Hair and Eyebrows Color

Woman who is comparing the color of her hair and eyebrows
Photo: Aleksko/Shutterstock
Q: Should your hair color match your eyebrows?
 
A: Generally speaking, it should complement it, but they rarely match exactly. In nature, it is common for a person's natural hair color to be lighter or darker than their eyebrow color. This is frequently seen in blonde-haired individuals who naturally have darker, contrasting brows. It usually isn't an issue unless there is a dramatic, jarring difference in the color, such as when the eyebrows are completely washed out or are so much darker than the hair color that they look harsh.
 
If you are coloring your hair, you should consider adjusting your eyebrow shade if you are changing your hair color by several levels or going to a much bolder shade. However, this must be done with extreme caution. Never use standard scalp hair dye on your eyebrows, as the harsh chemicals can cause severe chemical burns, allergic reactions, or even blindness if they get into your eyes. Instead, you should only use specialized eyebrow tinting kits or have a professional apply a dedicated brow-and-lash tint at a salon.
 
The goal is to create a cohesive, natural look. One of the clearest signals of an artificial hair color job is when the hair and eyebrows clash completely. You're usually safe with a difference of a few shades, but the eyebrows should be subtly adjusted if the change to your hair is more dramatic.
 
"Matching" doesn't mean your eyebrows and hair need to be the exact same shade. In fact, they look much more natural when there is a slight difference between the two. For example, eyebrows that are one or two shades darker than blonde or light brown hair add beautiful definition and frame the face. Likewise, people with naturally dark hair often have eyebrows that are slightly lighter than their hair, especially after spending time in the sun.
 
Your skin tone and eye color also play a major role in determining what eyebrow color looks best. The most flattering eyebrow shade is usually one that complements your overall appearance rather than matching your hair color perfectly.
 
If you're going from dark hair to blonde, you'll probably want to lighten your eyebrows slightly using a gentle, professional brow-lightening formula to keep them from looking too harsh. On the other hand, if you're darkening your hair, you may need to deepen your eyebrow color to maintain balance. Small adjustments are often all that's needed, as overly dark eyebrows can appear severe, while eyebrows that are too light can disappear against the face.
 
People with vibrant or unconventional hair colors, such as red, copper, burgundy, blue, or pastel shades, don't need to dye their eyebrows to match. Forcing brows to match an special hair color usually looks highly unnatural. Instead, a neutral brown, taupe, or soft charcoal shade that coordinates with the undertones of the new hair color creates a much more flattering appearance.
 
If you fill in your eyebrows with makeup, you may not need to tint them at all. Tinted brow gels, pencils, and pomades can be used to subtly adjust the color and shape. This makes makeup the safest and most flexible option for anyone who changes her hair color frequently or simply wants to experiment before committing to a semi-permanent eyebrow tint.
 
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See also:
 
Can I color my eyebrows?
 
Eyelash and eyebrow tinting services
 
Is it dangerous to bleach your eyebrows and eyelashes?