How to Tint Eyebrows: Using a Home Tinting Kit

Co-authored by Alicia D'Angelo

Last Updated: November 8, 2022

Preparation

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Using the Tinting Kit

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Finishing Touches

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Video

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Things You'll Need

Looking for bold brows? Sure, you can fill them in with a brow pencil or powder, but brow tinting is so much easier and longer-lasting. The best part? You can tint your brows right at home, no salon trip required. This article will walk you through everything you need to know to tint your brows at home so you can get full, beautiful brows in no time.

Things You Should Know

Trim, tweeze, or wax your eyebrows 1 day before tinting if you prefer. Wipe your eyebrows clean with makeup remover just before adding the color.
Mix your tint according to the package instructions, then apply to your brows with an eyebrow brush. Add tint to your eyelashes if you want them to match your brows.
Wait for the tint to set according to the instructions. When it’s time, wipe the color off with a wet cotton pad.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparation

1
Buy a tinting kit. Go to your local drugstore or beauty supply store and find an eyebrow tinting kit. This kit will come with everything you need to tint your eyebrows.
- Think carefully about what color you choose. The darker your hair, the darker the shade of tint you should get. Blondes shouldn't get black eyebrow tint, as the contrasting shades would clash.
2
Shape your eyebrows. It's advised to shape your eyebrows before you tint them. Use whatever method you normally use to shape your eyebrows, be it trimming, tweezing, waxing or another. Do this a day before you dye your eyebrows.

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3
Clean your eyebrows. Use makeup remover to remove any makeup from your eyebrows and gently clean them with a damp cotton pad. Brush them down with a spoolie.
4
Apply petroleum jelly (optional). To prevent the tint from dying your skin, apply petroleum jelly on the skin around your eyebrows.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Using the Tinting Kit

1
Mix the colors. Eyebrow tinting kits vary on what they come with and how they are mixed. Follow the instructions on the kit you've chosen to mix the dye and the conditioner. Some kits come with a black and a brown paste. If you want darker eyebrows, put a dab of each into a paper cup. If you want lighter eyebrows, only use a dab of brown. Also add as many drops of eyebrow tint developer or conditioner as recommend by the kit instructions, then mix.^{[1]
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- Your kit might come with its own mixing cup. If so, you can use that. Otherwise, you can use any small cup or plate.
- Some kits will come with a spatula or wooden sticks to mix the tinting components. You can either use that or a small brush.^{[2]
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2
Apply the tint. Brush the tint onto your eyebrows using an eyebrow brush. Use whatever application device the kit came with, most likely a wooden stick. Thoroughly coat your eyebrows from the inside to the outside corner. First concentrate on the center of the brow, then go back over, focusing on the smaller hairs along the edge.
3
Remove excess tint. If you didn't use petroleum jelly to avoid getting tint on your skin, you can use a q-tip and some eye makeup remover solution to clean up the tint around your eyebrows. Slowly drag the q-tip along the edge of your brow to give it a nice, clean line.
4
Apply tint to your eyelashes. This step is optional. If your eyelashes are light colored, you might want to apply some of your tint to them so that they better match your soon to be tinted brows. Take your spoolie and bend it so that it's angled. Then dip it in your tint and apply it slowly to your eyelashes, being careful not to get any in your eye.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Finishing Touches

1
Wait for the tint to set. Read the instructions for your kit to determine how long it takes, then set a timer, and wait. Timing the wait is very important if you want your brows to match.
2
Wash off the colour. Once the colour has set, remove it using a wet cotton pad. Again, start from the inside and work your way outside. Remove the tint thoroughly, making sure none remains on your eyebrow hairs. You'll need to apply some pressure. Once the tint is gone, remove the petroleum jelly as well.
3
Repeat the process with the other brow. Once you've removed all the tint from the first brow, start over on the second brow. Make sure you apply the tint just as thoroughly, wait just as long, and remove it completely.^{[3]
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4
Finished.

Expert Q&A

Question

How long does eyebrow tint last for?

Alicia D'Angelo
Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist
Alicia D'Angelo is a makeup artist based in New York City. She currently works for teams with Dior Makeup, YSL Beauty and Pat McGrath Labs as well as bridal companies Once Upon A Bride and Miss Harlequinn. Her work has been featured in Today.com, New York Live, Forbes.com, VH1, MTV, Vevo, Entertainment Weekly, Refinery 29, and NYXCosmetics.com. She has a Visual Communications degree from FIDM-Los Angeles.

Alicia D'Angelo

Makeup Artist & Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

The length of time the tint lasts depends on the dye, but it's usually several weeks to months.
Question

How long will a tint last on my eyebrows?

Community Answer

Eyebrow tint is described as semi-permanent dye. This is not because the color fades, but because eyebrow hairs have a very short growth cycle. Eyebrow hairs tend to fall out within 6-8 weeks, taking the tint with them. When they fall out, you will likely need to redo your tint to maintain the color.
Question

How long should I wait to clean my eyebrows?

Community Answer

Wait overnight to wash your eyebrows.