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When your brows are on point it really elevates your whole look—but filling them in every day can be quite a chore. So why not dye them and shave a few minutes off of your morning makeup routine? While you could make a trip to the salon for this, it's a quick and easy process that you can do yourself at home and save a few bucks. Read on to learn everything you need to know to dye your eyebrows at home and make penciling them in every day a thing of the past.
Things You Should Know
- Use beard and mustache dye
, which is thicker and formulated for facial skin, to tint your brows. [1]
X
Expert Source
Wyvetta Bowles
Beauty & Hair Care Advisor Expert Interview. 4 April 2023. - Outline your eyebrows with petroleum jelly to control drips.
- Apply the dye with a spoolie to one eyebrow at a time so you can make sure they match.
- Leave the dye on for just 1 minute to start, then wipe it off with a damp cotton pad and check the shade. Reapply the dye if they're too light or use clarifying shampoo if they're too dark.
Steps
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Use dye designed for facial hair rather than hair dye. Never use hair dye on your eyebrows. A beard and mustache dye is specially formulated for the delicate skin on the face, so it'll be less likely to cause irritation. It's also a thicker product that's easier to control and less likely to drip into your eyes. [2] X Research source
- Vegetable-based dyes are the safest, although they can still potentially injure your eyes.
- Outside the US, you can buy products that are specifically marketed as eyebrow dye or tint—but expect them to be a bit pricier than facial hair kits. [3] X Research source
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Find a dye within 2 shades of your natural eyebrow color. If you want to dye your eyebrows darker, don't go more than 2 shades darker than your natural eyebrow shade. To lighten your eyebrows, look for a color no more than 2 shades lighter. [4] X Research source
- When in doubt, go with a lighter shade than you think you need—these dyes tend to be darker than you'd expect.
- It's normal for people's eyebrows not to perfectly match the shade of the hair on their head, so you'll be fine if you're a shade lighter or darker.
- If you've recently dyed your hair and you want your eyebrows to match, look at pictures of people who have hair naturally that color for inspiration.
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3Do a patch test at least a couple of days before you dye your brows. Mix a tiny amount of the dye and dab it on your wrist or the inside of your elbow. If you break out in a rash or feel burning or itching on the spot, don't use the dye on your eyebrows. No reaction after 2 days? You're in the clear! [5] X Research source
- The dye will leave a tiny stain on your skin, but you can easily clean that off with soap and water if you don't want to wait a week or two for it to fade on its own.
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1Wash your face and remove your makeup as you normally would. Take particular care around your eyes and eyebrows. If there's any makeup on your eyebrows, your dye won't be consistent. [6] X Research source
- If you have bangs, pin them back so they won't get in the way.
- Use a clean spoolie to fluff your eyebrows so it's easier to paint each strand with the dye.
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2Shape your eyebrows by waxing or tweezing them. [7] X Expert Source Wyvetta Bowles
Beauty & Hair Care Advisor Expert Interview. 4 April 2023. Define the shape you want so you know exactly where you need to put the dye to accentuate that shape. Otherwise, you could end up with a thicker brow than you actually want since the dye also stains the skin underneath your brows. [8] X Research source- You can also wait until after you've dyed your brows to shape them, which can be helpful if you've got a lot of fine, light-colored hairs. [9] X Research source
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Outline your brows with petroleum jelly . The petroleum jelly stops the dye on your eyebrows from running into your eyes, which is a serious concern. Without petroleum jelly, drips from the dye could cause irritation or even blindness, so don't skip this step! [10] X Research source
- Set 2 bottles of sterile eye irrigation solution nearby. If any of the dye does drip in your eye, immediately irrigate it with an entire bottle of solution. You've got the second one as a backup. [11] X Research source
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4Mix your dye according to the package instructions. Package instructions might vary depending on the brand and type of dye, but typically, you mix color and developer cream in a tray. Don't mix the whole package—you'll only need a small amount to dye your eyebrows (start with a pea-sized amount of color and developer). [12] X Research source
- Once you've mixed the dye, you have to use it immediately—so if you mix the entire package, you'll end up throwing a lot of it away.
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1Paint the dye on one eyebrow using a spoolie . Roll the spoolie in the dye to cover it, then brush it slowly across your eyebrows. Start closest to your nose, where the hair is usually thickest, and brush outward to the end. Use feathery strokes to paint the hair from root to tip. [13] X Research source
- The dye package usually comes with a brush, but it was designed for use on a beard or mustache and is probably going to be too big for your eyebrows.
- If you accidentally get the dye anywhere you don't want it, wipe it away quickly with a cotton swab dipped in warm water.
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2Set a timer for 1 minute. This might not sound like a lot of time, especially when the package probably says 10-15 minutes, but short increments keep you from getting your brows too dark. Eyebrow hair is a different texture than beard and mustache hair and tends to absorb dye more quickly. [14] X Research source
- The dye starts to process as soon as you paint it on your brows, so it's actually going for more than 1 minute if you include the time it took you to apply it.
- If your eyebrows are gray, go ahead and leave the dye on for 2 minutes. Gray hair is coarser and thicker, which makes it harder to dye. [15] X Research source
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3Wipe off the dye with a damp cotton pad. You can use a damp cotton swab to get the excess dye first, then wipe the rest of it off with a cotton pad or washcloth. You might also use a little soap—if you do, be sure to give your brows a final rinse with water. [16] X Research source
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4Assess the shade and reapply the dye if your brows aren't dark enough. Wait until your brows have dried, and you'll have an idea of what shade they're going to be. If they're too light, re-apply the dye and let it sit for another minute. [17] X Research source
- You'll get a better result if you add color gradually rather than trying to do it all at once, especially if you're trying to go darker.
- The dye does temporarily stain the skin under your brows, so they'll appear like they're already filled in.
- The dye fades a little every day, so before you freak out that you've gotten them too dark, let them go for a couple of days—then see what you think.
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5Remove the dye with clarifying shampoo if you're not satisfied. If you just hate the result and want a do-over, a little clarifying shampoo and some warm water will take the dye right out of your eyebrows. [18] X Research source
- You might have to do this more than once to get your brows back to their original color. Just remember—the dye fades a little every day, so you're not stuck with it forever.
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6Repeat the entire process with the other eyebrow. Wait to start on your second eyebrow until you're satisfied with the result on the first—that way, you'll know exactly how long to leave the dye on. Doing them separately also helps you guarantee that they match. [19] X Research source
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Warnings
- While DIY kits are readily available in most countries, the FDA still advises US consumers not to dye their eyebrows or eyelashes at home due to the serious risk of injuring your eyes. [20] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to sourceThanks
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Things You'll Need
- Beard and mustache dye
- Petroleum jelly
- Spoolie
- Cotton swabs
- Cotton pads or washcloths
- Sterile eye irrigation solution
- Clarifying shampoo
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about eyebrow care, check out our in-depth interview with Wyvetta Bowles .
References
- ↑ Wyvetta Bowles. Beauty & Hair Care Advisor. Expert Interview. 4 April 2023.
- ↑ https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/beauty-style/just-for-men-eyebrow-tinting-at-home
- ↑ https://www.beautycrew.com.au/eyebrow-tinting-at-home-how-to-dye-your-own-eyebrows
- ↑ https://www.beautycrew.com.au/eyebrow-tinting-at-home-how-to-dye-your-own-eyebrows
- ↑ https://www.oprah.com/style/How-To-Dye-Your-Eyebrows-at-Home
- ↑ https://www.beautycrew.com.au/eyebrow-tinting-at-home-how-to-dye-your-own-eyebrows
- ↑ Wyvetta Bowles. Beauty & Hair Care Advisor. Expert Interview. 4 April 2023.
- ↑ https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-darken-eyebrows
- ↑ https://jazzpampling.com/the-experts-guide-to-tinting-your-brows/
- ↑ https://jazzpampling.com/the-experts-guide-to-tinting-your-brows/
- ↑ http://www.oprah.com/style/How-To-Dye-Your-Eyebrows-at-Home
- ↑ https://www.beautycrew.com.au/eyebrow-tinting-at-home-how-to-dye-your-own-eyebrows
- ↑ https://www.beautycrew.com.au/eyebrow-tinting-at-home-how-to-dye-your-own-eyebrows
- ↑ https://jazzpampling.com/the-experts-guide-to-tinting-your-brows/
- ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/beauty/makeup/a32473813/eyebrow-tint-kit/
- ↑ https://littlethings.com/lifestyle/at-home-eyebrow-tinting/3320046-9
- ↑ https://jazzpampling.com/the-experts-guide-to-tinting-your-brows/
- ↑ https://www.beautycrew.com.au/eyebrow-tinting-at-home-how-to-dye-your-own-eyebrows
- ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/beauty/makeup/a32473813/eyebrow-tint-kit/
- ↑ https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/use-eye-cosmetics-safely
About This Article
Article Summary
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To dye your eyebrows, use beard dye, semi-permanent hair dye, or demi-permanent eyebrow dye, and never use permanent hair dye since it can singe your eyebrows off and cause serious damage if it gets in your eyes. If you want to add definition to your brows and make them appear fuller, try going a shade darker than your natural color. Or, if you've recently dyed your hair lighter and your eyebrows look too dark in comparison, try going 1-2 shades lighter. When you're ready to get started, be careful that you don't get any dye in your eyes, and keep a bottle of sterile eye irrigation on hand just in case. To learn how to apply eyebrow dye, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Learned it takes at least 3 weeks to notice major regrowth for over tweezed brows. Also learned to pencil them in using an eyebrow pencil while waiting for regrowth, use petroleum jelly overnight, and to tweezers away for now!" ..." more
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"Learned it takes at least 3 weeks to notice major regrowth for over tweezed brows. Also learned to pencil them in using an eyebrow pencil while waiting for regrowth, use petroleum jelly overnight, and to tweezers away for now!"
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"I read the Dyeing your Eyebrows article and realized that I did not need to seek out the help of a professional to take care of those pesky gray hairs in my brows. Saving me lots of money and time!"
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"As a natural blonde, I've dyed my brows for years without any problems. Beard dye sounds interesting and will check it out. Your detailed instructions should be helpful to "newbees.""
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"You have naturally beautiful brows! I will try this to intensify the color of my graying eyebrows, without having to use brow pencil, which looks fake. Thank you!"
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"This was a cool step-by-step tutorial for someone who had no idea these products existed. The safety steps are also useful. I can't wait to try."
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