How Long Does a Brow Tint Last?

A brow tint lasts a few weeks on the brow hairs, usually somewhere between three and six. The soft shadow of color it leaves on the skin underneath is shorter lived and fades within several days to a week. How long yours lasts depends on your skin, your hair and what you put on your face.

What is a brow tint?

Brow tinting is semi-permanent color applied to the brow hairs. It darkens hairs that are already there, including the fine, pale ones at the edges that you normally cannot see, so the brows look fuller and more defined without makeup.

The tint also stains the skin under the hairs for a short time. In the first few days, that stain fills sparse areas and gives the look of a soft brow powder.

Why does the color on the skin fade first?

Skin sheds. The surface of your face is always renewing itself, and you wash it, cleanse it and put products on it every day. The stain sits in that top layer, so it goes as the layer does.

Hair holds color longer. The tint on your brow hairs softens gradually and then disappears as each hair reaches the end of its growth cycle, falls out and is replaced by a new, untinted one. That is why a tint fades evenly instead of leaving a line of regrowth.

What makes a brow tint fade faster?

• Oily skin. Oil breaks down the tint, especially the stain on the skin.
• Oil-based cleansers and makeup removers. These lift color with everything else.
• Exfoliating products on the brow area. Scrubs, exfoliating pads and retinol all speed up how fast skin sheds.
• Sun. Sunlight lightens brow hair the same way it lightens the hair on your head.
• Swimming. Chlorine and frequent soaking wear the color down.
• Lots of sweat and face washing. Daily workouts mean more cleansing, and that adds up.

Hair type matters too. Coarse brow hair tends to hold color well. Very fine or light hair may show the fade sooner, simply because the change is easier to see.

How do you make a brow tint last longer?

• Keep your brows dry for the first day. No heavy sweating, swimming or steam.
• Do not put makeup or skincare on the brows for that first day either.
• After that, cleanse around your brows gently and avoid rubbing them with a towel.
• Keep oil cleansers, scrubs and exfoliating pads off the brow area.
• Wear a hat or sunscreen when you are outside for long stretches.

Ashley will go over aftercare at your appointment. If her timing differs from what you read here, follow hers.

How often should you get your brows tinted?

Most people rebook every four to six weeks, which lines up with how often brows need shaping anyway. That is why tint and wax are so often booked together. The Brow Tint & Wax cleans up the shape and adds the color in one visit.

September is a common time to start. A summer of sun and pool water leaves many people with brows a shade or two lighter than they were in May, and homecoming and fall photos are on the calendar. A tint a few days before an event gives you the fullest color, stain included.

Who is brow tinting good for?

• Light, blonde, red or graying brows that disappear without pencil.
• Brows with fine hairs at the edges that do not show.
• Anyone who fills their brows in every morning and would like to stop.
• People who want a change that is not permanent.

A tint can only color hair that exists. It will not replace hair in a bare patch, though the skin stain softens the look of one for the first few days.

How is tinting different from lamination or microblading?

Tinting changes the color of your brow hairs. It does not change their shape or direction.

Lamination relaxes the hairs and sets them in place so they lie where you want them. It changes shape, not color, which is why the two are often combined. See what brow lamination is and how long it lasts.

Microblading is a form of cosmetic tattooing that puts pigment into the skin and lasts far longer. Spathetics does not offer it. If you are thinking about microblading, a tint is a low-commitment way to see how you like a darker, fuller brow first.

Is there anyone who should not get a tint?

If you have ever reacted to hair dye or to a previous tint, say so before you book, because brow tint can cause the same kind of reaction. Wait if the skin around your brows is irritated, sunburned or broken. If you are pregnant or have an eye or skin condition, check with your doctor first.

Ready to try it?

A brow tint is a small appointment with a few weeks of easier mornings behind it. You can book Brow Tinting on its own, pair it with a wax, or look at all brow services to compare. When you have picked one, book an appointment online.