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My dad, a Syrian-Armenian, comes from a long lineage of incredible brows. My mom—who was so red-headed that her eyebrows and eyelashes were literally clear without product—not so much. They came together and created me, and by the luck of the draw, my eyebrows went the way of my mom... basically nonexistent. That is, unless I tint them.
According to News York City-based brow expert Joey Healy, tinting your brows can do incredible things: change the color, make them look fuller, and really frame your face. If you're not able to make it into the West Village brow boutique, Healy shares his Eyebrow Blueprint service, which includes a tint. When it comes to a natural, long-lasting eyebrow tint, Healy's secret is not uniformly dyeing all the hair for the same amount of time so that the less-dense areas catch up to the middle, which typically has more hair to begin with.
And when it comes to shaping, Healy likes to shape both before and after he tints. “First, of all go through and remove the big, excess hairs that you definitely don't want because there is no reason to dye them. When the tinting is finished, I have more work to do because the dye has helped find so many more hairs so it's all about refining.”
Healy shares more tips—and more importantly, what you need— below. Keep reading for the top eyebrow tinting products from kits to gels that will give you salon-like results at home.
Pros
Lasts 3 weeks
Cons
- Requires mixing
This is what Healy actually uses in studio. “I love that you can custom blend it. This is a little bit more professional, but if you want to tint your brows use the real deal & skip the drugstore options."
And is Rogaine (aka a TikTok trend for brow dyeing in a pinch) safe? “Using Rogaine is not recommended for around the eyebrow and is not FDA approved for anywhere but the scalp.”
Best Two-In-One Formula
Thrive Causemetics Instant Brow Fix Semi-Permanent Eyebrow Gel
Pros
- Tints brows over time
Cons
- Only 3 shades
This product is a brow gel immediately, and works to semi-permanently tint as time goes on.
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Pros
- Plant-based
- Ammonia-Free
Cons
- Doesn't always cover grays
This easy-to-used plant based dye lasts up to two weeks.
Best For Full Brows
Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Tinted Volumizing Eyebrow Gel
Pros
- 10 different shades
- Volumizing fibers
Cons
- A little tricky to work with at first
There are volumizing fibers in this formula that grab onto each hair, making brows look even fuller.
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Best For Oily Skin
Maybelline TattooStudio Tattoo Brow 36HR Pigment Brow Pencil
Pros
- Super longwear
- Six shades
Cons
- May be tough to remove
This creamy, pigmented pencil can help your beauty look last up to 36 hours.
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Goof proof
Cons
- Washes off at the end of the day
The micro-spoolie grabs each hair and coats them in a super-pigmented gel that lasts all day.
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Pros
- Can last 5 days
Cons
- Only comes in 3 shades
Put it on at night, peel it off in the morning, and your brow tint will last up to five days.
Pros
- Spiked with a growing serum
Cons
- Color washes off
The color may wash off, but the thickening and growing benefits (this gel is spiked with red clover flower) start working in just 8 weeks.
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Pros
- Quickly removes dye from skin
Cons
- May irritate sensitive skin
So you accidentally got a little dye on your skin. Don't fret. “These disposable wipes take the color off of the skin, but not the hairs," says Healy.
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FAQs
What are the benefits of tinting your brows?
If you want fuller-looking eyebrows or are interested in changing the color, tinting your brows can help you achieve this beauty goal.
What is the correct way to tint your eyebrows?
There are multiple ways and methods to tint your brows. However, Healy shares his go-to method: “When our eyebrows are untinted or unfilled, they are usually naturally denser and darker in the center of the brow,” he says. “So I like to tint in rounds. I dye the front and the ends to the light, less dense bits. I will let the dye stay on these areas for five to six minutes; then, I will pull the tint through the rest of the brow.”
Who can get their eyebrows tinted?
Anyone can get their eyebrows tinted. If you are a brow beginner desiring thicker eyebrows, you may want to opt for eyebrow gel to achieve fuller looking brows before delving into the realm of tint and dye.
How often do you have to get your eyebrows tinted?
About once a month. When you first get your eyebrows tinted, wait 12 hours before washing that area to allow the tint to set better.
Margaux Anbouba
Beauty Editor
As ELLE’s beauty editor, Margaux wants to try it all and do it all…and she does. She's not afraid to chop, slather, dye, swipe, inject, and more—and if it's worth your time and money, she’ll rave about it here.
