Some of the smallest beauty moves have the power to completely elevate your features, and eyebrow tinting is one such choice. Brow tinting, or the process of applying semi-permanent dye to your brow hair, is a low-maintenance means of enhancing your natural look. “Tinting allows the brow to appear fuller and more defined,” says celebrity brow artist Kristie Streicher. “We can utilize brow pencils or tinted brow gel to create the appearance of symmetry, but are spoiled by the more permanent nature that brow tinting can offer.”
If you’re wondering if a brow tint makes sense for you, the answer is a universal yes. “Everyone is a candidate for brow tinting,” says Chanel brow artist Jimena Garcia. “You add strength to the face when you bring a deeper tone, and you can create illusions and pinpoint where you want that strength in your brow. It’s all about color manipulation.”
The Benefits of Eyebrow Tinting
The eyebrows frame the face, meaning that adding depth to sparse brows or lighter brow hairs can deliver subtle drama to your natural brows and your entire look—and pare down your product line-up.
“Brows are the only real texture that’s on your face besides your lashes,” says Garcia. “So when you tint and accentuate that texture, you look younger—you’re bringing youth into the picture and you’re balancing out the shapes in your face.” Garcia adds that even if you opt for a matching color, the shine afforded by the tint, along with the process’s ability to pick up lighter baby hairs and camouflage grays, makes the endeavor worthwhile. Garcia herself tends to lighten her brows, reversing the usual tinting process for the same ultimate purpose: to manage brow color and shape to best suit your face.
“Overall, tinting adds shine, richness and softness to the hair,” says Streicher. Tinting is also a low-commitment option, and one that packs a touch less punch than some alternatives. Procedures like microblading provide a long-lasting pencil effect by tatttooing the skin beneath the brow, brow tinting delivers pigment to the hair itself for something more akin to a tinted eyebrow gel.
Perhaps most importantly, tinting is a route to brow health, a means of maximizing the natural potential of your brow game and simplifying your routine. “Tinting your brow at home or getting them done professionally eliminates probably 75 percent of brow damage,” says brow artist Azi Sacks. “Replacing brow makeup with tinting will allow you to get your fullness and your fluff goal more quickly, catching all of the baby fine hairs while allowing your brow to breathe.”
What to Expect at Your Brow Tint Appointment
While your appointment will vary from artist to artist, but the general steps remain the same. “Your custom color is quickly and easily decided, then whipped up and applied by your specialist who is steady handed and trained to know brow shape and symmetry,” says Streicher. Any shaping usually takes place post-tint, as more visible baby hairs allow for a cleaner shaping.