“Permanently dyeing the brows is a commitment that’s hard to get out of,” says celebrity makeup artist Renée Loiz. The lower-stakes alternative is using one of the best brow tints to frame the face and give the brows the color you covet—if only for a few weeks, or several hours.
When it comes to tinting the brows outside of a salon, one has options. On one hand, there are tinted brow gels (a celebrity makeup artist’s go-to) that come off after one wash. Of course, you could always opt for a home tint kit, which comes with all the essentials for applying a temporary coat of color, with minimal risk of error.
“If you’re brow tinting at home, you can run the risk of making the tint too dark or uneven—but it usually fades pretty quickly,” says celebrity makeup artist Julianne Kaye. Plus, with the pro-makeup-artist tricks outlined below (and a good spoolie), it’s pretty easy to master home-tinting skills for flawless arches. So, which tint to try first?
Our Top Picks:
In This Article:
Ahead, find Vogue-vetted brow tints—the same ones celebrity artists keep handy for when they need to raise a brow or two.
RefectoCil Hair Tinting Kit
- Why We Love It: Celebrity hairstylist and colorist Angela Calisti typically customizes brow dyes to match her clients’ hair colors, but for at-home maintenance, she recommends RefectoCil’s easy-to-use kit. “I like it because it also stains the skin for a few days,” which helps sparse brows appear denser, she explains. “It’s also very long-lasting with nice, natural color options.” Available in four shades including Natural Brown and Graphite, the kit provides everything one needs to get a salon-style experience at home. “It comes with its own developer mixing bowl and spool, making the process simple,” Calisti says.
- Formula: Cream
- Shades: 4
Ardell Brow Tint
- Why We Love It: “For a great drugstore option, I love Ardell Brow Tint,” Calisti says. “It includes 12 applications in a full kit; it’s very user-friendly, and it has simple color options to choose from.” The tint is available in four shades, which range from soft black to light brown; each kit comes with powder tint, a conditioning developer, and a reusable plastic tray, spatula, and spoolie. But Calisti has a word of caution about the latter: “When applying brow dye, be careful! While the kit comes with a spoolie, I recommend using an eyeliner brush for precision,” she says. “An eyeliner brush helps create sharp, defined edges and prevents unwanted stains.”
- Formula: Liquid
- Shades: 4
Godefroy Instant Eyebrow Color
- Why We Love It: “Godefroy Instant Eyebrow Color is a great option,” says celebrity esthetician and makeup artist Erica Marie Gatt. “It’s easy to apply, and it lasts for a couple of weeks.” Available in five shades, including Light Ash Brown for blondes, the cream formula is applied with a four-step process. First, wash the eyebrows and use a Q-tip to put a protective coat of petroleum jelly on the skin around the brows. (This will prevent unwanted stains.) Next, apply the cream colorant and let it sit for one minute, followed by the gel activator, which should sit for two minutes. Finally, blot the eyebrows dry with a cotton pad or tissue, and voila! Tint for days—14 of them, to be exact.
- Formula: Cream
- Shades: 5
Rye Tinted Brow Milk
- Why We Love It: Celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose says Rye’s Tinted Brow Milk is his number-one pick for a quick color shift. “I love it because it’s the perfect formula that instantly darkens the brows minus the clump, which is unique for this category,” he says. “Most of this category feels more like mascara for brows which can clump up the brow—or you have to work really hard to wipe off excess product from the wand before applying. This is so easy to use and looks so natural. You only need a few coats to darken and define the brows.”
- Formula: Gel-pomade
- Shades: 4
Maybelline TattooBrow Long Lasting Tint
- Why We Love It: Maybelline’s Tattoo Brow is a peel-off tint that comes in handy in a pinch. The drugstore gem has a brush-tip applicator and an easy application process. After swiping on the semi-permanent gel, let it set, then, peel off the excess once the brows are dry to the touch. “If you’re looking for something quick and easy, this one is perfect,” Gatt says. “You’ll have perfectly tinted brows for a few days and it's waterproof.” The tint is available in six shades, ranging from blonde to black.
- Formula: Gel
- Shades: 6
Glossier Boy Brow Grooming Pomade
- Why We Love It: Glossier’s cult classic has had lasting popularity since its 2015 launch, and Vogue editors stand by its buzz. Inspired by classic mustache pomade (hence the name), the formula is infused with ingredients that nourish and groom the brows, including hyaluronic acid, oleic acid, and beeswax. Celebrity makeup artist Joanne Marchevsky is a fan, noting: “Glossier Boy Brow is a must-have for anyone looking to achieve a fluffy, full brow look. The creamy wax formula coats each hair, adding volume and definition without being too stiff or sticky. I love how easy it is to apply and how it gives brows a soft, natural shape. It comes in a range of shades to suit every hair color, and it’s my go-to for a quick, effortless, and long-lasting brow look.”
- Formula: Pomade
- Shades: 7
Cilrofelr Tattoo Peel Eyebrow Gel
- Why We Love It: Another easy-to-apply, peel-off tint, Cilrofel’s brow tattoo delivers color that lasts for three days. Its highly pigmented, buildable color is water-resistant and smudge-proof, and it’s made with hypoallergenic ingredients. With four color options, ranging from light brown to black, the tattoo takes about 20 minutes to set once it’s applied. To finish the tinting process, peel off any excess pigment. Pro tip: If you want to modify brow shape once the tint is on, use a cotton swab to redistribute the color before it dries.
- Formula: Gel
- Shades: 4
Brow Code Brow Tint Kit
- Why We Love It: A luxe golden box holds all the makings for a between-salon-visits tint. Included in the kit is a brow tint in one of two shades—light brown or natural brown—and a cream activator, as well as a ready-to-go mixing dish. The kit also has an application brush and a mini growth oil that nourishes the brows with ingredients such as argan oil, rosemary leaf oil, and flower extracts. The tint lasts for up to seven days on the skin, and for three to four weeks on the brows; each kit comes with about 12 applications of color.
- Formula: Cream
- Shades: 2
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Eyebrow Gel
- Why We Love It: “Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Gel is perfect for creating bold, defined brows with minimal effort,” Marchevsky says. “The formula is smudge-proof and waterproof, so brows stay in place all day long. I also love the buildable coverage—whether I’m going for a natural look or a more defined brow, it works beautifully every time.” The gel is available in four highly pigmented shades including Auburn and Ebony, and the pinecone-shaped brush makes it easy to fill in thinner and thicker areas of the brow.
- Formula: Gel
- Shades: 4
NYX The Brow Glue
- Why We Love It: A Vogue favorite for drugstore-aisle gems—not to mention, a TikTok smash for full, fluffy brows—NYX’s Brow Glue comes in four tinted shades and in clear. Designed for 16-hour wear, the waterproof formula is transfer-proof and flake-free; as its name suggests, it has a strong hold to keep brow hairs in place. Insider tip: “The tints are a little more tricky [than the clear gel], as the pigments are richer and can get clumpy,” a Vogue tester shared. “If that happens, use the small wand to disperse the tint or dab off a bit with your finger.”
- Formula: Gel
- Shades: 5
Refy Brow Tint
- Why We Love It: Refy’s brow products are a hit among celebs—Leigh-Anne Pinnock uses the Sculpt Shape and Hold Gel to achieve the “wild brow” look she prefers for date night. The brand’s brow tint, available in five shades, comes recommended by Loiz. “First of all, the brush alone makes this product so exciting!” she says. “It’s in the shape of a round ball to help coat every brow hair— even the tiniest of hairs—evenly. It instantly makes them appear thicker and fuller. I have very sparse brows so the first time I used this on myself, my jaw dropped! It’s a keeper for sure.” Made with conditioning peptides and camellia japonica flower extract, the tint can alter brows’ color for 12 hours.
- Formula: Gel
- Shades: 5
Everything You Need to Know
How does brow tinting work?
“Brow tinting is a temporary brow product or semi-permanent dye that’s applied to the brow hairs to darken them and help frame the face,” says celebrity makeup artist Renée Loiz.
Is it better to dye or tint your brows?
“It depends on what type of look you’re going for,” says celebrity makeup artist Julianne Kaye. “If you want a more dramatic look, then dyeing your brows is the way to go—but I prefer tinted brows, especially for my lighter-haired clients. Plus, tinting is easy to do at home.”
What is the downside to eyebrow tinting?
Kaye and Loiz agree that the biggest downside of eyebrow tinting is the potential for irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive skin. “If that’s the case, I recommend a brow-tinting product that you can apply and remove daily,” Loiz says.
How long does eyebrow tinting last?
Eyebrow tints can last several hours to a few weeks, depending on which tint you use and certain lifestyle factors, like how often you work out or wash your face. On that note, “Try not to over-scrub your brows when cleansing your face to help the tint last longer,” Loiz says.
How to Do Eyebrow Tinting At Home
After cleansing and drying the brows, “You’ll want to apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly around your brows to prevent [unwanted skin] staining,” Kaye says. “I like to use a spoolie to apply the tint evenly. Leave the tint on for the recommended time; it’s usually five to ten minutes, depending on how dark you want your brows.” Loiz finishes the process by using a slightly damp cotton pad to wipe away any excess color.
- Nick Barose is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Lupita Nyong’o and Kim Cattrall.
- Angela Calisti is a celebrity hairstylist and colorist whose clients include Bella Thorne and Olivia Culpo.
- Erica Marie Gatt is a celebrity esthetician and makeup artist who’s worked with Kim Kardashian, Sophia Vergara, and Travis Barker.
- Julianne Kaye is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Lesley-Ann Brandt, Eve Harlow, and Kathryn Newton.
- Renée Loiz is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Uzo Aduba, Sherry Cola, and Leah Sava’ Jeffries.
- Joanne Marchevsky is a celebrity makeup artist whose clients include Alix Earle.
