Here's What You Should Keep In Mind When Tinting Your Brows At Home (2024)

If you often find yourself spending a little too much time grooming your brows in the morning, it may be time for you to invest in a treatment that gives you more staying power with less time spent in front of the mirror. For some beauty enthusiasts, that's a brow-tinting kit.

Meet Our Expert: Jasmine Imani, licensed aesthetician and founder and CEO of Jas Imani Beauty

"Brow tinting uses semi-permanent color to create the illusion of fullness," says Jasmine Imani, licensed aesthetician and founder and CEO of Jas Imani Beauty. Unlike traditional hair dye, brow tints sit on top of the hair as well as on the first layer of skin, Imani says. Tinting your eyebrows can take them from light and sparse to bold and Cara Delevigne-esque, all in a matter of minutes.

"At-home tinting usually takes about 10-15 minutes to do and should last for at least three weeks," Imani says. Translation: Your morning and night-out routines are about to get a whole lot shorter (and easier).

It may sound easy and painless, but before you brush your brows with ink, there are a few things to take into account:

• Don't buy a color that's too dark: For color matching, Imani recommends starting light. Her top tip? Buy your color in a light and dark variety so you can play around with it until you get the right tone. "You can always go darker later, but going from dark to light is challenging," she says.
• Do a spot test: Before starting, do a spot test on your wrist to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction to any ingredients in the kit.
• Make sure you understand the application process: "I suggest looking up the kit brand on social media to view videos for application along with results, so you’re more comfortable," Imani says. "I would avoid any kits that don’t have wide color selections or simple instructions."
• Be patient: "My biggest recommendation is patience," Imani says. "Our skin tones and skin change seasonally—with that in mind, just know your results will as well. Take note of what works for you according to the season and environment. And if all else fails go see your local professional."

If you're ready to do the deed at home, read ahead for some expert-recommended kits.

Achieve fuller, darker brows in just three minutes with this easy-to-use eyebrow dye. Your spruced-up brows will last about four weeks before needing another application—and this kit comes in either three-pack or a single application, which is great for beginners (just in case you discover brow tinting isn't really your thing).

This kit is free of ammonia and peroxide, two harsh chemicals that can irritate your skin. In addition to that, it contains camelia leaf, horsetail, and ginger root extracts to help nourish the skin around your brows.

This one comes recommended by Imani. "They do a good job of achieving color variation and the application feels simple," she says. This rich tint lasts about a week on the skin (aka, great for those pesky bald spots) and three to four weeks on brow hairs.

Want to talk about a product that's easy to use? Simply clean your brows, apply this tint, and leave it on for 20 minutes (or up to two hours for longer wear). Then, just peel it off to reveal fuller-looking brows.

This tinted brow gel formula features hydrating plant-based ingredients like cocoa butter and sunflower seed wax. It's also free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and other potentially irritating ingredients.

If you're going for that Brooke Shields look, choose a tint that'll go the long way. This henna-based kit will keep your brows looking bold for up to six weeks and takes just 15 minutes to apply.

This gel fills, shapes, and tames your arches with just a few strokes. Throw it in your makeup bag for easy application wherever you go.

If you're after natural-looking results and this isn't your first rodeo with brow dye, 801 Cosmetics' kit might be the pick for you. Customer reviews note that it's great for people with white or gray brows, and you can leave the dye on longer than the recommended six minutes to achieve bolder results.

You'll get a lot of bang for your buck with this easy-to-use tint kit that comes with the color of your choice and a dual-ended angled brush. All you have to do is apply the tint and leave it on for 30 minutes (or overnight for even bolder results) for filled in brows that last for up to three days.

Want fuller brows overnight? Try this formula from The Browgal that works in just 30 minutes but can be left on while you get your beauty sleep to enhance your results. The product won't leave your sheets messy, as it stays on without smudging until you're ready to peel off or remove it with warm water.