We’ve all been there at one time or another: you’re in the makeup aisle scanning different brow products; tinted brow gels, brow pencils, eyebrow palettes, and nothing looks like it’s going to really work. The issue isn’t the makeup tool in question... it’s probably that you’re just unsure which shade is really going to compliment your hair color and skin tone. You end up grabbing what you think is the most correct shade, go home to get ready for a night out, and bam—your eyebrows are way too dark and dramatic, or the shade you chose is barely noticeable. But picking your correct brow shade should be easy, right?!
It’s certainly not as tough as selecting a foundation or concealer match... but it’s still a makeup product that requires a little research up front. The good thing is, we did the research for you. From determining your natural brow color to understanding undertones and finding a formula that works well for your brows, we’ve created an easy and reliable guide to (finally!) finding your perfect brow shade match. Keep reading to learn more!
Finding Your Perfect Brow Shade
“How do I know what color my brows are?” and “How do I know what shade of brow pencil or gel to buy?” and “should my eyebrows be darker than my hair?” are questions that go down as some of the most highly asked in the history of E.L.F. And the thing is—we get it.
Unlike hair, which you usually have a lot more of—making it easier to pinpoint your true color—brows are smaller, more subtle and generally just a bit tougher to target in terms of what your *actual* shade is. What’s more, there isn’t really a vast array of shades your brows might be, and while that seems like it may be more helpful, it can sometimes make it harder to find your perfect shade. Below, we’re breaking down the brow journey so that you not only know your shade and undertone, but you’ll get familiar with how to apply brow products to compliment your brows.
Determine Your Natural Brow Color
Like we said, the spectrum of shades your brows may be isn’t nearly as wide as your hair color. Typically, brows range in color from black to dark brown, dark brown to light brown, auburn, blonde, or even more of a brown-gray as opposed to a chocolate brown. Narrowing down the general category of brow shade you fall into will be your starting point for finding your perfect brow product shade.
While considering your hair color is a key factor in choosing your shade (we’ll get to that later), your skin tone plays a role, too. Some brow shades will simply complement your face better depending upon your skin tone. Generally, highly pigmented and dark eyebrow products will appear too bold on fairer skin tones, and lighter shades in the brown and blonde family won’t necessarily show up on darker skin tones. Yes, it may seem obvious, but looking beyond hair color alone is helpful when finding your perfect eyebrow makeup color!
The Importance of Understanding Undertones
We’ll apologize in advance if you thought undertones only applied to foundation. While it’s definitely not as tricky as finding your perfect foundation shade based on undertones, you’ll still have to rely on and understand your skin’s undertones when finding that perfect brow shade match. If your skin tone falls into cooler complexions, warm shades may appear too bold or out of place on your face, while cool-toned shades can show up grayish or washed-out on warmer skin tones.
To achieve the most natural look, choose a brow shade with a similar undertone to your skin tone. If you’re totally in doubt about undertones (we’re not judging!), go for a brow color with a neutral undertone, as these shades are typically the most flattering and natural-looking on the widest range of skin tones. If you’ve never known your true skin tone and its corresponding undertone, take our brow shade quiz to get shade matched and you’ll get a better sense of what brow products will most compliment your skin tone and hair color.
Test Brow Shades in Natural Light
What’s worse than picking out a brow shade in artificial lighting, only to catch a glimpse of yourself outside and your brows are the only thing you can notice? The simple and easy hack to avoid crazy caterpillar brows is to test shades out in natural lighting. Yes, this can be tough if you’re in a Target or Ulta, but bring a little compact mirror and walk towards the front of the store to check out your brows in natural light. Sure, it may sound a little nuts, but trust us when we say that seeing brows shaded in with a pencil or gel in the most natural of lighting (e.g. outside or near a window!) is the easiest way to find a match that looks genuine and natural.
Start Light & Build Color
Now, for the actual eyebrow makeup part. The guiding principle for natural-looking brows is to start light and build—it’s always easier to build up color than to take it away. Going in with a bold, heavy hand usually just means you’re grabbing for the makeup remover and starting over.
If you’re still unsure if you’ve selected the right shade for your brows, choose a lighter one and layer the color to get a darker effect and a closer match. If you feel like your brows are still a little bit too light or don’t have that full and filled-in look you’re going for, gradually darken your shade until you’ve nailed your desired look. We rely on this general rule whether we’re using a brow pencil, gel, pommade, palette, or a combination of these at once.
Maintaining and Refining Your Brows
Before you go in with your new brow shade, it’s best to start with groomed eyebrows to get the most out of your look. Start by grabbing a clean spoolie eyebrow brush and brush your arches directly up. If you see any hairs that are particularly longer than the others, gently trim them so that they fall in line with the rest of your brows and achieve more of an even, streamlined shape. Next, take the same spoolie brush and brush brows slightly up and out, making sure you’re following the natural direction your brows grow in.
If you’re going for a laminated look, use our all new Brow Laminating Gel to get lifted, sculpted, laminated brows that won’t budge. If the laminated look isn’t for you, skip this step and go straight to filling in brows with your desired makeup product. Regardless of the type of brow product you’re using, go in with short, feathery strokes to achieve a natural, filled-in and full brow look.