Choosing a brow color may not be the highest-priority item on your beauty to-do list: Many of us simply grab eyebrow makeup in whichever shade looks most similar to our natural brow color and hope that’ll do the trick. While that works sometimes, it’s not always the best approach—if you dye your hair, for example, you may need to tweak your brow color, too.
For a cohesive look, it’s important to ensure that your hair color and eyebrow color complement—rather than clash with—one another. If you need help choosing a brow color, don’t worry—we’ve got your back (and your brows). Here, we’ll offer advice on how to choose a brow 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. Keep scrolling to find your most flattering match.
How To Choose a Brow Color: 3 Tips
Before we dive into the best eyebrow colors for different shades of blonde, brown, red, and black hair, we thought it would be helpful to go over some general advice for choosing 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.
Tip 1: 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. As a general rule, the best brow color for blondes will be a shade in the blonde family, the best brow color for brown hair will be something in the brunette family, and so on. This rule applies to most natural hair colors—fantasy hues (such as blue hair), however, have slightly different guidelines (more on that later).
Your skin tone should also play a role in the shade you choose. Ultra-dark eyebrow colors can sometimes appear too bold on those with fairer skin tones, while lighter shades may not show up well on darker skin. Again, these are general guidelines for a natural-looking match. If you love a bold brow look, by all means, feel free to rock whichever shade you choose.
Tip 2: 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.
Should your eyebrows be lighter or darker than your hair?
Generally speaking, your eyebrow and hair color shouldn’t match exactly—instead, your brows should be slightly darker than your natural hair color. For most, natural eyebrows are about a shade darker than your hair. There are exceptions, of course—some blondes have ultra-light eyebrows, and those with pitch-black hair may have slightly softer dark brown eyebrows—but it’s a good rule of thumb to follow.
Tip 3: Shades with neutral undertones work on everyone
The shade isn’t the only factor to consider when choosing a brow 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 of your undertones, opt for a brow color with a neutral undertone—these shades tend to flatter a wider range of people.
Find The Best Eyebrow Color for Your Hair Color
With those basic rules of thumb out of the way, we can get to the nitty-gritty. If you’re wondering “What color eyebrow pencil should I use?” keep scrolling—we’re sharing our top recommendations for pencils, gels, and more, below.
Best brow colors for red hair
Red hair isn’t one color—it can range from pale strawberry blonde to vivid crimson to soft, deep 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 reddish-brown shades (like the Powder Louder Brow Pencil in Auburn) are ideal.
Best brow 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.
Best brow colors for warm blonde hair
While the best brow colors for blondes with cool undertones tend to be cooler in tone, the opposite is true for those with golden blonde hair. Look for neutral blonde brow products, such as the Powder Louder Brow Pencil in Blonde or the Lift & Snatch! Brow Tint Pen in Soft Brown.
Best brow colors for light brown hair
As explained above, 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. Try the Micro Brow Pencil in Chocolate, or, if you prefer a brow gel, The Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler in Medium Brown.
Best brow 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. The Micro Brow Pencil in Brunette is a great pick, as is The Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler in Dark Brown.
Best brow colors for black hair
Having black hair doesn’t automatically mean you should opt 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. Try the Zero to Brow Longwear Brow Gel in Black.
Best brow colors for gray hair
Whether natural, salon-dyed, or straight-from-the-box, gray hair calls for softer brows—anything too dark or warm in tone can look harsh. You can achieve a natural look with a gray eyebrow pencil, like The Micro Brow Pencil in Grey or Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen in Gray Black. For lighter gray and silver hair, try a softer, cool-toned brown hue, such as the Zero to Brow Longwear Brow Gel in Ash Brown.
Best brow colors for white hair
As with gray hair, you’ll want to opt for a softer hue when selecting an eyebrow color for white hair. Steer clear of dark browns or blacks and instead opt for a lighter, cooler-toned brown, such as the Micro Brow Pencil in Cool Ash Brown.
Best brow colors for colorful hair
When choosing a brow color to complement a fantasy shade like pink or purple, it’s best to think about what effect you’re hoping to achieve. For natural-looking brows, it’s generally best to stick with a brow gel or pencil that matches your natural brow color. That’s not the only option, though: if you favor a bolder look, consider swapping the neutral hues for a colorful brow pencil, like the Powder Louder Brow Pencil in Black Cherry (it pairs beautifully with both vivid red and deeper plum hair colors).
How To Apply Brow Makeup
Once you’ve decided on your ideal brow color, you’ll want to nail the application to ensure a seamless look. No matter which type of brow product you’re using—pencil, pen, gel, or all three—it’s a good idea to start by grooming your arches. Brush them up with a clean spoolie brush and trim any hairs that are noticeably longer than the others to maintain a neat, streamlined shape. If you need further guidance on shaping your arches, we suggest checking out our article Eyebrow Shaping: How To Find Your Perfect Brow Shape.
From there, you can use a brow gel to help tame your arches and lock them in place. Use the spoolie to brush your hair upward for a lifted, laminated look, or simply brush them in the direction of hair growth for a more natural effect. Feel free to add a second coat if you’d like a thicker, more sculpted brow look—just be sure to let the first coat set before going in with the second.
From there, you can fill in any sparse areas with a brow pencil or pen, if needed. Simply use the tip of your chosen product to draw short, hair-like strokes in any areas you’d like a little bit more definition or color. (You can also forgo the brow gel entirely and skip to this step, if desired). If you find that you’re left with any harsh or obvious lines after filling in your brows, you can use a clean spoolie brush to help soften the lines for a more natural-looking finish.
Finally, if you’re not sure which product (or combination of products) is best for you, head on over to our School of Brows. There, we share everything you need to know about finding the right eyebrow makeup for your needs.
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Next Up: How To Tame, Tint, and Fill In Your Brows.
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PRODUCTS USED
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LIFT & SNATCH! BROW TINT PEN
Micro-brush tinted eyebrow pen
POWDER LOUDER BROW PENCIL
Buildable powder soft brow pencil in nine soft matte pigments
THE BROW GLUE INSTANT BROW STYLER
Long-hold eyebrow glue
Micro Brow Pencil
Precise Eyebrow Pencil
ZERO TO BROW LONGWEAR BROW GEL
Dual-ended vegan liquid brow gel
