How To Get an Ombré Powder Brow Look at Home

Unless you’re an expert, perfecting your eyebrow grooming technique can take a fair amount of practice (and patience). Semi-permanent salon treatments like ombré powder brows are a popular alternative for those who want to fake the appearance of fuller brows sans the effort, but it has its downsides. Namely, it can be pricey—and because it’s semi-permanent, it leaves little opportunity to change up your brow styling. 

Fortunately, there’s no need to break your budget or commit to a single style to achieve fuller-looking brows. You can DIY ombré eyebrows with the help of a few eyebrow makeup staples and a little know-how. We’ll share everything you need to know about getting the trendy ombré powder brow look ahead.

What Are Ombré Brows?

The term “ombré eyebrows” refers to a professional technique that involves shading the brows with semi-permanent ink to create a soft gradient of color. During your appointment, a skilled technician will use a needle or a specialized machine to tattoo your brow area with semi-permanent ink. The ombré shading technique is so named for the way in which the brows are filled in lighter at the start of your brows and darker at the tail. The result is a full, defined brow with a soft, almost blurred appearance—which is why ombré brows are sometimes referred to as powder brows or powder ombré eyebrows.

Ombré Brows vs. Microblading: What’s the Difference?

The primary difference between powder brows vs. microblading is the technique used to achieve the look. Microblading involves tattooing thin, hair-like strokes onto the brow area to create the illusion of thicker brows. The ombré brows technique, meanwhile, involves dotting the pigment into the skin to create a diffused color gradient across the entire eyebrow. Ombré needles also penetrate the skin a bit deeper than microblading needles, so these brows take longer to heal (the upside is that they typically last longer—up to three years, depending on your lifestyle and habits). 

As for the cost of a professional ombré powder brow treatment, it depends on where you live and the salon you visit. That said, this semi-permanent eyebrow shading method costs between $800 and $1200 on average. One word of advice: Don’t make your decision of where to go entirely based on price. Look at before and after pictures, and make sure you’re going to a professional who knows exactly what they’re doing.

Ombré Brows Aftercare: What To Expect

Opting for ombré shading means you won’t have to spend time every morning to perfect your arches, but remember that they won’t look Instagram-level flawless right away. Typically, your brows will take about a week or two to heal. During the first seven days, you’ll want to avoid getting your ombré eyebrows wet—and yes, this includes showering and washing your face. You should also avoid intense exercise, applying makeup around the area, and spending prolonged time in the sun. Scabs may form, but it’s important not to pick them—doing so can affect the outcome of your ombré brows. 

To help the healing process, you might need to apply an ointment daily throughout the duration of your ombré eyebrows healing stages. Keep in mind, when your ombré eyebrow procedure is complete, you’ll most likely receive detailed instructions on aftercare, which you should follow.

How To Create the Ombré Brow Look With Makeup

If you like the idea of ombré powder eyebrows but aren’t sure whether you’re willing to commit to the look, we suggest test-driving it. Ahead, we’ll explain how to temporarily fake the trendy eyebrow look with the help of makeup.

1. Wash your face and brows

Before applying any eyebrow makeup, you’ll want to start with clean skin and bare brows. To remove any excess oil, dirt, or makeup residue that could interfere with your DIY powder brow application, cleanse the area with a makeup removing wipe. We love the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Radiant Smoothing Wet Cleansing Towelettes, which gently remove makeup and leave the skin feeling clean and fresh.

2. Mark your shape

Using a nude eyeliner like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Nude, draw small dots where the beginning, arch, and tail end of your brows should be. If you’re not sure how to shape your brows, here’s a useful trick.

Start by holding the eyeliner pencil vertically against the bridge of your nose. Draw a dot on your browbone where the edge of the pencil hits—this is where your brow should start. Next, rotate the pencil slightly so it crosses over your iris. Place another dot where the pencil intersects with your brow to mark where your arch will lay. Finally, angle the pencil so that it’s aligned with the outer corner of your eye. This is where the tail of your brow should taper off. 

3. Fill in your brows

Using the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Mechanical Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil, begin to fill in your eyebrows with a very light hand, creating hair-like strokes. Focus on building up the color at the middle and ends of your brow, so that the end is the darkest—just like an ombré gradient. Use your fingertip or a small tapered blending brush to blend out any harsh lines for a seamless, ombré look.

As an alternative, you can also use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Volumizing 24H Wear Brow Mascara to brush through your brows to add thickness and hold. It’s a good option for those with even brows that don’t have sparse areas. Focus on applying the brow mascara at the middle of the brow to the tail to create the ombré eyebrow effect.

Editor’s tip: Both of the above products come in an array of shades to complement different hair colors. If you’re stuck between two hues, we suggest opting for the lighter one—it’ll provide a softer, subtler effect for a natural brow look.

4. Set your brows

To keep your ombré brows intact all day long, swipe the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 24hr Brow Lamination through your arches. The clear brow gel provides sweat-resistant, all-day hold for your brows without a non-sticky, residue-free finish.

Next Up: How To Get Perfect Arches in 4 Easy Steps

Photo Courtesy of L'Oréal Paris