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How Do I Choose the Best Brown Eyebrow Pencil?

Amanda R. Bell
Amanda R. Bell

The wrong brown eyebrow pencil can take you from looking naturally gorgeous to incredibly overdone. To choose the best pencil, start by determining the right shade for your brows. Then decide whether or not you would like a waxy pencil or a softer one, depending on how unruly your brows are. For ease of use, try to look for a brown eyebrow pencil that has a spooled brush on one end, and make sure that the pencil itself can be easily sharpened.

There are several different shades of brown eyebrow pencils, and choosing the right one is important. If you have dark brows, look for a product that is one shade lighter to achieve the most natural look. Those with light eyebrows should do the exact opposite, and choose a brown eyebrow pencil that is a shade darker than their natural brows, as this will help to give their eyes more definition. Generally, you should always base your choice on your eyebrows and not your hair color. While some people have brows the same shade as their hair, many do not, and trying to match the two can look odd.

An eyebrow brush may be used to blend out color added by an eyebrow pencil.
An eyebrow brush may be used to blend out color added by an eyebrow pencil.

Outside of the color of the pencil, the consistency of the product is also important when choosing a product. If you have shorter, thinner brows, a soft pencil product will typically work best. For those with thicker, denser eyebrows, a waxy pencil is often ideal, as it will help to control the individual hairs, giving more control over the shape. Once you’ve determined the best consistency for you, swatch the product on the back of your hand to see how easily the pencil glides over your skin; typically, you don’t want to use anything that will tug or pull on your eye area.

The effects of an eyebrow pencil can be enhanced by maintaining well-trimmed eyebrows.
The effects of an eyebrow pencil can be enhanced by maintaining well-trimmed eyebrows.

The color and consistency of the pencil that you choose is obviously most important; however, the ease of using the product should also be considered. If you have the choice, look for a brown eyebrow pencil that has a spooled brush, often referred to as a spooly, on one end. This will allow you to brush through your brows before defining them and comb through them afterwards for the most natural look. If you travel often, this can be especially beneficial, as it removes the need for two products.

The consistency of the product is important when choosing an eyebrow pencil.
The consistency of the product is important when choosing an eyebrow pencil.

Even if you have found the perfect brown eyebrow pencil, do not purchase it if you will not be able to sharpen it. Using a dull pencil on your brows can make them look drawn-in rather than naturally defined, even if it is the perfect color or consistency. This is typically only a problem with twist-up pencils, which are also the ones that are usually waxier in consistency. Make sure that you read the packaging to determine if there are instructions for returning the product to its natural point before you purchase it.

Discussion Comments

literally45

My sister is a makeup artist and she told me that I should use an eyebrow pencil that's one tone lighter than the color of my brows. She said this makes eyebrows look more natural. I have brown eyebrows so I use a light brown eye brow pencil. She's right. It does look very natural

candyquilt

@SarahGen-- There is really only one good way to know, and that is to try the pencil before buying. That means you might have to purchase from a beauty store or cosmetic counter where they have testers available. Unfortunately, if you buy a brown eyebrow pencil without checking first, the color might be off, it might have too much or too little pigment or it might be too hard or too soft.

If this is not possible for you, then at least read customer reviews of products online before purchasing. You can get a fairly good idea about eyebrow pencils based on other people's experiences.

SarahGen

I purchased a brown eyebrow pencil online. The color seems to be fine but I'm having a hard time applying the pencil because it's so hard! It barely leaves any color and I feel like I'm poking my eyebrow with the pencil. It's a disaster!

How can I tell whether an eyebrow pencil is soft or not before buying?

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    • An eyebrow brush may be used to blend out color added by an eyebrow pencil.
      By: Andriy Petrenko
      An eyebrow brush may be used to blend out color added by an eyebrow pencil.
    • The effects of an eyebrow pencil can be enhanced by maintaining well-trimmed eyebrows.
      By: Lsantilli
      The effects of an eyebrow pencil can be enhanced by maintaining well-trimmed eyebrows.
    • The consistency of the product is important when choosing an eyebrow pencil.
      By: Minerva Studio
      The consistency of the product is important when choosing an eyebrow pencil.
    • Mascara can temporarily change the color of eyebrows.
      By: Eireann
      Mascara can temporarily change the color of eyebrows.