How To Match Your Brow Color To Your Hair Color

When people talk about color-matching makeup, it usually refers to foundation or concealer. Equally important for a seamless makeup look, however, is matching your eyebrow color to your hair color. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to dye your brows if you color your hair—eyebrow pencils or pens are more than enough to get the job done. If you’re not quite sure how to use a brow pencil to match your brows to your mane, keep reading. We’re sharing everything you need to know ahead, plus giving you the inside scoop on some of our favorite brow products to add to your routine.

How To Choose the Right Brow Pencil Shade

If you plan on filling in your brows, you’ll need an eyebrow pencil or pen that complements your skin tone and hair color. That may sound easy, but finding the right shade can take some trial and error, particularly if you regularly dye your hair. 

As a general rule, it’s best to stay within a few shades of your natural brow color for a flattering look. Dark brown eyebrows, for example, may look too harsh on someone with fair skin and pale lashes, even if their hair is dyed darker. The reverse is also true: lighter eyebrow colors often look unnatural on those with darker skin tones. That’s fine if you’re going for a bleached brow look, but not ideal if you want your makeup to look natural. It’s also important to take your undertones into account, as colors that lean too warm or too cool will clash with, rather than enhance, your features. If you need a refresher on identifying your undertones, check out How To Identify Your Skin’s Undertones.

We’ll get into more specifics shortly, but here’s a brief rundown on the best brow colors for different hair colors: 

• Platinum to light blonde hair: Light blonde eyebrows
• Blonde hair: Dark blonde or light brown eyebrows
• Light brown hair: Medium brown eyebrows
• Medium to dark brown hair: Dark brown eyebrows
• Black hair: Dark brown eyebrows
• Red hair: Warm brown eyebrows
• Gray hair: Cool-toned brown eyebrows
• Colored hair (e.g., pink, blue, or green): Your natural brow color

5 Tips for Matching Your Eyebrow Color To Your Hair

With the basics out of the way, here are five tips to help ensure your eyebrows look their best, no matter what color your hair is.

Don’t aim for an exact match

Most of the time, your hair and brows aren’t the exact same color. Hair is frequently exposed to sunlight, which can make it lighten in some areas, especially during the warmer months. That natural lightning doesn’t happen to the eyebrows, so they usually end up being a bit darker than your mane. 

For a seamless look, we suggest opting for a brow pencil or pen in a color one to two shades darker than your natural hair color. Every rule has its exception, of course, and for this, it’s for those with black hair. If you’re sporting onyx tresses, you’ll want to opt for a deep brown brow pencil or pen to complement your hair. Try the L’Oréal Paris Faux Brow Hair-Like Brow Filling Pen in Dark Brunette or the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Mechanical Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil in Black—it’s dark, but not as stark as a pure jet-black hue.

Use a neutral hue if you don’t know your undertones

If you’re having trouble identifying your skin’s undertones, select a neutral brow pencil or pen. These are neither overly warm nor obviously cool in tone, so they tend to be a safe bet for almost any complexion. If you have blonde hair, try the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Mechanical Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde—the sandy taupe shade is the perfect neutral-toned hue for natural blondes (it’s also an excellent eyebrow color for gray hair). 

Those with medium brown or darker strands can reap natural-looking results with the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Mechanical Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil in Brunette. And for natural redheads, we love the brownish-red tone of the L’Oréal Paris Faux Brow Hair-Like Brow Filling Pen in Auburn.

Use a light hand when filling in your brows 

When it comes to your brows, less is definitely more—a heavy-handed approach can result in blocky-looking arches (which is rarely, if ever, flattering). Start by using your brow pen or pencil to lightly fill in any obvious sparse areas. Once you’re done, reassess: If you’d like more definition, you can go back in with your brow makeup to emphasize your arches or the tail of your brow. Just be careful not to fill in the front of your brows too much: this area is naturally sparser and should remain that way for a natural result. 

If you have trouble making your brow makeup look natural, you’ll love the precise application of the L’Oréal Paris Faux Brow Hair-Like Brow Filling Pen. This unique pen features a double brush tip that makes it easy to draw thin, hair-like strokes (even if you’re a brow makeup newbie).

Try a brow mascara for a softer look

If you’re not sure how to use a brow pencil and achieve natural-looking results, consider using a tinted brow mascara, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Volumizing 24H Wear Brow Mascara, instead. The easy-to-apply brow gel comes in seven shades, ranging from light blonde to soft black, and features a 3D micro-grip brush to coat each and every brow hair. Simply choose your shade match, swipe the spoolie through your brows, and enjoy full, thick-looking brows that won’t budge, smudge, or transfer for up to 24 hours.

Consider updating your routine if you color your hair 

If you undergo a dramatic hair color transformation, several elements of your makeup routine might change. Your brow color is one of them. We’re not saying you need to rock pink colored eyebrows if you decide to go from black to rose gold hair, but your brows should coordinate somewhat with your hair color. A neutral medium-to-dark brown is generally a safe bet for those with colorful strands. If you’re stuck between two brow colors, opt for the lighter of the two—you’ll get a more natural-looking result that way. 

Next Up: How To Find The Best Brow Shape for Your Features

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris