Thin brows, undefined brows, overly plucked brows, greying brows… whatever your reasons for wanting to colour your eyebrows, well-tended brows help frame your face and give you a polished, well-tended look. But there’s no one-size-fits-all service for colouring brows. Know your options with our handy guide to colouring your brows. 

Eyebrow pencil or powder (Temporary)

Eyebrow pencils, gels and powders are the easiest way of colouring your brows yourself at home. Depending on your natural brow shape and thickness and the effect you’re after, using these products with a light or a heavier touch can add definition to your face and finish off your made-up appearance. You can even use a stencil to get the shape just right. These products come off easily with standard eye make-up remover or cleanser. 

This method of colouring your brows is best if you just have a few irregularities in your brow shape to polish or if you don’t need or want dramatic brows every day. Otherwise, another longer-lasting form of tinting may be more suitable for you.

Henna brows (Temporary)

Henna has been used for generations for dyeing the hair and the skin on the hands for celebrations, and it’s an ideal dye for colouring the brows. It’s natural, comes in differing shades or brown, and wears off gradually. Henna brows are especially good for people with thin or patchy brows, as the dye also colours the skin, not just the hair, as some eyebrow dyes do. Henna brows typically stain the skin for up to a week, and the eyebrow hairs for up to six weeks, which is longer than other temporary dyeing methods.

Brow Lamination (Temporary)

Sometimes called an eyebrow perm, brow lamination is a good service for people with unruly brows who want to get them under control! The process smooths the natural hairs into shape. Brow lamination adds shine, and our Brow Lamination also includes complementary eyebrow tinting. Brow lamination lasts approximately 4 weeks.

Microblading (Semi-Permanent)

Microblading is a form of semi-permanent tattooing, where tiny strokes that imitate eyebrow hairs are tattooed with a needle. The First Refresh’s answer to microblading, the Brow Bar, offers three service types - Classic, Fresh and Shade. Each service is suited to a different skin and brow type, so you can choose which is best for you in consultation with your beauty therapist. This service can be done in the convenience of your own home - ensuring that you start your downtime of 2-3 days right from the comfort of home. Brow Bar lasts between 12-18 months or longer with a retouch. 

Cosmetic tattooing (Semi-permanent)

Unlike tattoos elsewhere on the body, modern cosmetic tattooing on the brows aren’t generally designed to last a lifetime. During cosmetic tattooing of the brows, tiny lines that imitate eyebrow hairs are tattooed at a shallow depth. This kind of brow colouring is more permanent than other forms of brow tinting, and is a good option for people who are sure of the look they want every day! Lifestyle and environmental factors will influence how long cosmetically tattooed brows will last, but expect up to three years, if not longer.

If you’re new to colouring your brows then start with the least permanent technique available to you, and work your way up. After using eyebrow pencil for years, many women love the ease of more permanent eyebrow tinting methods.