Dark Brows Benefit from Tinting, Too! Even if your current brows are already dark, you can still tint them!
We're talking about bold, dark brows that take on a lighter look with the help of eyebrow lightening, a method of tinting that involves bleaching them to a softer shade.
For a super quick fix on-the-go, use mineral makeup, or pressed powder on your brows to dial down the colour of the tint. You could also use a brow gel in a lighter shade to help add some lightness to your brows.
Those with black hair may find a deep black color to appear too harsh, depending on the look they're going for. If that's something you can relate to, you may prefer a softer brow. This means you can use a soft black or dark brown pencil to shape your eyebrows, instead of a stark black.
That's why the U.S. FDA says these dyes represent "an acute, severe hazard to health with the possibility of permanent injury; i.e.,impaired sight, including blindness." There are no color additives approved by the FDA for permanent dyeing or tinting of eyelashes and eyebrows.
Does tinting your eyebrows damage them? Usually, no. Eyebrow tinting is relatively safe, as long as there are no harmful chemicals used in the dye.
To make your eyebrows darker naturally, try applying olive oil to them every night before bed since olive oil contains vitamins that can help promote hair growth. You can also try moistening your brows with aloe vera for 30 minutes every day, which might make them thicker and darker.
Black eyebrows are really too harsh for most faces, even if your hair is jet black. These two eyebrow shades are a great way to instantly brighten up the face. Less is more: Older women can use rich-moisture lipsticks but line the mouth first with lip pencil to avoid feathering.
In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, darker brows were found to make a person look younger, since we seem to (subconsciously) associate defined contrasts in facial features with youth. That makes sense, considering eyebrows do tend to lighten with age.
Natural blondes who have fair hairs can feel free to deepen the shade of their arches, she says, adding that darker brows will act as a frame for the face and enhance your eye color. “Generally, it will give you the appearance of a lot more brow. It can really revolutionize your look,” agrees Lee.
Henna: You can use henna, a vegetable dye, to color your eyebrows. Cover the area around your eyebrows with petroleum jelly to prevent the henna from staining your skin. Mix the henna with water to form a paste, then apply it using a spoolie brush or an angled brush.
First things first: do not use permanent hair dye! Permanent hair dyes are too aggressive for the sensitive skin on your face and could potentially singe your eyebrow hairs right off. Do not use these for your fragile brows.
If you're not partial to growth serums, Dr. Engelman recommends applying castor oil or olive oil on the brows to stimulate hair growth and the growth of strong hair follicles. She says castor oil is known to not only help thicken eyebrows but eyelashes as well. "[Meanwhile], olive oil can help strengthen the hairs.
If you have naturally dark hair with cool undertones, you may find some brown pencils a touch warm for your brows. Using a black pencil with a light hand helps to add that colour and definition in a tone that reflects the cool shades in your hair and brows.
If your brows are mostly gray, dyeing them is the best fix. Ask your stylist if your salon offers the service (it's often free when you get your hair colored), or have it done at a spa. "Even if the hair on your head is silver or gray hair, I suggest dyeing brows light brown," says Petrescu.
Some people have also discovered that olive oil keeps their eyebrows looking dark. Dr. Chacon, who serves on the advisory board for Smart Style Today, says this color effect can indeed occur, enhancing the appearance of brows.
Why You Should Tint Your Brows
Tinting will immediately make brows appear thicker. Tinting enhances your brows, at least temporarily (it lasts about a month—and even up to six weeks if you're lucky). It gives brows a more natural look (versus using a makeup pencil to fill brows).
Your brows will stand out and look fuller right away. However, we advise avoiding getting your brows wet for 12 hours after getting the treatment done and to clean around the area with gel or cream-based cleansers. The tint can last 3-5 weeks and we suggest coming in every 4-6 weeks for a touch-up.
The consensus among experts is that eyebrow tinting will last between three to eight weeks.
Use hydrogen peroxide.
Leave it on for a few minutes the first time you apply it, then wipe it off. If you want, reapply every day, which will result in a gradual lightening of your eyebrows. If your brows are very dark, hydrogen peroxide will turn them a reddish-brown color instead of blonde.
Coffee grounds can actually make an effective brow tint that gives your brows a natural, defined look. All you have to do is mix the coffee with some other ingredients that you may already have in your pantry, and let the dye sit for less than a half hour -- which means you'll have envy-worthy brows in no time.
Surprisingly, Vaseline is safe to use even on the eyelids and won't irritate the sensitive area around the eyes. Vaseline is a heavy occlusive agent, it's a excellent moisturizer, but when it comes to growing the eyebrows, it does not act as a growth serum. It won't grow out brow hair.