Eyebrow Tinting Can Replace Your Brow Products—Here's Everything to Know

A perfectly crafted brow, personalized for our different shapes, aesthetics, sizes, colors, and textures, makes a world of difference when framing the face, so it's no wonder we spend so much time perfecting them. Now imagine this: you wake up in the morning with your version of ideal brows without ever lifting a finger. Sound too good to be true? Say hello to the art of eyebrow tinting.

Brow bars and salons all over are offering this game-changing service in conjunction with routine brow shaping—and the before and after photos of this killer face-changing duo are impressive, to say the least. However magical the results, this brow treatment doesn't come without possible risks The transformation can make a huge difference, but what's the best way to tint and shape them? Should we have our brows professionally done or try to do this ourselves? Below, we broke down everything you need to know about eyebrow tinting from the experts themselves.

What Is Eyebrow Tinting?

Eyebrow tinting is a cosmetic procedure in which semi-permanent dye is applied to the eyebrow hairs to enhance their appearance—making them look fuller, darker, and more defined. An eyebrow tint will also temporarily "stain" the skin underneath your brows to help with the appearance of fullness. "The stain lasts approximately one week, while the actual color on the hair strands will grow out over two to four weeks," McSpadden explains.

Benefits

For those who prefer their brows to look full and want to simplify their routines, there are several reasons to consider eyebrow tinting. If you like the result, it may be easier than ever to get your brows looking just how you want them.

• Fuller-looking brows
• More youthful appearance
• Defines brow shape
• Darkens light brow hairs
• Results last up to a month
• Pain-free brow enhancement
• Smudge-proof
• Symmetrical brows

"The biggest benefit is that you don’t need to fill your brows in, so it shortens your morning prep time," says Jesse McSpadden, licensed esthetician and the owner of The Brow Lounge by Jeseéexplains. Full, natural-looking brows give the face an overall more youthful look: "The thicker the brow is. the more youthful you appear." Similar results can be said of microblading; however, this treatment can be much more expensive—and not to mention more painful—than brow tinting.

Bailey says tinting is a must-have service if you want fuller frames for your face. "Every brow is filled with soft and fine vellus hair that, when tinted, can create a fuller, thicker brow instantly," he says. "In addition to adding depth and dimension to a look, brow tinting can also add length to the end of a brow, where our hairs tend to be lighter and finer. Over the course of three to four weeks, the tint slowly begins to fade away, so you don’t have to worry about a messy grow-out period like you do with hair color."

McSpadden says—above all—to prepare for some serious brow compliments: "One of my clients told me after we tinted her brows that her girlfriends all thought she got a facelift. When done correctly, it’s just that good!"

Eyebrow Tinting vs Microblading

Eyebrow tinting involves dyeing the existing eyebrow hairs a few shades darker, while microblading involves depositing dye in hair-like strokes (using a very fine blade) to create the appearance of more eyebrow hair. If you have plentiful eyebrow hair and just want to avoid filling in your brows for color, you will achieve desirable results with eyebrow tinting. But if a lack of hair fullness is your concern, microblading will create the appearance of more individual hairs.

How to Prepare

Before committing to an appointment, it's important to rule out any possible allergies. The skin around the eyebrows is thin and, therefore, may be more vulnerable to irritation and infections. Many eyebrow and eyelash tints contain a common allergen called para-phenylenediamine (PPD), which can cause severe reactions. To be extra safe, it's recommended to do a patch test with the dye to make sure you're not allergic to any of the chemicals.

You'll also want to have an idea of what you want and communicate it with your provider. Think about how noticeable a result you desire and the color you're going for. Bailey notes that just a hint of custom tint will thicken patchy or thin brows: "For a more natural look, I recommend a color that mimics the deepest shade found in the hair on your head, and carry that color throughout the entire length of the brow. This will give the brows a wash of fullness," he explains. "For a little more definition, I would take it one to two shades deeper than the base tone of your hair. It’s the perfect way to add a bit more exuberance to any frame."

Lastly, be prepared to be slightly stunned at the difference. "If you’re starting with very sparse brows or very blonde brows, the after can be a bit shocking," McSpadden says. "As long as you are going to a professional who is experienced and the desired look was communicated prior, then this shock will wear off. Just know that you look different to yourself—to everyone else, you have gorgeous brows!"

What to Expect During an Appointment

"First, you can expect to be asked a series of questions making sure you are a good candidate for the service," McSpadden explains. "Whenever you receive any service, there should be questions asked to ensure your safety and to tailor the service to better serve you."

The tinting process only takes about 15 minutes. To start, your provider will prep and clean the brow area and mix a custom shade specifically for you. "We try our best to give the most natural enhancement possible as far as color-matching," McSpadden says. "I have clients that are natural redheads, and I sometimes mix three different colors to achieve a spot-on match."

The dye is applied and left on for several minutes, but the exact time will depend on the result desired: Longer for more intense, darker brows and shorter for a lighter effect.

Tinting At-Home vs. In Salon

McSpadden strongly recommends seeing a professional over attempting to tint your eyebrows at home. "We have higher quality products, we have experience matching hair colors, and the precision that you’ll receive will be unmatched," she explains. "The last thing you want is to experiment at home and end up with brows that are way too dark. It’ll take over a month to get them back to your natural brow." It's certainly much more challenging to achieve professional-level definition while maintaining a natural color at home.

McSpadden notes the most important difference, "above all, is that if something goes wrong, we know how to fix it. You won't be stuck with something you don't love." With that said, if you do choose to try your hand, she advises starting light. "If your hair is a medium brown, try the light brown first. It’s always better to end up with something you want to darken rather than something you have to bleach out."

Bailey adds a few things to keep in mind if you're doing your own brows, "Some things are best left to the pros…however if you’re going to DIY your own brow tint, look for products that are specially made for the face and eye area," he says. We like BaeBrow's simple and PPD-free Instant Tint! ($25). "Before applying the tint, always make sure to protect the skin from staining with a thin layer of Vaseline or night cream. And always remember to wipe away some of the tints to check the color so it doesn’t become too intense."

Cost

Depending on the salon and the experience of the provider, you can expect to pay anywhere from about $7 to $30 per treatment, though some estheticians charge upward of $65. When researching salons, be sure to look beyond just the price point, however. You'll want to go to a safe, reputable office with a licensed professional—this treatment involves putting chemicals near the eyes, after all. For those going the DIY route, you can purchase kits to tint your eyebrows at home for about the same cost as a single in-office treatment.

Potential Side Effects and Risks

Applying permanent or semi-permanent dye near the eye area is not without its risks. It should be noted that eyebrow and eyelash tints are not FDA-approved. As such, in states like California, where salons are only allowed to use FDA-approved products, eyebrow tinting is not legally allowed. However, demand still rises in other states despite this. In some places, the practice is legal so long as the dye is not permanent.

According to Penzi, potential side effects of eyebrow tinting include the development of irritant or allergic contact dermatitis that results in irritation, redness, itching, and swelling. "If the dye comes in contact with the eyes, it can cause irritation, redness, or even damage to the eyes. "Repeat dying with products that contain harsher chemicals can also cause dryness, breakage, or thinning of the eyebrow hairs."

If you're experiencing redness, itching, flaking, or swelling of the eyebrows, the surrounding skin, or the eyes, or if you notice a change in your eyebrow growth pattern, seek the advice of a licensed physician.

Skin Type Considerations

Not all skin types are optimal candidates for eyebrow tinting. "People with sensitive or eczema-prone skin should be cautious when considering a brow tint and should consider a patch test of the product elsewhere (i.e. inner forearm) before applying to the sensitive skin near the eyes," Penzi says, "Those with known allergies to dyes, such as PPD (paraphenylenediamine) should be cautious of getting a brow tint and always go to a professional who knows exactly what ingredients are in the products they are using."

Aftercare

Keep your brows completely dry for the first 12 to 24 hours after tinting. To extend the life of the tint, avoid excessive rubbing or scrubbing in the eye area, oil-based facial products, and direct sunlight, as rays can cause the pigments to oxidize and fade faster. "Moisturize daily with a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer that will hydrate the brows and surrounding skin. Avoid applying active skincare ingredients like retinoids, AHAs, BHAs, directly to the brows, too," Penzi says.

How Long Do Eyebrow Tints Last?

With proper aftercare, you can expect the color deposited onto your eyebrow strands to last and grow out over the course of two to four weeks.

The Final Takeaway

Eyebrow tinting is a great longer-term solution for filling in and fluffing up the appearance of your brows with semi-permanent vegetable or henna dye. When being treated by a reputable provider— which could set you back anywhere from $7 to $30 per treatment—you can expect your results to last anywhere from two to four weeks. Follow proper aftercare and be on the lookout for potential side effects like swelling, itching, flaking, and redness of the eye and surrounding areas. If symptoms (other than having great brows) occur, seek the advice of a trusted physician.