How to Make Eyebrow Tint at Home

Co-authored by Joseph Harwood

Last Updated: March 29, 2022 References

If you want to dye your eyebrows but don't want to shell out cash for a professional kit, you're in luck. You have several options for making tints at home. Cocoa powder is a common ingredient for making tints, but you can also try activated charcoal or even old coffee grounds. Whatever you choose, prepare your eyebrows and then apply the tint for about 20 minutes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating Simple Mixes

1
Measure out aloe vera, activated charcoal, and cocoa powder. Add 1 teaspoon (4.9 ml) of aloe vera gel to a small bowl. You can use the kind from the store or from a plant you have at home. Add 1 teaspoon (2.5 g) of cocoa powder and stir it together. Pour in part of a capsule of activated charcoal. Start with 1/4 of a capsule and work your way up to your desired tint.^{[1]
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- You can also add 3-4 drops of vitamin E oil to encourage fuller, healthier eyebrows.
- Store this tint in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. Leave this one on for 20 minutes or so.
- Make sure your dye mixture isn't runny—you don't want it dripping into your eyes!^{[2]
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  Expert Source
  
  Joseph Harwood
  Beauty, DEI & Social Media Expert
  Expert Interview. 16 March 2022.}
2
Use an old eye shadow and petroleum jelly for a cheap solution. Break up an old eye shadow with a toothpick or brush until it's powder. Add petroleum jelly to the powder until you have a thick gel, mixing it as you go. That's all you need to do for a simple tint!^{[3]
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- Make sure to use a dark-colored eye shadow, such as black, bronze, or brown, and pick one that matches your hair color.
- This tint should stay fresh for several months. Leave it on for 10-20 minutes before rinsing it off.
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3
Mix together old coffee grounds and cocoa powder for a green solution. Put 2 tablespoons (10 g) of old coffee grounds in a bowl. This measurement doesn't need to be exact. Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon (2.5 g) of cocoa powder. Stir in 2 tablespoons (30 mL) each of coconut oil and honey. Mix it together thoroughly, then let it sit for a few minutes so the ingredients can incorporate. After that, you can apply it to your eyebrows.^{[4]
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- You may need to heat the coconut oil for a few seconds in the microwave so it's liquid enough to pour.
- This tint won't keep very long, maybe 1 week in the fridge. You need to leave this one on for about 20 minutes.
4
Make a paste with henna and lemon juice for red dye. Henna has long been used to dye skin and hair, and you can also use it to dye your eyebrows. Put a small spoonful of henna powder in a bowl, then add lemon juice a few drops at a time. Stir the mixture after you add the lemon juice, and keep adding until you get a thick paste. Put it in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours.^{[5]
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- You can also find henna that's more brownish.
- You need to leave henna on for longer than other dyes. Start with 20 minutes, but you can leave it in up to 2 hours. It will be a lot darker if you leave it in 2 hours.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Readying Your Brows for Tinting

1
Clean your eyebrows and the area around it with rubbing alcohol. Use a rubbing alcohol towelette or dip cotton balls in rubbing alcohol. Swipe it over your brows and the area nearby, being careful not to get it in your eyes. Make sure to scrub your eyebrows down well.^{[6]
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2
Brush your eyebrows with a spoolie to smooth them out. Gently run the brush from the inner edge to the outer edge, doing both eyebrows a couple of times each. You want all the hair going in the same direction so it dyes evenly.^{[7]
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- A spoolie is the brush you find in a mascara tube, but you can also buy them separately. Make sure to use a clean spoolie.
3
Create a border for your eyebrows with petroleum jelly. Basically, you want to use something oily to paint a border around your brows.^{[8]
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Expert Source

Joseph Harwood
Beauty, DEI & Social Media Expert
Expert Interview. 16 March 2022.} That way, the stain won't seep out to other parts of your skin. Use a small, flat makeup brush to paint the lines, starting with the inner edge. Sweep out along the top of the brow, going all the way to the outer tip. Do the same on the bottom.^{[9]
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- You can also use coconut oil or white eyeliner pencil.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Applying the Tint

1
Dab a spoolie, brush, or small applicator into the mix. A small flat brush or applicator may give you more control over the application. Dip the brush into the mixture, and wipe away some of the excess so you don't slather it all over your face.^{[10]
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Expert Source

Wyvetta Bowles
Beauty & Hair Care Advisor
Expert Interview. 19 October 2021.}
- Some professional kits come with a little wooden stick for mixing and applying, which you can also use.
- Feel free to use the brush on the opposite end of your eyebrow pencil.^{[12]
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  Expert Source
  
  Wyvetta Bowles
  Beauty & Hair Care Advisor
  Expert Interview. 19 October 2021.}
- Always do a patch test before fully applying any product to your eyebrows.^{[13]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Joseph Harwood
  Beauty, DEI & Social Media Expert
  Expert Interview. 16 March 2022.}
2
Brush the color over your eyebrows. Start at the inside corner of your eyebrow and work your way out. Use small strokes to apply the color, adding more to the applicator as needed. Try to stay between the lines of your eyebrow even if you used oil or petroleum jelly to protect the surrounding area.^{[14]
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- Make sure to really work the dye in, coating every hair including the fine hairs along the edges.
- Always follow the shape of your eyebrows—don't just apply the product in a line.^{[15]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Wyvetta Bowles
  Beauty & Hair Care Advisor
  Expert Interview. 19 October 2021.}
3
Use a cotton swab to clean up extra dye. If you have any dye that leaks around the edges, touch them up with a wet cotton swab. That will help keep the dye from staining your surrounding skin.^{[16]
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4
Keep the dye in place for 20 minutes or so. Homemade dyes generally don't work as fast as dye kits, so you need to let them stay on longer. Twenty minutes is usually long enough, but some dyes, like henna, may need to stay in longer.^{[17]
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- Err on the side of caution; you can always reapply the dye if it's too light, but it's more difficult to take it off.
5
Wipe away the dye with a wet cotton swab. You can also use a cotton ball, but try not to get outside the lines. Once you get most of the dye off, you can use your fingers and running water to get the rest of the dye off.^{[18]
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Community Q&A

Question

What do I do if my eyebrows are blonde?

Buggylu25

Top Answerer

Use a lighter eye shadow (i.e. light brown, beige, neutral yellows) to mix into your homemade tint.
Question

What if I don't have eyebrows?

Buggylu25

Top Answerer

Use less petroleum jelly and more of the powder for a thicker consistency. This will make it easier to build up color to make an eyebrow shape.
Question

How long does the petroleum jelly and eyeshadow tint last?

Ellie Homewood

Community Answer

The petroleum jelly and eyebrow tint shall last for several months, so it is a great and inexpensive solution.