Looking to Dye Your Brows? Here's What You Need to Know

If you're dealing with thin, sparse brows, eyebrow gels and pencils are ace at getting you fuller, more defined arches. However, the results are short-lived, which is why many have turned to eyebrow tinting as an alternative, proclaiming the service as nothing short of life-changing. In 10 to 15 minutes, patchy eyebrows are transformed into something that could challenge even Brooke Shields's iconic set — but is it too good to be true? To find out more, we spoke to brow expert Boom Boom (Malynda Vigliotti), founder of Boom Boom Brow Bar.

Keep scrolling to get the lowdown on how to dye your eyebrows, as well as pro tips and potential risks.

What Is Eyebrow Tinting?

Eyebrow tinting is a treatment that involves applying a gentle dye to your arches for a few minutes to make them a shade or two darker. For sparse brows, in particular, tinting works wonders at grabbing the lighter hairs to result in a fuller, more dramatic shape.

"First the tint color is mixed to match the undertones of the client's hair, then it's applied to the brow area, sits for 10 minutes, and then it's removed," says Boom Boom. "At Boom Boom Brow Bar, we wax after we tint to make sure we have the most hair to work with before shaping."

Who It's For

Those who are looking for fuller, darker eyebrows may benefit from dying them. Tinting will color teeny tiny hairs so your brow hair is more noticeable. "The service is especially impactful for blondes and redheads, but brunettes get amazing results too because it picks up all the baby hairs to give a fuller look," says Boom Boom. "It's really natural-looking so you don't have to use brow-enhancing products as much, if at all."

Is Eyebrow Tint Safe?

Technically, yes, but it really depends on what dye is used. The FDA currently has an Import Alert in effect for eyelash and eyebrow dyes containing coal tar colors, with studies indicating that such products can cause a severe health hazard with the possibility of permanent eye injury, including impaired sight and blindness.

"We use a professional vegetable-based dye," says Boom Boom. "It's the safest thing to put close to the eyes. ​​Do not use store-bought hair color box kits to tint your brows — these dyes have ammonia in them and can be super dangerous, not only if they get into your eyes, but also if they get on the fragile, sensitive skin around the eye area."

"Coal and tar and other chemicals are not safe around the eye orbital. Anything you put on your eyes goes into your skin," adds Boom Boom. "It's best to be extra safe with anything you put on the eye area. The cleaner, the better."

Where Can I Get My Eyebrows Tinted?

If you live in California or Massachusetts, you're out of luck; the service has officially been banned in those two states. Everywhere else, it's available on a salon-by-salon basis. But regardless of where you get your eyebrows dyed, make sure to ask what ingredients the salon uses, get informed, and only go to salons that have very high standards.

What's the Best Way To Care For Your Eyebrows After Tinting?

According to Boom Boom, it's best to avoid applying facial serums and oils to the brow area as they remove the tint quicker. "Also, if you self-tan, coat your eyebrows with Aquaphor ($5) or Vaseline ($2) as it tends to get stuck in brows, and the tint can pick up warm tones."