Fashion
9 Hacks For Darkening Your Brows At Home
Eyebrow tinting is, not to be hyperbolic at all, magic. Tons of brow hairs brought to life, present and able to take your brows to a whole new level, no brow transplant or lengthy pencil routine needed. But as per usual, life and money get in the way — brow tinting typically requires monthly upkeep, and time in the chair adds up (I'd rather be doing, I don't know, anything else). Luckily, *infomercial voice,* there’s a better way. Really — I wouldn’t lie to you about this or anything.
Darkening your brows at home is getting easier and easier, and with a plethora of options on the market, the days of toothbrushing some hair dye onto your brows and hoping for the best are long gone. In their place, you can either go temporarily darker with a daily tint (similar to brow gels, but they pick up baby hairs for a thickening effect), or all-in with a semi-permanent dye, easier than ever. Best of all, both are doable in the privacy of your own home. A good thing, because there is a Groucho moment involved with most of them. I see it as a character-building brow-building double feature, neither all that removable with water. Unless you really try.
Temporary
Glossier Boy Brow
This ultra-popular option frequently sells out, the time-revered test for telling if something's actually that good. No surprises, it is — the pomade-meets-gel formula picks up every hair to leave brows plump, thick, and just the right amount of tamed.
Benefit 3D BROWtones Eyebrow Enhancer
Benefit 3D BROWtones Eyebrow Enhancer, $24, Sephora
A twist on the traditional tint formula, Benefit's Eyebrow Enhancer is intended to "soften darker brows with subtle highlights and enhance lighter brows with depth & dimension." It's like the je ne sais quoi of brow products — something's different, but people can't quite put their finger on what.
MAKE UP FOR EVER Aqua Brow
Make Up For Ever Aqua Brow, $22, Sephora
This one toes the line between temporary and semi-permanent for sheer lasting power. Perfect for testing if you're ready to take the plunge, the sweat, oil and smudgeproof gel takes a little practice to apply, but once you've got it, you've got it for hours (if not days, depending on lifestyle).
Anastasia Beverly Hills DIPBROW Pomade
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade, $18, Sephora
Wouldn't be an eyebrow article without a cameo by Dipbrow. Like the Aqua Brow, it takes some time to get right, but the pigment brushed through brows is ultra-convincing for a darkening fix once you've got the technique down.
Milani Stay Put Brow Color
Milani Stay Put Brow Color, $6.47, Walmart
The drugstore alternative to Dipbrow, Milani's Stay Put Brow Color is a bit stiffer than the Anastasia version, but that's an advantage to lasting power — and at $10 bucks cheaper, it's a perfect trial run. Brownies points for the brush included.
Semi-Permanent
WUNDERBROW Eyebrow Gel
WUNDERBROW Eyebrow Gel, $22, Amazon
Wunderbrow's gel was the third most-purchased beauty product on Amazon this summer, which is probably the most convincing endorsement ever. The people know a good thing — this is a great starter tint to perfect your application, lasting about two days.
Godefroy's Instant Eyebrow Tint Permanent Color Kit
Godefroy's Instant Eyebrow Tint Permanent Color Kit, $10.46, Amazon
Once something shows up in not one, but two Internet tutorials, we start listening. This drugstore favorite is beloved for how easy it is to use, and the dramatic difference it makes right away. Interested in serious at-home tinting? Start here.
Eylure Permanent Brow Tint
Eyelure Permanent Brow Tint, $13.50, Amazon
And the big leagues: Eylure's brow tint lasts for an purported six weeks. Easy to use, and you're done for the month.
Etude House Tint My Brows Gel
Etude House Tint My Brows Gel, $8.05, Amazon
If you're more interested in weaving an illusion than just buffing up what you've got, the Etude House has your back. It depends on the shape you create, but if you know what you want it's a great stand-in for microblading.
Images: Courtesy Brands; Myrella Sundin / EyeEm/EyeEm/Getty Images
