may help you keep your eyebrows relaxed. Botox temporarily paralyzes the muscles where it’s injected. While Botox injections are commonly used to treat and prevent fine lines, they can also change the position of your brows, depending on where they’re injected. So a properly-placed Botox injection could lower your brows, giving you more of a hunter eye look. [16] X Research source
- Although Botox injections are common, there can be side effects, so it’s important to consult with a licensed medical professional before having injections done.
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Brow ridge filler can be a temporary option. Enhancing your brow bone with a temporary filler could draw your brow down, giving you more of a heavy-lidded hunter eye. This isn’t an invasive procedure and will degrade over time, so it can be a reversible way to find out if you’ll like the way you look with a more prominent brow. [17] X Research source
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Talk to a cosmetic surgeon about surgical options. There are surgical cosmetic procedures that can help some people achieve a look closer to the hunter eye aesthetic. However, the exact procedures that would be used will depend on your existing eye shape, and the results may vary from one person (and doctor) to the next. A cosmetic surgeon might recommend procedures like:
- Blepharoplasty: Removes sagging skin from your upper or lower eyelids [18] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Ptosis surgery: Tightens the levator muscle that controls your upper eyelid [19] X Research source
- Canthoplasty (almond eye surgery): Tightens the corner of the eye to fix sagging skin [20] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- Orbital decompression: Repositions the eye to fix bulging [21] X Trustworthy Source Michigan Medicine The University of Michigan's medical center, which provides patient care, supports research, and educates the public on health topics Go to source
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
Warnings
- Do not hit your brow bones (known as “bone smashing”) or pull the skin on your eyelids to get hunter eyes. Either of these could damage your vision or lead to serious injury.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vNnzW_0XwOY?t=214
- ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@babystickley/video/7431255683309276448
- ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@joseczuniga/video/7337685078551612714?lang=en
- ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@oscar.patel/video/7432349570845134113
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/how-to-get-rid-of-bags-under-your-eyes
- ↑ https://youtu.be/8ikRenmdu_U?t=234
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vNnzW_0XwOY?t=139
- ↑ https://www.tiktok.com/@james____edward/video/7304001531941014817?lang=en
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISkZfKgp18o
- ↑ https://www.health.com/mewing-7098082
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vNnzW_0XwOY?t=230
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/tongue-thrust
- ↑ https://youtu.be/vNnzW_0XwOY?t=230
- ↑ https://youtu.be/9zrh0-rsyK0?t=72
- ↑ https://aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/is-mewing-bad-for-you/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/XgIFxmAIDQ0?t=56
- ↑ https://youtu.be/8ikRenmdu_U?t=353
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/blepharoplasty/about/pac-20385174
- ↑ https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/surgery/ptosis-surgery
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/24828-canthoplasty
- ↑ https://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/Ophthalmology/oculoplastics/OrbitalDecompression.pdf