Hi, hello, and welcome to your all-in-one guide to eyebrow tinting, including how long it lasts, how much it costs...and why it’s actually illegal in half of the country. Wha? Yup! Surprise! These are the facts you should actually know about before booking an appointment—which is why we’re here today. An eyebrow tint, as a refresher, is a semipermanent dye that darkens and defines your brow hairs before slowly fading (think: great-looking brows, even without the brow pencil).
Unlike other permanent eyebrow treatments, like microblading and microshading, eyebrow tinting is temporary, painless, and pretty affordable. The only downside? Brow tints aren’t regulated by the FDA (although, to be clear, many beauty treatments aren’t), which means it’s on you, the consumer, to find the safest and least-risky salon or spa. So to help you, we tapped brow experts Malynda Vigliotti (founder of Boom Boom Brow Bar in NYC), Dani Kimiko Vincent (founder of Kimiko Beauty) and Umbreen Sheikh, (founder of Wink Brow Bar in NYC) to talk all things eyebrow tinting, below.
What is eyebrow tinting?
Eyebrow tinting involves applying a semipermanent dye to your brow hairs to define, shape, and even darken your eyebrows. The benefit of tinting your brows vs. just filling them in every day with a brow gel or eyebrow pencil is that a tint can dye the tiniest and finest hairs around your eyebrows, helping to make them look thicker, fuller, and longer.
Just remember that eyebrow tinting will only enhance your existing brow hairs, not fill in gaps or sparse patches—at least, not for long. “The tint will stain your skin at first, so your eyebrows might look fuller initially, but the stain will fade after a few days,” says brow expert Umbreen Sheikh. So if you’re looking for thicker-looking brows on a daily basis, you’ll need to “combine your eyebrow tint with other products, like a brow-styling wax, to help fill in any gaps,” she says, or try microblading or microshading (more on that below).
How long does eyebrow tinting take?
Eyebrow tinting will typically take 10 to 15 minutes, because “the tint itself is only on the brows and skin for 5 to 10 minutes,” says celebrity makeup artist Dani Kimiko Vincent. The full appointment can take up to 40 minutes, but the total time will depend on the type of business you visit (is it a quick, one-and-done kiosk at the mall? Or is it a full-service eyebrow studio in the city?), along with how coarse your brows are (the dye needs to sit longer on coarse brows than on fine brows).
What is the process of eyebrow tinting?
The eyebrow-tinting process will look different depending on the type on the spa or studio you visit, but in general, it’s a quick and easy appointment. You’ll first chat with your brow technician about what you’re hoping to achieve (like significantly darker brows or more defined brows, etc.), so they can custom-mix the dye to match your skin coloring and eyebrow goals.
Your technician will then wipe your brows clean to remove any makeup or oils before smoothing a thin layer of petroleum jelly, like Vaseline, along the edges of your brows to prevent skin staining. Once your skin is prepped, your tech will brush the dye through your brows, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then wipe it off with damp paper towel or cotton swab. As soon as the dye is removed, you’ll be left with bolder, fuller-looking brows.
How soon will you see results from eyebrow tinting?
You’ll see results from brow-tinting immediately. It is one of the few beauty services that has zero downtime and gives you instant, gratifying results. Just note that the skin beneath your brows will be a bit stained afterward (which can make your brows look temporarily bolder or thicker than they really are), but the stain will fade within a few days and doesn’t tend to be very noticeable.
How long does eyebrow tinting last?
Eyebrow tinting typically lasts for three to six weeks, during which time the dye will slowly (and subtly) fade. So basically, your brows will look their freshest and most defined for the first two weeks after treatment, then gradually fade over time. Keep in mind that everyone’s hair reacts to the dye a bit differently and grows at a slightly different rate, says Vincent, so you likely won’t know how long eyebrow tinting lasts on you until you try it for yourself.
To make your tint last as long as possible, keep your brows completely dry for 12 hours following your appointment (yes, that includes washing your face), and always follow your brow technician’s instructions carefully. Most brow specialists, including Vincent, recommend “avoiding all oil-based products for at least 24 hours after your appointment,” he says, since oils can break down and fade the dye before it’s fully set. Which means it’s also best to avoid oil-based makeup removers and face oils to preserve your color for as long as possible.
How much does it cost to get your eyebrows tinted?
In general, eyebrow tinting typically costs $20 to $40, but that price can be higher (up to $100) or lower ($10) depending entirely on where you live and the type of salon you visit. Just remember: This is a treatment around your delicate eye area, so you’ll want to get your eyebrows tinted somewhere trustworthy and well-known (look at tagged photos on Instagram! Read reviews! Ask around!), even if the tint is a bit more expensive.
Is eyebrow tinting safe?
There isn’t a clear answer on whether or not eyebrow tinting is safe, because as of 2023, the FDA hasn’t approved any eyebrow-tint or dye formulas, citing a potential risk of “eye injuries.” So currently, the lash- and brow-tint industry isn’t regulated, meaning there isn’t a single tested-to-be-safe dye or tint you’re guaranteed to receive during your appointment. That’s not to say all eyebrow tints and dyes are unsafe (remember: It isn’t in a business’s best interest to harm its customers); it just means the formula that’s going near your eyes may not have been widely tested—or tested at all—for safety.
It’s also worth noting that many states have banned professional eyebrow and eyelash tinting altogether, the most well-known of which was California (California reinstated lash and brow tints in 2022 after reviewing its legislation). Other states, however, have a mix of vague regulations and confusing laws in place, like a ban on permanent dyes (but not a ban on, say, semipermanent dyes or permanent tints), or a ban on eyebrow “tinting” but not a ban on eyebrow “dyeing.”
The result? Most salons can easily work around their state’s regulations and continue to offer eyebrow and eyelash tinting without technically breaking the law. And again, eyebrow tinting isn’t inherently more dangerous than other eye-area treatments (like lash lifts or microblading)—provided your technician is reputable, highly rated, and uses one of the gold-standard formulas on your brows (like a vegetable-based, semipermanent tint, rather than a permanent dye).
What is the downside of eyebrow tinting?
One downside to eyebrow tinting is how quickly it fades (between three to six weeks), which means you’ll need to commit to monthly appointments to maintain results. The other downside to eyebrow tinting is its potential side effects. As with any beauty treatment, you run the risk of an allergic reaction, but with eyebrow tinting, it’s especially risky, because the dyes and tints aren’t regulated and can vary from salon to salon.
So before you book your brow-tint appointment, make sure to ask your technician about the dye they use and how they minimize irritation risks (yes, be that person—we’re talking about your eyes after all). If they can’t answer your questions, you should rethink your appointment. Also, know that some states don’t require brow technicians to have certifications in tinting, while other states have more stringent requirements, so do some googling on your state’s certification requirements, then call the salon ahead of time and ask about your brow tech’s training.
Yes, all of this may sound over the top, but remember: This is your eye area—being overly cautious is worth it for your eyeballs.
What is better: eyebrow tinting or microblading?
Eyebrow tinting is better for someone who wants to add a semipermanent, noninvasive tint to their brows (think: a monthlong brow gel). Microblading is better for someone who wants to create a new, thicker, or bolder brow shape through a permanent, somewhat-invasive technique (see: a tattoo). Basically, eyebrow tinting is more about enhancing the natural brow hairs you already have.
And although brow tint can’t fill in sparse, hairless patches—only microblading can—it can help dye the fine hair you do have, helping to “increase the look of fuller brows in a noncommittal way,” says Vincent. In fact, even if you’re considering microblading, Vincent still recommends trying eyebrow tinting first, since it will darken the hairs you can’t normally see, making your brows look thicker than you’d imagine.
How do you tint your eyebrows at home?
If you’re hoping to tint your eyebrows at home, know this: The FDA doesn’t want you to. “Never dye your eyebrows or eyelashes at home,” reads the FDA’s current safety standards. “This can hurt your eyes and cause permanent skin discoloration. You might even go blind.” So, basically, DIY your eyebrows at your own risk.
Ideally, you’d get your eyebrows professionally tinted by a brow specialist because you’re more likely to encounter issues at home than at a reputable, top-rated salon. But if you’re set on doing it yourself, try a well-reviewed eyebrow-tinting kit. These kits can range from a simple one-step gel to a professional-grade mixing system with powders and activators, but the general gist is the same: They’ll leave your brows with a semipermanent tint, lasting anywhere from a few days to three weeks.
Though the instructions will differ from kit to kit (so please read them twice), most kits will have you apply the dye to your clean eyebrows and let it sit for anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours. Then you’ll either rinse off or peel off the hardened dye to reveal darker, fuller-looking eyebrows. Sounds easy—and it typically is—but remember that DIYing your own tint does come with some potential risks, like irritation, allergic reactions, and wonky results.
While some trial and error is part of the learning curve with at-home dye jobs, allergic reactions are not. So before you slather your brows in dye, you need to patch-test the solution behind your ear or on a small spot on your neck and wait a full 24 hours to make sure you don’t have a reaction. Once you get the green light from your skin, you can get started on your brows.
To get the most realistic finish, brow expert Umbreen Sheikh recommends buying a kit that already matches your natural brow color and to be cautious of how long you leave the dye on. “The first time you tint your brows at home, no matter what the instructions say, leave the tint on for a shorter amount of time and see how it looks,” she says. Trust: It’s way easier to go back in with more tint than it is to live with regret.
Ardell Brow Tint
Can I use normal hair dye on my eyebrows?
No, you cannot and should not use normal hair dye on your eyebrows. Hair dye and eyebrow tint are very different formulas and should not be used interchangeably. While eyebrow tints are typically vegetable-based formulas, Vigliotti explains that at-home hair dyes usually have ammonia in them and can be super dangerous, not only for the fragile, sensitive skin around your eyes but for your actual eyeballs and retinas.
Instead, Vigliotti recommends using a dye or tint specifically formulated for your eyebrows or eyelashes, and—I can’t stress it enough—to always, always patch-test any new product for an allergic reaction first before applying it all over.
Is eyebrow tinting worth it?
If you’re looking for a way to temporarily define and darken your existing brow hairs, you may want to consider trying an eyebrow tint—as long you’ve done your research to find a legal salon with a licensed, experienced technician (and also asked them about their credentials and brow-tint formula). Eyebrow tinting usually costs less than $20 and can last up to six weeks, so if you are prepping for a special occasion and don’t want to deal with filling in your brows every day, you might love the convenience of a brow tint, provided you remember the potential risks.
Meet the experts:
- Malynda Vigliotti is the founder of Boom Boom Brow Bar in New York, NY.
- Dani Kimiko Vincent is an eyebrow technician and celebrity makeup artist in Los Angeles, CA, who has worked with celebrities like Sandra Oh. Vincent is also the founder of Kimiko Beauty, a beauty line specializing in brow products, face makeup, and makeup tools.
- Umbreen Sheikh is a brow expert and the founder and CEO of Wink Brow Bar in New York, NY.
Why trust Cosmo?
Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nearly 10 years of experience researching, writing, and editing haircare stories in print and digital, including the best natural hair dyes to everything you need to know about lip blushing. She is an expert in all makeup and hair categories but especially interested in eyebrow tinting, thanks to a lifetime of testing products on her own skinny, sparse brows. She updated this article to include more information on safety risks and regulation changes.
Sami Roberts was previously the beauty assistant at Cosmopolitan with four years of experience researching, writing, and editing health, social media, and beauty-related stories, including eyebrow-growth serums and dermaplaning. Her at-home eyebrow tint picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and personal testing, along with information from experts.
Brooke Shunatona is a contributing writer for Cosmopolitan with more than 10 years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle articles. Some of her stories include the best mascaras and best face moisturizers. She tested eyebrow-growth serums on her own brows and interviewed experts to come up with this list.
Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing the editorial content and growth strategy of the hair, makeup, and skin space on digital, while also obsessively writing about the best hair products for every hair type (curly girl here; whattup), and the skincare routines that really, truly work (follow her on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes pics of that magazine life). She brings nearly a decade of writing and editing expertise, and her work has appeared in Allure, Health, Fitness, Marie Claire, StyleCaster, and Parents. She also has an unhealthy adoration for Tom Hanks and would like to please meet him one day, if you could arrange that. Thanks.
Sami Roberts was the previous beauty assistant at Cosmopolitan. Keep up with her cat-filled life in New York on Instagram.
Brooke Shunatona is a contributing writer for Cosmopolitan.com.
