If eyes are the windows to the soul, eyebrows are the fabulously chic drapes. Why the weird home decor reference? Well, a defined and perfectly shaded brow can instantly pull your look together by adding structure—even when you aren’t wearing makeup—meaning more #IWokeUpLikeThis mornings. This is why services like eyebrow tinting are beyond huge right now. Different from a standard shape and wax service, tinting is a treatment that doesn’t remove any hair but rather uses semi-permanent dye to enhance color, shape and volume. When done right, you literally don’t have to do a thing with your brows, as they will be in perfect shape at all times. To help you prep for this miraculous service, we spoke to Maxine Weiss, owner of Glamourela in NYC, to learn the dos and don’ts of brow tinting. Read on to see how this treatment can instantly revamp your look.
Big Brow Theory
Starting with clean brows is imperative for a successful tinting service, so make sure not to wear any brow pencil or powder to your appointment, says Maxine. "Also, try to avoid anything oily or greasy, such as facial or tanning oils, so that the tint will be able to absorb into the hair properly, which means it'll last longer," she adds.
"Tinting can feel like a high-maintenance service, as the tint usually fades within two weeks and will be completely gone by week four. So it is incredibly important that you do your research and be picky about the pro you go to," says Maxine. And always ask for a patch test to avoid a bad reaction to the tint—you want to enhance your look, not damage it.
Make sure to have a conversation with your aesthetician about color and what is needed to get the most natural-looking brow possible. "Typically a tint will be one solid color depending on the density of the hair, but a good aesthetician will be able to create a multi-tint to camouflage certain flaws or enhance certain characteristics of the arch or tail,” Maxine says.
If your brows end up looking too dark, it's probably because some tint got deposited onto the skin underneath the hairs. Unfortunately, this can't always be fixed immediately. "However, it should fade in a day or so because it isn't meant to last on the skin," Maxine explains. "So, if you aren't feeling your uncanny resemblance to Groucho Marx, you can lightly scrub your brows the next time you wash your face." This will usually lift the dye off the skin without ruining the integrity of the tint.
"Sun exposure, saltwater and chlorine can make your tint fade faster, so avoid pool parties and the beach the day of your treatment," says Maxine. "Also, protect your brows with at least SPF 30 on your next weekend in the sun."
