Show of hands – who loves a low-effort, high-impact beauty hack? Yaaaaaas. Us too. Eyebrow tinting is an excellent example of this. Why waste time with daily filling in, when one quick tinting sesh will save you weeks of faff?
A decent eyebrow shape, emphasised by some strategic tinting, means you can "wake up like this" a little later and skip sketching in your arches. It'll also give you some banging face-framing action, especially if you're brows are quite fair.
Before you get stuck in, we asked the pros for their top tips, whether you're heading into a salon, or trying it yourself at home. So, here's everything you need to know to ensure you get your best-ever brow before and after.
What does an eyebrow tint do?
“Eyebrow tinting is when semi-permanent dye is applied to the brow area to enhance and define them,” explains permanent make-up artist and CEO of Nouveau HD Beauty Group, Karen Betts. “Tinting can create fuller brows, as the colour-matched tint darkens the fine and light hair around the main brow area to add width and length.” She adds that it's now possible to darken, colour match or even lighten brows to enhance the face, depending on your skin tone and hair colour.
How do you choose the right colour?
Getting the colour right is super important. Too dark and they can look a little harsh, too light and they won't frame your features as well. If you're heading to an appointment, your brow technician will guide you. Suman, Founder of Suman Brows London, says: “After years of experience, I can choose the shade for each person simply by looking at their skintone and hair colour – but I will always chat with each client to assess which shade they want.”
But as a general rule of thumb, Suman always goes a shade darker than the hair. If you like your brows bold, you can go a little darker. Or, to play it safe, select as closely to your natural hair colour as possible (a good guide is the colour of your baby hairs)."
There's also the option to go for a bespoke blend. “Instead of using the traditional ‘light brown’, ‘dark brown’ or ‘black’ tints, I like to offer my clients a bespoke blend that will flatter their natural hair colour and skin tone,” says Asma Docrat, London-based lash and brow specialist with 20+ years’ experience. “Professional tints have come a long way and there are brands such as Elleebanna and Supercilium that provide a multitude of colours that you can custom blend.”
How long does tinting eyebrows last?
"Those who go for a more dramatic look with the tint will tend to see it last longer, from 3-4 weeks", says Suman. "Those who want a more natural look will last a couple of weeks, and may have to re-do them more often as this will tend to fade earlier." Try to avoid getting your brows wet for at least 12 hours following your tint - chlorine can also shorten the wear of your tint. Betts also says to avoid using strong skincare actives such as retinol, and acids such as AHAs and BHAs around the brow area, as these will cause the tint to fade faster and could cause irritation.
What is the difference between brow dye and tint?
A brow tint and dye are essentially the same thing, but don't go confusing them with hair dye. The dye used to tint eyebrows is entirely different from hair dye, so make sure you're using the correct products if you're attempting it at-home. "I've heard that people go to their hair salons to get their hair done and ask their hair stylist to add a bit of dye on their brows", says Suman. “Hair dye is far too harsh for the delicate skin on the face - consider its proximity to your eyes, too.” Whichever dye you go for, ensure you do a patch test 48 hours beforehand.
From flat and fine, to full & fluffy.
What is the downside of eyebrow tinting?
One of the downsides of eyebrow tinting is the fact that it doesn’t last – meaning you’ll need to commit to regular appointments to maintain results. “As the dye is semi-permanent, it fades with regular cleansing,” confirms Docrat. Her advice? “Invest in a good home dye kit (like Eylure’s Dybrow Tint) and use this in-between professional treatments to eke out the results.”
Another option is to opt for a new generation of tint such as a Henna Tint. “The results last longer than a traditional tint,” assures Docrat, whose clients get up to 6-weeks of colour. “I like to use the Elleebana Brow Henna – it delivers amazing results, and the formula helps strengthen the hairs too.” As with all tints, you need to have a patch test first (another downside to eyebrow tinting is its potential side effects such as a reaction). “If the skin reacts, I’d recommend using a brow powder or pencil to fill in brows instead,” adds Docrat.
Does eyebrow tinting fill in gaps?
“Some brow dyes – often referred to as hybrid brow dyes or tints – also stain the skin beneath the hair, which can help to fill small gaps for a fuller looking brow,” explains Betts. “A professional brow tint or dye will last around 4-6 weeks on the hair, but the skin stain usually only lasts for around 7 days, due to the skins natural exfoliation.”
Is brow tinting better than microblading?
While brow tinting can give the illusion of fuller brows by dyeing the lighter hairs, if there are larger gaps from over-plucking, or as a result of hair loss, tinting won’t fill these. “I’d recommend a permanent make-up treatment like microblading or nanoblading,” says Betts. “This technique uses tiny precision strokes, mimicking the natural direction and length of the brows for a truly natural and ultra-realistic looking brow that will last anything up to 18 months.” With this in mind, microblading is much pricier than tinting - usually between £200-£600.
Which is better brow tint or brow lamination?
According to the experts, eyebrow lamination is a completely different service to brow tinting. “It’s designed to flatten/remove kinks from the brow hairs and make them softer and more malleable so the hairs can be redirected into an upwards position,” explains Docrat. The treatment often involves a tint and shape, too. “A brow tint will simply enhance the colour (and sometimes the shape) of your brows,” she continues. One service isn’t necessarily better than the other – it just depends on your desired look. “If your hairs are thick and you love that brushed-up look, brow lamination is a good option,” says Docrat.
What to expect during an eyebrow tinting appointment
- A conscientious brow technician will ask you to complete a patch test at least 48-hours before the treatment, enabling you to identify any allergies. Hair colourants can cause severe allergic reactions.
- Your technician will start by wiping your brows and the surrounding areas clean of any product or makeup.
- They will then apply a layer of petroleum jelly around the outside of your brows to prevent skin staining.
- Next, the tint will be applied once in the direction of your brows, then again in the opposite direction. After it's had a few minutes to develop, they'll wipe it clean, revealing your new bolder-looking brows.
- Salon pros can give you a much more bespoke finish, mixing a couple of shades to give a more natural effect.
- The cost varies from salon to salon. Some basic tint services can cost around £10. others now offer a more bespoke package, including lamination and a re-shape. For example, HD Brows Browsculpt, depending on the salon, costs around £40.
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What to know if you're trying at-home tinting
- Do a patch test at least 48 hours before using a new brow tint product and always follow the in-packet instructions carefully. Hair colourants can cause severe allergic reactions.
- Make sure your hair is pulled back off your face and remove any makeup by fully cleansing the area before applying the tint.
- Apply a petroleum jelly (like Vaseline) around your brow hairs to act as a barrier, as this will help to prevent the surrounding skin from staining.
- Have some sterile eye irrigation solution handy in case you accidentally get dye in your eyes (although if you're careful, this shouldn't happen).
- Apply the tint in small amounts directly to the hairs. Many kits come with a handy brush that allows you to load on a small amount and comb it through.
- Do one eyebrow at a time, but remember that the first brow has had a little longer tinting – so make sure you leave the second brow on a little longer to get an even colour finish.
- Follow the wait time instructions for your specific product, but remember the longer you leave it, the darker it will be.
- Remove the tint with a wet cotton pad or wipe, stroking the brow hairs gently back and forward to remove all excess.
6 top places to go for an eyebrow tint
If you're looking for the perfect place to experience a brow tint across the UK, GLAMOUR recommends:
