THE EXPERT’S GUIDE TO TINTING YOUR BROWS
Ask me what my favourite beauty indulgence is and I’ll answer in a split second: it’s getting my brows done. The whole grooming, shaping and trimming process soothes me. Plus, I love the result. Plain and simple.
But the thing I love most about getting my brows done is having them tinted. It’s crazy how a bit of dye can take your brows from pretty to powerful in a couple of minutes. And while I’m adept at plucking stray hairs as they sprout up to maintain the shape of my brows, the whole tinting-at-home thing has always tripped me up.
That’s why I grilled brow artist Jazz Pampling on how to tackle tinting at home, because I know I’m not the only one with a silly brow-tinting phobia. Right?
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR BROW TINT COLOUR
If you want to keep your brow hairs the same shade and just add a hint of colour to those tiny fluffy bits (or create more depth), then Jazz says to go for a soft colour like a light brown.
If you’re looking to darken your brows, then opt for a dark brown for a seriously powerful look (a la Camilla Belle). Jazz suggests mixing a light brown and dark brown, as a dark brown on its own may be a touch too dark.
As for when you’ll need to use black, Jazz explains: “There will quite honestly never be a time when you need black in your dye, even if you have the darkest brows. Black will not be their true colour.”
Alas, some things are best left to the experts. If you want to lighten your brows, Jazz recommends going to a professional, as this can be difficult to achieve on your own.
HOW TO PREP FOR TINTING YOUR BROWS
Luckily, it doesn’t take much. Jazz says a gentle cleanse of the area is enough. Once your skin is dry, you can apply some Vaseline around your brows to prevent any staining on your skin. Just make sure the Vaseline doesn’t touch any brow hairs.
DO YOU TINT YOUR BROWS BEFORE OR AFTER SHAPING THEM?
“You can really do it either way,” says Jazz. By tinting before shaping, you’ll be able to visualise the shape of your brow. It can also be helpful for people with very fair hair – it helps them to see the hair a little more clearly.
But be warned: tinting your brows before shaping them can become tricky, as the tint leaves a stain on your skin and can blur the exact line you wish to create .
If you’re going to tint before shaping, Jazz suggests colouring your brows and then shaping them a few days later.
THE BEST WAY TO APPLY BROW DYE
Get your hands on a small synthetic angle brush (like the kind you’d use to apply liquid or cream eyeliner). According to Jazz, the end should be as tapered as possible, because if it’s too thick or bushy, you’re going to end up with a messy result.
In terms of technique, Jazz recommends painting the product on and applying it almost in the same way you would pencil in your brows (so short, feathery strokes).
HOW LONG SHOULD YOU LEAVE THE BROW TINT ON?
All brow dyes are different, and everyone’s hair will react differently, which is why Jazz thinks it’s a great idea to start by leaving the brow dye on for about a minute. Remove it, then assess. If it’s not dark enough, leave it for another one-to-two minutes. It’s better to keep reapplying and slowly build the colour up.
CLEANING UP ANY BROW DYE MISTAKES
As mentioned, you should apply some Vaseline around your brow hair to protect your skin from staining. Jazz also recommends cleaning up the brow edges with a cotton tip just after you’ve applied the dye. If you do find your skin is stained (don’t worry, it’s not permanent – it takes about 24 hours for the stain to fade), Jazz suggests rubbing the dye back into the skin.
Confused? She explains: “Sounds a little crazy I know, but it’s exactly how your hairdresser removes the tint from your forehead when you have your hair coloured – you just don’t see them do it, because you are usually at the basin. But just remember that tint on tint, removes tint. So rub the tint back into itself and then remove with a wet cotton tip. It will greatly reduce the stain on and around the brow skin.”
Handy things to know about tinting your brows:
– It can be tough for a hairdresser to dye your brows, as their tint is not meant for the brow area.
– Be careful when tinting your brows after tanning. It can really stain the skin and take longer than the normal 24 hours to fade.
– Brow dye will very temporarily stain your skin, so your brows will look like they’ve been filled in just after you’ve finished the process. This means that they’ll also look a touch darker than they will the following day, so don’t immediately freak out if you think you’ve gone too dark.
BROW TINTS TO TRY
1000 Hour Eyelash & Brow Dye Kit
Belmacil Lash & Brow Tint, belmacil.com
RefectoCil Eyelash & Eyebrow Tint, refectocil.com.au
BeautyLash Tint Kit, salonshoponline.com.au
Source: https://m.beautyheaven.com.au/makeup/brows-false-eye-lashes/how-to-tint-brows-at-home-13826
