Eyes

Hunter eyes: what they are and what you can really change

Hunter eyes are almond-shaped, slightly narrowed eyes with little visible eyelid and low, straight brows. The term comes from looksmaxxing forums, which contrast it with rounder "prey eyes". Part of it depends on bone structure, but several details can be worked on. 👁️

Updated November 7, 2026 · By Julien Rayes · Version française

The four criteria of hunter eyes

• A positive canthal tilt: the outer corner of the eye sits slightly higher than the inner corner.
• Little upper eyelid visible when your eyes are open: the eyelid crease is hidden by the brow ridge.
• No white showing below the iris (scleral show).
• Low, thick, fairly straight brows set on a pronounced brow ridge.

Hunter eyes vs. prey eyes

Prey eyes are the opposite: rounder eyes, a very visible upper eyelid, white showing below the iris, and sometimes lower outer corners. Neither is a medical flaw. In attractiveness studies, open eyes and rested skin count for a lot. Hunter eyes are mostly a forum ideal, more pronounced in men.

What depends on bone

The eye socket, the height of the brow ridge and the position of the eye corner come from your bone structure. No exercise, no gaze technique and no mewing can change bone in an adult. Videos that promise hunter eyes in a few weeks rely on angle, lighting and expression. ⚠️

What you can improve

• Brows: keep them full and remove only stray hairs to keep a low, straight line. Over-thinned or too-arched brows open up the eyes.
• Sleep and the skin around the eyes: dark circles and bags make your gaze look tired far more than eye shape does.
• Body fat: with less fat in your face, the brow ridge and cheekbone show better.
• Expression: a relaxed, slightly squinted look, rather than wide-open eyes, changes photos a lot.
• Glasses: a frame with a straight top line (browline) reinforces the brow line.

Medical options, with a doctor

🩺 Some minimally invasive procedures change brow position or eyelid appearance, for example botulinum toxin or temple filler. Their effect on the gaze is subtle and depends on each face, so discuss them with a qualified doctor. GlowUpTogether never recommends surgery.

Measuring your eyes

The GlowUpTogether scan measures your canthal tilt, upper eyelid exposure, white below the iris and brow position on your photo, then tells you what can be worked on in your case.

What our measurements show

Across 44 adult male faces, the eye angle has a median of +1.7°. 10 of 44 exceed +4°, and 2 have a negative angle. None reaches 7°. 📏

The hunter eyes look comes mostly from the whole combination: little visible upper eyelid, low straight brows, discreet dark circles, much more than from an extreme angle.

Measured on November 3, 2026 by the GlowUpTogether engine on 78 compliant front-facing photos (out of 102) from the Face Research Lab London Set (DeBruine and Jones, CC BY 4.0 license): 34 women and 44 men, median age 25. Method and limits (in French).

Frequently asked questions

What does hunter eyes mean?

It describes almond-shaped eyes with a raised outer corner, little visible eyelid and low brows.

Can you have hunter eyes naturally?

Yes, it is mostly genetic. Without changing bone, well-kept brows, good sleep and less facial fat often bring the gaze closer to this type.

Does mewing give you hunter eyes?

No. No study shows that tongue position changes the eye socket or brow ridge in adults.

How can I tell if I have hunter eyes?

Take a front-facing photo with your head level and a relaxed gaze, and check the four criteria: outer eye corner higher than the inner corner, little visible eyelid, no white below the iris, low straight brows. A tilted head skews everything, and it is the most common mistake.

Can women have hunter eyes?

Yes, the criteria are the same. In women, the eye angle is slightly more positive on average (+3.6° median across our 34 faces versus +1.7° in men), but brows are often higher and more arched, which opens up the gaze.