Matching your eyebrow colour to your hair can significantly impact your overall look. Finding the right balance is essential to ensure your eyebrows complement your hair, enhancing your natural features.
In this guide, we’ll talk about how to select the best eyebrow colour based on your hair type, whether it’s blonde, brunette, black, red, or grey. Plus, we’ll offer tips on how to choose the right eyebrow colour and products for your needs.
Let’s get straight to the point
Choosing the right eyebrow colour is key to enhancing your overall look and complementing your hair. For blonde hair, opt for darker brows to add definition or lighter ashy tones for a subtle look.
Brunettes should go one or two shades darker for balance, while black-haired individuals should avoid pure black and choose dark browns. Redheads should use blonde or soft brown hues, and grey-haired individuals should avoid grey brows, opting for ashy blondes or light browns instead.
Pastel and vivid hair colours pair well with soft, neutral brows. Consider undertones, avoid harsh contrasts, and use the right products for a polished finish.
Blonde Hair
When it comes to blonde hair, the colour of your eyebrows can vary depending on your skin tone and hair shade. There are a few approaches you can take:
- Go Darker for Definition: Darker eyebrows tend to add contrast, making your face more defined. This is ideal if you have lighter blonde hair and want to create depth. Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Cara Delevingne often use this technique to enhance their features.
- Stay Subtle with Light Tones: If you have very light or platinum blonde hair, you may want to avoid darkening your brows too much. A soft, ashy tone can look natural and harmonious. Products like ash blonde eyebrow pencils work well for this.
- Medium Blonde Shades: For medium blonde hair, try using a light taupe or neutral brown to balance your look. A darker blonde shade for the brows can help cover stray lighter hairs and give your brows a fuller appearance.
To summarise, those with blonde hair can either opt for slightly darker brows for more definition or stay light and ashy for a subtler look.
Brunette Hair
For brunettes, eyebrow colour plays a key role in creating a balanced, polished appearance. Here’s how to choose the best shade:
- Darker Brows for Contrast: A darker eyebrow can define your features and highlight your eyes. Celebrities like Mila Kunis and Angelina Jolie show how a well-groomed dark brow complements their brunette hair.
- Two Shades Darker: Brunettes generally suit eyebrows that are one or two shades darker than their natural hair colour. This helps avoid harsh contrasts while still providing definition.
- Warm Tones for Red-Tinged Brown Hair: If your brunette hair leans towards the red or copper side, opt for deeper, warmer browns. A rich espresso or chestnut shade will complement your complexion beautifully.
In short, brunettes should consider going darker with their brows to create harmony and define their facial structure.
Black Hair
If you have black hair, the instinct might be to match your eyebrows exactly, but this can create a harsh appearance. Instead, consider these options:
- Avoid Pure Black: Pure black brows can often look too stark. Opt for a medium brown with cool undertones for a softer, more natural effect. This approach is seen on celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Solange Knowles.
- Softer Browns for Black Hair: For those with jet-black hair, a deep brown pencil with bluish undertones is a better match than pure black. This creates a more natural look while maintaining a defined brow.
- Building Layers: If you prefer a darker brow, use a medium brown as a base and build layers to achieve the desired intensity.
In summary, black-haired individuals should avoid using black for their brows and instead opt for dark brown tones that soften the overall look.
Redhead
Contrary to popular belief, most redheads don’t naturally have red eyebrows. Choosing the right shade for red hair can be tricky, but here are some helpful tips:
- Copper Red Hair: For those with copper or strawberry blonde hair, a dark blonde or light brown brow colour works well. Emma Stone and Julianne Moore often use this technique to balance their bright hair with subtler brows.
- Strawberry Blonde Hair: If your hair has a lighter, strawberry tone, you should choose a soft taupe or golden blonde brow pencil. This adds a warm undertone to match your hair without overpowering it.
- Deep Red Hair: For deep red hair, darker brunette shades in the brows can work surprisingly well. This contrast brings out your facial features, especially if you have a cooler red shade.
In essence, redheads should lean towards blonde or soft brown hues to complement their hair and avoid unnatural contrasts.
Grey Hair
For those with grey or silver hair, achieving the right eyebrow shade is essential to maintain balance in your overall look:
- Avoid Grey Brows: Grey brows often lack definition and can blend too much with your hair. Instead, opt for ashy blonde or light brown shades to give your brows some depth.
- Match Undertones: Choose eyebrow colours that match the undertones of your hair. For platinum or cool-toned grey hair, use a cool-toned pencil, such as an ashy blonde.
- Light Brown for Depth: If your natural brows are darker, a light brown with softer undertones can work wonders, especially for maintaining a natural look without appearing too harsh.
Ultimately, grey-haired individuals should steer clear of grey eyebrow shades and instead opt for light browns or ashy blondes.
Pastel-Coloured Hair
Pastel shades such as light pink, lavender, mint green, and soft blue are delicate and muted. Matching eyebrows to these light and whimsical tones can be challenging but rewarding when done right.
- Soft, Light Brows: Opt for a light, ashy brow pencil to complement pastel hair. Soft taupe, ash blonde, or light grey tones can blend well without overpowering the lightness of your hair.
- Natural Light Brown or Blonde Brows: If you want more contrast without making the look too harsh, a light brown or neutral blonde shade works well. This gives a soft frame to your face while maintaining harmony with the hair colour.
- Avoid Dark Brows: Dark brows can clash with the subtlety of pastel hair. Keeping the brows soft and light ensures that the overall look remains delicate and balanced.
Vivid Or Bright Hair Colours
Bright hair colours such as neon pink, electric blue, and vibrant green are bold and eye-catching. Choosing the right brow colour to accompany these shades can either enhance the vividness of the hair or create an unwanted clash.
- Neutral or Soft Brown Brows: If you have vivid hair, it’s best to keep your eyebrows neutral. Soft browns, taupes, or dark blondes will provide structure without overwhelming the brightness of the hair. This keeps the focus on the hair while maintaining a cohesive look.
- Grey or Ash-Toned Brows: Grey or ash-toned brows can work surprisingly well with bright hair colours. These shades create a soft contrast that allows the vibrant colours to stand out while still framing the face.
- Avoid Bright Matching Brows: Matching your eyebrows exactly to your hair colour—such as dyeing them neon pink to match bright pink hair—can make the look too extreme and unnatural. It’s better to create a balance with neutral-toned brows.
How To Choose An Eyebrow Colour?
Selecting the right eyebrow colour goes beyond simply matching it to your hair. There are several factors to consider to ensure the best look for your face:
1. Match Undertones
When choosing an eyebrow colour, always consider the undertones of your hair and skin. Cool tones should be paired with cool-toned brow products, while warm tones should be matched with warmer shades. This helps create a cohesive, natural look.
2. Go One Shade Darker (Or Lighter)
If you have lighter hair, your eyebrows should generally be one to two shades darker. Conversely, for darker hair, opt for eyebrows that are slightly lighter than your hair colour. This keeps the focus on your face without creating a harsh contrast.
3. Avoid Too Much Contrast
Too much contrast between your hair and eyebrow colour can create an unnatural appearance. If you have platinum blonde hair, avoid extremely dark brows, and if you have jet-black hair, consider using a softer brown pencil.
4. Use The Right Products
Eyebrow products come in various forms, including pencils, powders, gels, and pomades. Your choice will depend on the level of definition and volume you want to achieve. For a natural look, powders work best, while pencils are ideal for filling in gaps or creating a more structured look.
Conclusion
Selecting the right eyebrow colour is essential for creating a balanced, harmonious look that complements your hair. Whether you’re blonde, brunette, redheaded, or sporting bold hues, understanding the subtle nuances of colour matching can make a significant difference in enhancing your natural features.
By considering factors like hair shade, undertones, and desired contrast, you can find the perfect brow colour that flatters your overall appearance. It’s all about balance – not too light, not too dark, but just right to frame your face and highlight your unique beauty.
FAQs About Eyebrow
Should Your Eyebrow Colour Match Your Hair Colour?
We hate to break it to you, but if you thought that your brows should perfectly match your hair, you might want to think again. In fact, your eyebrows should actually be darker than your hair colour-unless your tresses are pitch black. This is what looks the most natural.
Do Eyebrows Need To Match?
Your eyebrows are one of the most important features on your face. They frame your face and depending on the shape, can enhance certain features. But when it comes to the colour.NO, they don’t always have to match your hair.
Do Lighter Eyebrows Look Better?
Lighter tones look more natural and are more forgiving,” celebrity makeup artist Kimara Ahnert tells SELF. “If you have dark brown hair, choose a light or medium brown powder-I feel that brows should complement the face, not overpower your features,” says Soto.
Do Dark Eyebrows Age You?
In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, darker brows were found to make a person look younger, since we seem to (subconsciously) associate defined contrasts in facial features with youth. That makes sense, considering eyebrows do tend to lighten with age.
Should Eyebrow Pencil Be Darker Or Lighter?
Also remember that your eyebrow pencil shade should be a wee bit lighter than the actual brow colour since the oils in your skin often oxidise the pigment and make it darker.