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Asked and Answered: What Color Should My Brows Be?

How To Match Your Brow Color To Your Hair Color

25 Feb 2023

Thin, arched, feathered, full—when it comes to brows, the focus always seems to be on how to shape them. And don’t get us wrong: We’re all about playing with different brow shapes and styles. But in all this discussion about eyebrows, one topic could use more attention, and that’s your eyebrow color. Specifically, how to color your brows.

Whether you experiment with different hair colors or prefer to rock your natural hue, it’s important to ensure that your eyebrow color pairs well with your mane. Having complementary hair and brow colors can help tie together your entire look and ensure that your fringe and arches don’t clash. If you need help on that front, that’s okay—we’ve got your back (and your brows). Here, we’ll offer advice on how to find an eyebrow color that suits you. We’ll also break down the best eyebrow colors to pair with different hair colors, from platinum blonde to deepest black. Find the answers to your biggest brow color-related questions in our guide below.

How To Find a Flattering Eyebrow Color: Tips and Tricks

Before we dive into different brow colors and who they flatter best, we thought it would be helpful to go over some general advice for finding a brow color that complements your hair and skin. Keep in mind that when we’re talking about eyebrow coloring, we’re not just talking about dyeing your brows (though that’s certainly an option). These are tips you’ll also want to keep in mind when choosing your brow products, such as eyebrow pencils or tinted brow mascaras.

Consider Your Hair Color and Skin Tone

The first—and arguably most important—thing to keep in mind when choosing your brow color is your skin and hair coloring. Some shades will simply be more flattering than others, depending on your natural hair and skin tones. For example, blonde hair and brown eyebrows may not match well, especially if you’re after a more subtle look. Those with darker skin, meanwhile, will generally find a brow color a few shades darker than their skin is the most flattering option—light-colored eyebrows may be hard to see.

When In Doubt, Go Lighter With Your Brow Products

If you’re stuck trying to decide between two similar-looking brow products, opt for the lighter one—especially if you’re after a more natural look. Brows that are too dark can overpower the face. This is especially important if you’re using a brow product to fill in sparse areas (such as an eyebrow pencil). The goal isn’t to make your brows one solid block of color but rather to mimic the texture and dimension of natural brows—which is more easily achieved with a slightly lighter hue.

Neutral Undertones Work On Everyone

The shade isn’t the only factor to consider when choosing an eyebrow color: Undertone matters, too. Colors that are too warm may contrast strangely if you have a cooler complexion, while cool-toned shades can look greyish on warmer skin tones. If you’re unsure, opt for a color with a neutral undertone; these shades tend to flatter a wider range of people.

What Eyebrow Color Is Best For Me?

With those basic rules of thumb out of the way, we can get to the nitty-gritty. Ahead, find our advice on which brow colors work best for different hair colors.

Eyebrow Colors For Red Hair

Red hair can be a range of shades—from strawberry blonde to vivid crimson to soft chestnut. That variety means there isn’t one brow color that’s universally flattering for all redheads. Generally speaking, though, the best brow colors for redheads tend to be in the brown family. If you have lighter red hair, try a neutral-toned taupe brow product, like the Micro Brow Pencil in Taupe. For darker red hues, warmer brown shades (like our Thick It Stick It! Brow Gel in Rich Auburn) are ideal.

Eyebrow Colors For Platinum Blonde Hair

Platinum blonde is just about the coolest hair shade there is (in terms of undertones—though the bleached-blonde hue does have an undeniable edginess to it, too). Complement your platinum blonde hair with a cool-toned brow product, like our Micro Brow Pencil in Ash Blonde. If you want a more striking look, you can opt for a darker brow—just be sure to pick a shade with cooler undertones.

Eyebrow Colors For Warm Blonde Hair

For warmer blonde hair—think honey or caramel—neutral blonde brow products will provide the most natural look. Try our Lift & Snatch! Brow Tint Pen in Blonde, or if you’re between warm blonde and light brown, opt for the shade Soft Brown.

Eyebrow Colors For Light Brown Hair

Many people find that their natural brow color is a shade or two darker than their natural hair color (it’s not universal, of course, but nothing really is). That means if you have light brown hair, you’ll likely achieve the most natural brow look with a medium rather than light brown brow product. Our pick for light brown hair is the Thick It Stick It! Brow Gel in Brunette. If your light brown hair is on the cooler side, try Cool Ash Brown for a more subtle effect.

Eyebrow Colors For Dark Brown Hair

If you’re looking to fill in or thicken your brows and have medium to dark brown hair, we recommend opting for a brow product in a cool, deep brown hue. Try our Fill & Fluff Eyebrow Pomade Pencil in Espresso or The Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler in Dark Brown for a full, natural-looking brow.

Eyebrow Colors For Black Hair

Having black hair doesn’t automatically mean you should go for black eyebrows—with black hair, your skin tone is what matters most. If you have black hair but fair skin, a soft, cool-toned brown eyebrow product, like our Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen in Espresso, will likely provide the most flattering (and natural-looking results). Those with darker skin, meanwhile, can handle a black eyebrow color. Define your arches with Fill & Fluff Eyebrow Pomade Pencil in Black or our Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen in Black.

Eyebrow Colors For Grey Hair

Whether natural, salon-dyed, or straight-from-the-box, grey hair calls for softer brows—anything too dark or warm in tone can look harsh. You can achieve a natural look with a grey eyebrow pencil, like The Micro Brow Pencil in Grey or Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen in Grey Black. For lighter grey and silver hair, try a softer, cool-toned brown hue, such as The Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler in Taupe.

Eyebrow Colors For Colorful Hair

If you have a fantasy hair color like pink, purple, or blue, you’ll typically want to choose your brow products based on your skin tone and natural eyebrow color. There are exceptions, of course: For example, if you’re after trendy colorful eyebrows, you can skip the natural brow shades and opt for a hue that matches (or is a shade or two darker) than your hair.

Next: Now that you know how to color your eyebrows, find our best tips for shaping and styling them in our article Eyebrow Mapping: How To Find Your Perfect Brow Shape.

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