Where the Muscle Is Located
The corrugator supercilii is a small, narrow muscle located at the medial end of each eyebrow, underneath the frontalis and just above the orbicularis oculi. It runs diagonally from the superciliary arch of the frontal bone to the skin of the forehead near the eyebrow. It’s the main muscle responsible for drawing the eyebrows together, creating vertical lines between them during frowning or intense concentration.
Different Ways to Engage
- Concentration Brow Hold: Pull your eyebrows inward and downward, as if deep in thought or frustration.
- Mirror Tension Drill: Watch in a mirror and slowly furrow your brows with focus, trying to isolate the movement.
- Pulse Activation: Repeated short contractions of brow furrowing followed by release.
- Eyebrow Isolation Challenge: Keep your forehead relaxed while engaging only the inner brow.
- Weighted Tactile Resistance: Apply gentle pressure with your fingers above the inner brows while furrowing to create resistance.
How Long to Hold Flex for Muscle Growth
- Beginner: 5–10 seconds, 2–3 sets
- Intermediate: 10–15 seconds, 3–4 sets
- Advanced: 20–30 seconds with resistance or pulses, 4–5 sets
Rest between sets for at least 30 seconds. Avoid overtraining, as this muscle is small and prone to fatigue.
Different Levels of Skill
- Beginner: Build awareness through simple furrowing without involving the full forehead.
- Intermediate: Practice controlled holds and learn to isolate the movement without overusing surrounding muscles.
- Advanced: Coordinate movement patterns, use resistance, and integrate expression control into broader facial training routines.
How It Supports Other Muscles
- Frontalis: Works in contrast with this muscle for expressive control—while the frontalis lifts the eyebrows, the corrugator pulls them in.
- Orbicularis Oculi: Cooperates in squinting, frowning, and eye protection reflexes.
- Procerus: Assists in drawing the medial ends of the eyebrows down and contributes to expressions of anger or focus.
- Nasalis and Levator Labii Muscles: Often indirectly engaged during expressions that involve nose wrinkling or upper lip movement.
The corrugator supercilii plays a powerful role in nonverbal communication, emotion, and subtle facial expressions. Training it improves control over frowning, enhances brow definition, and contributes to mastering full facial movement precision.
