If a professional eyebrow tinting session is out of your reach, you shouldn't give up on your dreams of getting the darker, fuller-looking eyebrows you've always wanted. The best eyebrow pencils can give you a daily fix, but if you’re looking for a semi-permanent, more low-maintenance solution, say hi, hello, and welcome to your new favorite product: The best at-home brow tints. “Eyebrow tinting is a non-invasive way to enhance and define existing brow hairs using semi-permanent dye to darken the finer and lighter brow hairs that normally aren’t as visible,” explains brow expert and founder of Kimiko, Dani Kimiko Vincent. “This increased hair visibility creates a fuller, more defined brow that can last from four to six weeks.”
Yes, dyeing your own brows feels intimidating, but with some expert tips and the best kits in the game, you’ll be set up for success. Here, we’re sharing our favorite at-home brow tints along with expert-approved tips for getting a natural-looking, albeit slightly enhanced, finish.
What to Look For in an Eyebrow Tint
- Type of Tint
We’re all for a DIY situation, but it’s important to set some ground rules ahead of your shopping spree. Picking the best at-home eyebrow tint for you is largely dependent on your skill level. “At-home kits are meant to be safe and easy to use, but they do require trial and error to get right,” warns Vincent. “The different types include encapsulated powders with activators, cream with developer, and silver nitrate versions.” The latter is going to be the hardest to work with, as the color latches onto the skin and leaves a tint fairly quickly. If you’re new to the at-home brow tinting process, we recommend sticking to a powder or cream kit. And by no means should you attempt to tint your brows with hair dye. “All tints made for brows are semi-permanent. You should never use hair dye on eyebrows, as they are much stronger and not deemed safe for use around the eyes,” notes Vincent.
- Shade
Finding the right product is half the battle with at-home brow tints. “The primary challenge is getting the intensity and color right,” explains Vincent. As a rule of thumb, pick a shade that’s roughly two shades darker than the hair on your head. “Brow tinting is not just for the fair-haired, even dark brunettes have finer, lighter hairs that can be amped up to add natural-looking definition to brows.”
The Best At-Home Eyebrow Tints
- The Best At-Home Eyebrow Tint Overall: Brow Code Brow Tint Kit
- The Best Drugstore At-Home Eyebrow Tint: Ardell Brow Tint in Light Brown
- The Best At-Home Eyebrow Tint for Sensitive Skin: Godefroy Instant Eyebrow Tint
- The Best Makeup Product to Mimic a Tint: KIMIKO Super Fine Eyebrow Pencil Automatique
The products on this list have been vetted by Marie Claire's Beauty Editor, Samantha Holender (aka yours truly) and Marie Claire's Beauty Director, Deena Campbell; or have been hand-selected by a eyebrow tinting pro. Each and every one is safe to use and is highly rated by reviewers. While the *best* at-home eyebrow tinting kit for you will vary based on personal preference, you truly can't go wrong with one of the items on this list.
This set has everything you need: a tint, a cream activator, a mixing dish, and an angled brush. It even comes with brow growth oil that’ll keep your hair and skin hydrated after tinting. In terms of at-home kits, this option offers fairly long-lasting results—you’ll have darker pigment for three to four weeks. Plus, one purchase affords you up to 12 applications.
Pros: Complete kit; Long lasting
Cons: Needs time to fade if you're unhappy
Customer Review: "This is the only tint kit that I have found that is easy to use and lasts the longest! Other tint kits caused a burning sensation on my skin. This one is gentle and effective. I hope they will always make this kit!!!" — Brow Code
With a powder and a conditioning developer, this kit is ideal for anyone new to the brow tinting game. There are four colors to choose from, and you can customize the intensity depending on how much product you put in the pan and how long you let it sit. The kit comes with a spoolie for application—which is A-ok to use—but you may want to consider an angled eyebrow brush to get an even application.
Pros: Affordable; Beginner friendly
Cons: Need to buy brush separately
Customer Review: "This product is great! It lasts a long time and makes my brows look great. Like any product there is some trial and error, so figuring out the ratio can be a bit tricky but once you get that down it’s a breeze. I lightly sketch my brow shape with my brow pencil and basically fill in the lines. If you want a lighter coverage go with the time listed on the box, I like my brows darker so I leave it on for about 10-15 minutes."
Vincent gives this professional-level formula her stamp of approval. She typically uses this baby in tandem with the brand’s three percent cream activator. Not only is this one specifically formulated for sensitive skin, but the plant-based composition also gives a softer finish than some other tints. When it comes time for removal, you’ll want to wipe the solution off with a damp cotton swab, or use the brand’s special RefectoCil Tint Remover.
Pros: Good for sensitive skin; Professional-approved
Cons: Not as dark as others
Customer Review: "I haven't used developer for tinting before, but the tint that goes with this was DPP free, so I decided to try it. It worked great! You just have to read the directions. DO NOT MIX TINT AND DEVELOPER. They are designed to go on one after the other. Incredibly easy and not irritating!" — Amazon
Tempted, but not ready for a long commitment? This tint is the way to go—it’s going to last you a full three days, but not much more. Unlike some of the other tints in this list, this formula doesn’t require you to be an at-home chemist. There’s no mixing involved; just paint it on your brows, let it sit overnight, and peel or wash it off in the a.m. It’s also a fan-favorite, getting an average four out of five stars on Revolve.
Pros: Short-term option; Easy to apply
Cons: Not good for those who want a long term tint
Customer Review: "I think this product is revolutionary. It's like a tinting mask for your eyebrows, just apply, dry and peel off! My brows were perfectly tinted and fuller looking and lasted 3 days! Amazing." — Revolve
Because this two-step kit has a silver nitrate-based color, it requires a speedy application. It’s definitely a good idea to line your brows with petroleum jelly so you don’t accidentally stain your skin. That said, the final result is really good, with each application lasting two to three weeks. If you want to keep your brows looking fresh around the clock, you can repeat the tinting process every other week.
Pros: Long lasting
Cons: Dries quickly so you have to work fast
Customer Review: "I have been using this product for 3 years now and it is absolutely my FAVORITE, I didn’t have any type of reaction and this does last for awhile. I’ll usually touch it up quite often if I need too and it doesn’t/hasn’t harmed my brows in any way. I highly recommend, I will always buy my tint here and keep on using till I’m dead! Favorite favorite!" — Brow Code
A best-seller on Amazon, this Henna-based eyebrow tinting kit has been reviewed by more than 16,000 users. Like a henna tattoo, this formula is going to stain your skin, as well as your brow hairs, so make sure you pick a color you feel comfortable with. This kit is especially great for anyone trying to cover gray hairs—the pigment is next level.
Pros: Intense pigment
Cons: Stains skin temporarily
Customer Review: "This product is easy to use, but only lasts for several days. It actually does darken your eyebrows, but not great at filling in spots with more skin. I even leave it on for twice as long as recommended. It fades quickly on skin which is good and bad at the same time... good because you would want mistakes to fade quickly, bad because it barely stays on for 3 days. If you are religious about applying every couple days, then this will work great." — Amazon
If this one looks familiar, it's because you've seen the paint-and-peel video tutorials on your social feeds for months. Just fill in your brows with one of the five shades, wait two hours, then gently peel off the film (don't worry; it won't stick to your hair) for a stain of color that fades slowly within a week.
Pros: Easy to use
Cons: Limited shades
Customer Review: "This product works well and leaves a nice light grey tint after 10 minutes which is what I was looking for. After the gel dries I scrape it off with my fingernail and experience minimal eyebrow hair loss due to sticking to the gel. Stays on decently for a few days as long as you don't get soap on it. The only drawback is the perfume-y Lysol like smell right after you apply." — Amazon
Oftentimes, harsh chemicals can be found in box dye kits. Not in this one. It boasts a non-toxic formula, free of hydrogen peroxide and synthetic dyes. It's perfect for the brow-obsessed who have sensitive skin. Available in four natural shades, it will tint your brows for up to four to six weeks.
Pros: Non toxic; Good for sensitive skin; Long lasting
Cons: Blunt applicator
Customer Review: "This is strong and gets very dark, and if you make a mistake it gets cartoonish. If you apply it properly it gives great results, but it’s not easy or foolproof. Don’t leave on too long, be careful to stay within the area you want and follow the timing and instructions carefully." — Amazon
If you’re not ready to take the tinting plunge, but still want to achieve fuller, thicker brows that resemble a tint, reach for this brow pencil. “It draws single hairs that last and will keep brows looking their most natural,” says Vincent.
Pros: Can't mess it up; Natural looking
Cons: Not a tinting kit; Just a makeup product
Customer Review: "I've never been more satisfied with an eyebrow pencil. I'll get random compliments on how good my brows look, and people are shocked when I tell them I use pencil. And then they want it. As they should. It is unreal how real it looks." — Amazon
What this tint lacks in the fancy, Instagrammable-packaging department, it makes up for with true, salon-level results that last for at least two weeks. Plus, each easy-to-follow kit (available in medium brown, dark brown, and light brown) contains 20 applications, making it shockingly affordable for almost a year's worth of dye.
Pros: Professional results; Easy to follow
Cons: Small shade selection
Customer Review: "So I have to say I’m super happy I ordered this. It took a bit to get here but I have never used a brow henna this good. Easy to use and it’s like the perfect colour. It’s a medium brown I got and it’s perfect. Seriously try it out, you won’t be disappointed." — Amazon
If you're on the hunt for more at-home treatments that give salon-level results, check out the best LED mask, the best at-home keratin treatments, and at-home gel manicure kits.
How to Tint Eyebrows at Home
Let me preface this by saying that instructions differ on every kit, so please read all the instructions—no matter how many pages they may be. But generally speaking, start with clean, dry brows. You may also want to outline your eyebrows with petroleum jelly (over-the-counter Vaseline is perfect) to prevent dye from running into your eyes.
Then, it’s time to mix up your tint. “You’ll need a small glass dish and an angled brush.” Vincent’s go-to? The KIMIKO’s Essential Brow & Lash Brush, which is ideal for this type of precision application. Put the product over your entire brow, not just sparse sections, for the most even looking application. Set your timer and let the magic happen.
If you’re a beginner, Vincent suggests scaling down the time the solution actually sits on your skin. “There is a learning curve to working with these products, so I recommend first starting with a short tinting session to ensure that you don’t over-darken the hairs, which is the main risk of at-home tinting,” she says. “You can always build the intensity with another tint application, but once brows are too dark, the only option is to wait for them to fade with time.”
Meet the Brow Expert
Dani is recognized for her makeup artistry (as seen in InStyle, Vanity Fair, Marie Claire, Vogue, and Elle ), her skincare expertise, her less-is-more approach towards makeup and helping clients achieve their best brows. Her method involves teaching and empowering clients to "master their brows," to the effect that she’s been called the Brow Sensei. Equipped with an expansive and discerning product knowledge, it is no wonder Dani further established her place as an industry authority when she developed her Japanese beauty brand KIMIKO®, known for their precision brow products from Tokyo and their intelligent skin-improving makeup.