Some of you may have seen that I’ve been talking about a few changes I’ve been making to my beauty look lately.
Today I’m showing you the results of my latest endeavours to change my eyebrows!
Desperate to avoid getting stuck in a beauty rut, back in October I kicked the whole thing off with the very simple task of changing my nail shape, and then before Christmas my teeth got an overhaul with a two-step process of whitening and filing down (not as “ouch” as it sounds).
Finally I’ve had (been having) eyelash extensions to not only have lovely long lashes but also to look half decent with minimal eye makeup or no makeup at all (they make a huge difference to preventing me looking like death warmed up in the mornings).
So this is almost the final stage of my “Face MOT” (I should trademark that expression, don’t you think?!), and one that I’ve been meaning to do for ages: Bleaching my eyebrows.
Now before you get all freaked out and think of models with weird no-brows or Kim Kardashian at the Met Gala last year, don’t worry – I wasn’t intending to go there with any sort of alien-inspired look! Basically, as a natural brunette (with plenty, and I mean plenty, of grey) I have very dark eyebrows. Not at all bushy, just somewhat black.
So as my hair is dyed (shocker!) a light red, sometimes strawberry blonde colour, it’s been bothering me for a while that my brows are much, much darker than my hair. When my hair was a deep, rich red a couple of years back they were fine, but as my hair’s been been getting gradually lighter over the years I’ve not been happy about the contrast.
Now I know that thick, dark brows are on-trend right now, and I’ve always been pretty precious about my eyebrows, but I personally wanted them to match my hair more. Like the Perpetual Diet we’re all on (that is an actual diet, don’t you know), for ages – and I mean ages, like about a year! – I kept thinking Yes, I’ll bleach my eyebrows this weekend; No, this weekend; No, next weekend… And just never got round to it.
Until finally, on a whim, I did them on Christmas Eve, just as we’re having to wrap the last of the Christmas presents, load the car and get to my parents’ house for the festive period. Nothing like doing it last minute, or when there are much more pressing priorities, eh? Good job the husband knows me well…
The process
There isn’t really much to it, so there was no point in writing a complete tutorial. I actually used to bleach my eyebrows back in the 90s when I was a blonde, so I knew what to do.
Basically all I did was:
I used Boots’ own brand (face and body) bleaching cream* for about 12 minutes on my brows, just checking them after every few minutes. You obviously have to be very, very careful as you’re using bleach above your eyes, and everyone’s skin and eyebrows will be different and you have to find out what’s right for you with patch tests and following instructions to the letter.
See below for the before and after…
*Disclaimer: I cannot take any responsibility for anyone using bleaching cream in the same way and having any sort of adverse effects!
The results
My brows came out very, very light – not white-blonde white, more of a light ginger. And guess what – that’s my hair colour, so it was a great result!
Basically the difference is intended to be subtle: The “before” above is of my dark eyebrows naked (without any brow pencil or filling in) – when I’ve added in a little definition it was always hard to make them look light… Any makeup at all made them much darker (as the earlier pictures prove).
Now that they’re lighter I can add a light brown brow gel (I really like the Illamasqua Precision Brow Gel in ‘Awe’ at the moment) and they don’t get darker, just more defined. They’re also a perfect match for my hair colour – in fact, I was absolutely pleased as punch with the results, they couldn’t have come out any better.
I now feel as if my hair colour looks natural because it matches my brows – or that I’m no longer deliberately making them much, much darker (a look that I’m not keen on on myself). I love the subtle effect and the colour, and I just so wished I’d done this a lot earlier.
As I said about beauty ruts: It’s important to ring the changes – it keeps things fresh and interesting, and as with so many of these sorts of changes, they usually grow out or can be changed.
Next time I’m going to experiment with bleaching them much lighter and using an actual eyebrow tint to get them to a light brown shade: I’ve read good things about Refectocil Eyelash and Eyebrow Tint (anyone tried it)? I’ll report back as and when I get some and use it…!
HAVE YOU EVER BLEACHED YOUR EYEBROWS (OR DO YOU DYE THEM DARKER)? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS!
Pin for later!
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Your brows look great! I never thought about bleaching mine, but I have dark brown, almost black eyebrows and light red-brown hair. I'll have to see if someone could do it. (Too scared to do it myself!
Adrienne
http://www.timetestedbeauty.com
I actually prefer your darker brow as I think it gives a crisper look and works well with your eye makeup. I have to darken my pale brows and have been dithering about getting them tattoed. An abject coward, so haven't done anything about it yet!
Miss Cellany.
I've never thought of this before but Catherine your new brow colour looks amazing and really makes such a difference – I love it!
xx Yvonne
http://www.funkyforty.com
Hahaha you sent me back reminicing of the 90's when I used to bleach my hair white as well as my eyebrows! I know CRAZYYY! It was a look alright, I thought it was fab & you know what, people used to stop me in the street to say I looked like Bridget Nielson! Seriously 😉
You've done a perfect job of yours Catherine, they are completely natural. Well you are the eyebrow Queen in my book xxx
They look great Catherine – a perfect match. I thought about bleaching mine when I had blonde highlights but never got around to it. My hair has been getting darker over the last couple of years. I want to go back to bright red 🙂
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
I think they look great, Catherine. Your brows, your call. I'm desperately trying to decide what to do about my still coloured (at 60) and now thinning hair and brows. But since we will be travelling for a big chunk of time this winter… it will have to wait for spring. Lovely to have a good excuse to procrastinate!
I have the opposite problem! My eyebrows and eyelashes are so blonde they're almost clear so I look slightly startled without makeup. I dye them with a tinting kit to a darker blonde. Any darker and they look strange with my colouring. Makes me feel more…polished.
If you are happy with the look of your brows then that is great!
Personally, I think a dark brow is much more youthful looking….and makes a great statement!
I wish mine were darker!!!
My good friend has been white haired for as long as I have known her and she has (coloured) DARK brows which look great.
The brows make her look like her hair has been dyed peroxide blood instead of just being "old lady hair" {her words not mine}.
I am a HUGE fan of a dark brow, whatever the head hair colour.
Your "new" brows definitely look softer.
I dye my blonde ones darker!
Hahahaha…..
It is so important to keep experimenting and having fun with makeup, hair, nails etc etc…. especially as we get older.
This is how we avoid the dreaded frump factor!
I'll look forward to your full on bleached look.
Those lashes look amazing….mine are so pathetic!
Maybe I should invest in a few extentions?
Such a great post Catherine….I love your closeup shots with a real face that I can relate to.
Beautiful
XXX
Samantha
http://www.fakefabulous.com
You have beautiful brows, but I agree that the lighter ones really soften up your whole face and give you a much more open eyed look. It made such a big difference!
I laughed at that comment Catherine…. Just the fact that you think you have a hard face and can look "masculine" where I see a really strong feminine face.
The perfect shape with amazing eyes and an enviably elegant nose.
About as far away from masculine as I could imagine!!
Hahaha…we are strange creatures indeed.
I hope you keep experimenting and keeping us updated.
{Off to dye mine darker now!!! :oP}
XXX
Samantha
This looks so much better! It s friendlier too!
This looks so much better! It s friendlier too!
They look great! I very occasionally get mine tinted as mine are going lighter and its easier than doing them everyday. I get mine done by benefit when I get them waxed now that tweezing is so difficult as my eyesight isn't good enough nowadays. Have found the Benefit Brow bar to be really good. I am very strict about the colour as I am pretty pale and cool toned so I know it would look very harsh if the shade was wrong.
That is a great result! I have a similar problem (hair going blinder, eyebrows very dark) and I've never thought of trying this. I was afraid I'd get white eyebrows!
Gail
http://www.isthismutton.com
I think if you're eyebrows are very dark like mine, Gail, then no they don't go white (as long as you don't leave the bleach on for longer than you should)! Though if they're a little thin like mine they may look faint… you'll very likely need some full colour. But good luck if you try it! x
OMG my damn phone keyboard!!
… likely need some FILL colour that should say