Video #5: How to Tint Your Eyebrows & Eyelashes

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An important part of getting the makeup right is to ensure that the hair color suits the face, especially the eyes. However, most people don’t realize that simply changing hair color without correspondingly changing eyebrow or eye lash color can make hair look unnatural. Whenever someone gets hair color done, it is only fair to advise them to go in for suitable eyebrow and eyelash tinting, to balance their overall natural look.

Eyebrow and eyelash tinting have been around for a while now, and is very common for adults and also teenagers. This service is so popular that numerous makeup companies and brands have flooded the market with DIY eyebrow tinting kits. The advantages of eyebrow and eyelash tinting are many.

Firstly, this process helps define the eyes, even if they are deep set or have dark circles around them. Secondly, by coloring eyebrows and eyelashes in a flattering color, you do away with the need of doing them up through daily makeup. Thirdly, this process especially works well on fair-skinned people who have to live with light colored eyelashes and eyebrows, which may seem almost invisible. Lastly, tinting works equally well for mature women having to bear greying and thinning brows and lashes.

Before getting down to dyeing eyebrows and eyelashes, there are a few things to consider. The first among them is hair color. A blonde who changes her hair color to a darker shade, should ideally choose the same or similar color dye for eyebrows and eyelashes as well. Also, it is best to get eyebrows shaped well before applying the dye, instead of after. Next, zero in on a branded eyebrow tinting kit and read the instructions carefully.

Whether tinting eyebrows at home or in a beauty salon, always ensure doing a patch test to test if the dye is compatible with the skin. This is because eyes and the eye area are very sensitive and are easily damaged by harmful chemicals, as they could impair eyesight. If you develop ache, irritation or allergy during the patch test, then it is best to remove the dye immediately. Wait for a couple of days before doing another patch test with a different brand of eyebrow tint kit.

Once you find a compatible dye or color, proceed with the coloring process. To begin with, pull all the hair back in a bun or hold in place with a hair band. Next, wash your face well, especially around the eyes to ensure there is no makeup lurking in that area. Pat the face dry, and put a layer of Vaseline all around the eyes and eyebrows depending on the area you are tinting, as this prevents stray color from staining the forehead or eyes.

Begin by mixing the dye with peroxide as directed. Here, remember to mix color in a glass bowl. Steel or metals bowls can react with the dye, and plastic bowls often stain. Also, invest in some good quality eyebrow brushes with which to paint the dye onto the brow. Some experts use cotton balls as well, but that is because their hands are used to doing this. But, if you are an amateur, then a brush is the best bet for doing a good job.

Ensure the color preparation is thick in consistency to avoid dripping it over and into the eyes. After the dye is mixed, you need to look in the mirror and simply paint the color onto the brow with the brush. Always follow the shape of the eyebrow, starting with the broadest area and go back and forth, similar to making brush strokes in a painting.

Never leave the color on longer than instructed, as given its thick concentration and small area of application, such dyes literally work within minutes, and leaving them on for too long, risks discoloring the skin as well. To remove, simply use a smooth, wet cloth or a wet wipe and wipe away all the Vaseline and extra dye from the brow. Do this twice to ensure no dye or Vaseline is left on the skin. The result is nicely shaped, colored and defined eyebrows.

Eyelash coloring is trickier. Keep the eyes closed during the process and have cotton balls on hand to dab color onto the lashes. This generally gets difficult; especially with shorter or almost non-existent eyelashes. It always helps to have somebody else do it for you. However, once done such tinting can give the face the much needed long-lash look and add natural volume to the lashes, which no amount of mascara can promise.

If done well, a brow and lash tint can take only 15 minutes to apply, while results can last for up to six weeks, offering the benefit of an ‘always wearing eyeliner and mascara’ look. Never ever skip a patch test before coloring, even if using a familiar brand of dye. For sensitive skin, go for organic color dyes that mix with water instead of hydrogen peroxide. While these color equally well, they don’t generally last equally as long.

All shades of hair color tints are available in the market, with tints of black, red and brown the most popular ones. However, as with hair color, it is advisable to experiment only two shades closer to the real brow color. For example, if you already have light red brows and lashes then a shade of deep blond would suit you well, and for dark red brows, then dark brown would look nice on you.

This is because like hair on our head, our brows and lashes too suffer hair fallout, and when new hair grows out, contrasting colored lashes and brow hairs visible are not desirable. Instead, a dye two shades closer to the hair color automatically camouflages the new hair easily, until it is time for a touch up again. With the right coloring technique and the right choice of color, the brow and lash tint can add a stunning new dimension to the face, one that complements both skin tone and hair color, giving an overall natural and balanced gorgeous look.