Not ready for a semi-permanent treatment, but want the same look as perfectly as professionally microbladed brows? We asked brow experts to share the best tips they give clients who aren’t ready to go under the needle. Here, 5 pro-approved solutions for becoming your own eyebrow architect.
Try Lamination
If you don’t want the darker pigment but do want to tame and smooth your brows into place, Alixandria Capparelli, founder of Hairy Little Things, says laminating them will do the trick. “If you haven’t heard of brow lamination, it is a keratin straightening treatment for your brow hairs that sets them in place for six to eight weeks—think brow gel on crack!” Capparelli adds that lamination only works with your real brow hair, so if they’re sparse, you’ll want to consider an alternative service. “If you do have brow hair, try this treatment. I will never not have my brows laminated.”
Time to Tint
Brow artist Joey Healy says in his studio, technique takes precedence, and what you use after is the cherry on top. “The technique is to tweeze and trim to define the brow, get the shape and make them look more lifted or angler, more groomed,” he explains. A customized tint service helps ensure your brow color is complementing your hair and gives a uniform look. “Sometimes there’s baby blonde or peach hairs hiding or some hairs that are a little grey or light from the sun. If you want to skip the tint, swiping through a tinted brow gel can help so that each and every hair is working as hard as it can by coming forward and this can often fill gaps and holes as well.” His top at-home tinted tool: The Joey Healy Brow Lacquer ($29) that keeps brows looking lush and in place.
Employ a ‘Microblading Pen’
While microblading is a good brow perfector, it may not be a viable option for those with rosacea, keloids, thin skin, or post-inflammatory pigmentation. If you want to fake it ’til you make it, brow expert Reema Khan says you can achieve a similar effect with her waterproof, sweatproof Microblade Pen ($24) which gives the benefits of the microblade technique with none of the worries. “The tri-tip creates feather-like strokes when you gently apply along the brow hairline to mimic microblading, and the outcome is natural and fuller brows.”
Embrace Brow Henna
Capparelli says another good option is using henna to add a lasting tint. “It’s a super easy service and the biggest game-changer,” she says. “The dye picks up all of the tiny, little blonde fuzzy hairs for ample brow fluff and slightly tints the skin for a fuller, more defined look.” Henna is a low commitment option, as it lasts between four and six weeks on the brow hairs themselves and 10-14 days on the skin.
Just Add Highlighter
When you’ve mastered brow powders, pencils and tinted gels, but you’re still not getting that crisp brow you’re after, Healy says to add highlighter to the mix to get that polished, sharp definition. “I like using it under the brow so the eyebrows pop. Using a highlighter will make all your work look neater, your arches look higher and your tail a little more tapered. I often say instead of making the hair really dark with a pencil, just make the hair a little bit darker and then the skin in and around the brow a little bit lighter. That way you get the same amount of definition, but you’re splitting the difference between the two.”
