6 Ways to Darken Brows Naturally, According to Experts

Medically reviewed by Dara Liotta, MD, FACSFact checked by Anna Harris

As a woman whose natural eyebrows could be best described as translucent, I understand the magical powers of darker eyebrows better than most. The first time I had them tinted, it was like a revelation. My makeup looked instantly better, and my face appeared more symmetrical. Those newly tinted brows were transformative for my entire face. From that moment, I knew I was done with the daily pencil routine. After some research, I discovered that many eyebrow dyes contain chemicals. Trying to move towards a cleaner beauty routine, I started to search for natural ways to darken eyebrows. To learn more, I tapped beauty expert Savannah St. Jean and celebrity esthetician Jimena Garcia seeking their insights on how to make eyebrows darker naturally.

Meet The Expert

• Savannah St. Jean is a beauty expert and owner of Savannah Rae Beauty.

• Jimena Garcia is a celebrity esthetician and brow specialist for Chanel.

Read below for our tips on how to darken your eyebrows naturally.

Brow Henna

Brows in need of a little more definition? St. Jean recommends brow henna as an option. "Brow henna is a type of non-oxidative tint that temporarily tints the skin under the brows as well as the actual brow hairs to give a fuller look," she explains. "The henna paste is meticulously painted on to the brow area and left to tint the hairs and the skin underneath it." The length of time that the results will last will depend on your skin type. "Dry skin will have longer lasting results than oily skin, but the tint on the skin will generally last one week while the tint on the brow hairs will last approximately two weeks," notes St. Jean.

The beauty of brow henna (beyond the thickening results, of course) is that it can be done at home or in a professional setting. One major drawback of using henna? According to Garcia, it takes roughly an hour to set in, which is why most technicians don't use henna on clients. However, if you're going the at-home route and are catching up on your latest Netflix binge, that hour may fly by.

While upkeep may be more frequent due to fading color, henna is the best option if you are looking for a 100% natural way to darken your eyebrows, as even vegetable-based dyes contain some chemicals, Garcia explains.

Byrdie Tip

Avoid over-cleansing around the eyebrow area to keep henna from fading too fast.

Coffee

If you're looking for a quick, DIY solution to darkening your brows, you may already have one sitting in your kitchen. "You can mix a few tablespoons of very finely ground coffee with a small amount of honey or oil to create a paste," explains St. Jean. "With precision, apply the paste to your brows and allow it to sit for at least 20 minutes in order to have enough time to tint the brow area before rinsing." While many tout this method as being a natural fix, St. Jean says it's temporary and won't last nearly as long as an oxidative brow tint or henna.

Charcoal and Aloe Vera

Another option to give brows a darker tone is charcoal. First, mix aloe vera gel, cocoa powder, and vitamin E oil. Add the activated charcoal powder to create your desired color. Apply this paste to your brows using a spoolie brush or Q-tip, leave for 20 minutes, then rinse. Adjust layers for the tint you want.

Castor Oil and Eyeshadow

Castor oil is a well-loved oil in the beauty community—mostly for its purported brow- and lash-strengthening properties. Although there's no hard evidence proving that castor oil promotes hair growth, many still swear by it. Garcia offered up this tip: You can create a conditioning brow tint by mixing castor oil with an eyeshadow color that's a few shades darker than your brow hair. Use a spoolie to apply and ta-da! You've got yourself your very own customized, all-natural Boy Brow. "Castor oil can also be used to moisturize, if you find that your brow area is dry," says St. Jean.

Brow Pencil

Not ready to commit to a dye? Brush up on your brow penciling skills by going the makeup route—you can play around with different hues to find one you like and it washes off at the end of the day. "If you have lighter brows (brown to blonde) use a pencil one to two shades darker than your natural hair color," explains St. Jean. "If you have dark brows (dark brown to black) use a color that matches your hair color." If you have a warm skin tone, she recommends reaching for an ash- or cool-toned brow pencil to offset the warmth in your skin. But if you have any natural red hues in your brows, St. Jean says to go for a neutral-toned pencil for a more natural look and easy blend.

Eye Shadow

Though using an eyeshadow to darken your eyebrows won't have the same longevity as a brow pencil, it offers soft, natural-looking results. "Choose a color the same way you would with a brow pencil (one to two shades darker for lighter brow hairs and the same shade if you have darker brows)," says St. Jean. "Using a small angled brush, sweep the eyeshadow on the areas that need a little definition."

Up Next: How to DIY a Lash Tint for Only $20

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