What Are Ombré Eyebrows? We Investigate

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We’ve heard a lot of buzz around ombré brow shading. While ombré may make us think of the hair trend, its much subtler on the brow. The process is a blending of color using either brow tint or a pencil. Typically, to appear bolder, the brow is made to look darker at the arch. Think of it as the lowlights you get in your hair, but for your brow. Its a subtle color transition that adds depth to otherwise wispy-looking brows. It also looks way more natural than some other trends we’ve fared.

When Sally Hershberger’s resident brow expert Robyn Cosio mentioned ombré brows on a visit and said they are "the No. 1 technique she applies to her A-list clients," we paused. Wouldn’t we all notice a drastic gradient effect on the bulk of Hollywood’s brows? Turns out, the answer is no. So we spoke to brow experts Joey Healy and Allie Yamaguchi to learn more about this trend.

What Are Ombré Brows?

Ombré brows is a brow style that uses ombré shading, a semi-permanent eyebrow styling technique that uses a small machine to place extremely thin dots of pigment into the skin, creating a soft-shaded brow pencil look.

For most beauty lovers, leaning into your mirror to precisely fill in your eyebrows is the most stressful part of your routine. Ombré shading graces you with one to three years of low maintenance for your brows. If youre interested in added drama, brush through with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Strong Hold Clear Brow Gel ($22) or WBCo. Soap Brows ($16).

The Benefits of Ombré Brows

Ideal option for oily or sensitive skin, unlike microbladingRequire fewer touch-up appointmentsGives the appearance of fuller, defined brows

Ombré brows are friendly for all skin types and a worthwhile investment. Yamaguchi shares, "I meet a lot of women who have a very hard time filling in their brows or clients with little to no brow hair at all. Having this service saves time in the morning, money, and is a helpful guide when filling them in. You can also personalize the density, meaning how light or how dark you would like the brows to be."

Microblading vs. Ombré Shading: Whats the Difference?

The more significant difference between the two eyebrow styling techniques is how the pigment is added to the skin. Healy says, "Both [microblading and ombré shading] are semi-permanent tattoos, but microblading is making short hair-like strokes. Ombré brows are a series of many fine dots that vary in concentration, giving the look of a powdered brow."

An important factor to note is that microblading does not work for all skin types. Microblading is not great for oily skin as the color does not show up effectively and can look blurry. Natural oils can also prevent the brows from healing properly.

It is possible to combine both techniques as one can be used at the beginning of the brow and the other can be used on the ends. Healy explains, "For those short little vertical lines, microblading might look good on the front and ombré would look good on the tail. The goal is to have the most minor of hair flicks in the beginning and we don’t want the brow to start in a solid mass."

How to Prepare for Ombré Shading

The cost of the treatment ranges anywhere between $500 and $1000. Clients should go into their appointment bare-faced and well-rested. Yamaguchi expresses the importance of steering clear of anything that may thin the blood 48 hours before the service. "Laying off blood thinners is number one for me. This means, absolutely no alcohol, pain relievers, other specific medications, or Botox until after the service has been done. Blood-thinning agents do exactly that, thin the blood and cause you to bleed heavier than normal during the service resulting in poor pigment retention."

What to Expect During Ombré Shading

"During the appointment, the client should expect to feel comfortable, at ease, and like they are part of the process. That is super important to me, not only as a business owner but as a service provider. After all, we are tattooing their faces!" Yamaguchi expresses.

The appointment can take about two to three hours. "Typically your professional will put on a topical anesthetic that they let sit for 20-40 minutes before shading. While it numbs you, it is uncomfortable because you are abrading the skin," says Healy. The artist will create a frame around your brows to map out where to add the pigment. Youll be able to see the shape and color before the pigment is added to your skin. Once you agree and confirm the look of your customized brows, the shading can begin. After the process, your eyebrows will look darker and may feel tender.

Similar to a tattoo, it really depends on your pain tolerance, but a topical numbing agent can be applied beforehand making the service more tolerable. The discomfort might be a small price to pay for low-maintenance brows.

Side Effects of Ombré Brows

There are no documented side effects of machine shading. While it is comparable to a traditional tattoo, the needle does not go as deep into the skin. As a semi-permanent treatment, it will fade over time. "I have witnessed color changes in the pigment under the skin over time and this is due to sun exposure or bad pigment selection from the brow technician," Yamaguchi explains. "Its very important to do your research on the establishment and artist you will be seeing prior to getting serviced."

Ombré Brow Aftercare

Think of this as a mini-vacay from the gym and wearing makeup. "Avoid getting the brows wet for 10 days. This includes keeping your face dry in the shower. You also want to avoid excessive sweating and makeup for a week," says Healy, noting that the brows will scab, and you dont want to pick at the scab or itch. "Professionals will inform you to use an antibacterial ointment for the first 24 hours. Follow up with a popular ointment like Aquaphor Healing Ointment ($13) or Vaseline Pure Petroleum Jelly ($4)."

Typically with brow specialists, it’s important to go back a few weeks after for a little touch-up. "Anyone whos providing this service whose good and reputable would like you to come back to check on your results about two or three weeks later and see if there’s more to do or little adjustments to make," says Healy.

UV/UVA Rays have been known to cause a shift in color and premature fading. "Avoid any laser, chemical peels, and any creams containing Retin-A or glycolic acid on the face and neck," Yamaguchi advises.

Key Ingredients

Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid that loosens bonds between dead skin cells. It helps stimulate collagen production and acts as a humectant, attracting moisture to the skin.

How Long Do Ombré Brows Last?

Luckily, ombré brows will last for between one and three years. This means fewer services will be required to keep your brows in check. However, this lifespan will depend on your lifestyle and skin type.

Over time youll notice that your ombré brows begin to fade. As your brows begin to look less defined youll know its time for a touch-up. Its good practice to schedule powder brow touch-ups every 18 months to keep your brows looking as fabulous as the day you had your ombré shading freshly done.

How to Fake Ombré Brows With Makeup

If youre unsure about having ombré shading done on your face (it is a big commitment!), then you can achieve the look with eyebrow powder, brow tint, and a few small makeup brushes. Heres how:

Start with a clean face: Remove any makeup on your face so you are working with bare brows.Pluck stray hairs: Remove any stray eyebrow hairs to create a tidy overall appearance.Brush out your brows: Using an eyebrow spoolie, brush out your brows so that they are smoothed.Mark and outline your brows: Using a lightly colored eyeliner, create small dots at the beginning, arch, and tail of your brows.Apply your brow tint of choice: The tint you decide on should be applied to the latter part of your brow, leaving the front part of your brows bare.Fill in with eyebrow powder:Use a small angled brush to fill in your brows with powder. Alternatively, you can use a brow pencil. Start light and build from there.Add powder or pencil to the front part of your brows: Fill in more lightly here to create the ombré effect.Add a brow top coat: Slicking on a brow top coat will keep your brows in place and avoid the powder smudging.

Ombré Brows Before and After

The Final Takeaway

Semi-permanent brow styling takes off the added stress of filling in your brows every day. Ombré brows are a great option for natural, fuller brows, and finding a skilled artist is the key to owning a flawless style.

Not sure you want to commit? Give it a try at home by blending both light and slightly darker brow pencils. We like Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Ultra-Slim Precision Brow Pencil ($23) and Glossiers Boy Brow ($16) in Clear to set your brows. Simply stroke sparingly into the brow, filling in sparse spots and applying the most attention to the arch.

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