Grey Brows and Cosmetic Tattooing – Everything You Need to Know

Let’s face it. At some point in time, we’re all going to struggle with those inevitable signs of aging, like wrinkles and grey hair. In the fight against grey hair, brow stylists have long relied on brow tint to cover the greys. However, in most cases, grey coverage with traditional brow tint is not a trustworthy process. Grey hair coverage can be very stubborn with tint; therefore, some clients will find results fade quickly and they are left with ’salt and pepper' looking brows once again.

As many women are now embracing going grey and looking for ways to go grey gracefully, instead of trying to cover them, people are now looking to disguise their greys with tinting and semi-permanent makeup.

Can you get cosmetic tattoos if you have grey brows?

In short, yes, you can! it’s a fabulous option to keep your arches looking fresh and brows fuller. “Clients tell me that they constantly feel ‘washed out’ with grey brows and want a solution to frame their face, as tint doesn’t hold very well, so many opt for cosmetic tattooing instead as a low-maintenance option. Great brows are always necessary.” Racheal, owner of Your Eyes Only Brow Studio.

What happens to the greys after cosmetic tattooing? Do they continue to grow?

Cosmetic tattooing doesn’t affect the colour of the hair, it’s more so designed to create a shadow of colour behind the brows and define the shape. After your cosmetic tattoo, the brows will continue to grow as normal.

Some of our clients prefer a colour slightly darker than their brow hair, so in that case, we recommend coming in for a tint beforehand so we can colour the hair to the perfect shade in preparation for your cosmetic tattooing.

We have different tones of brown we can use from light ash, to neutral and warm tones, so it depends on your preference of undertones, anything is possibly with colour matching due to the broad ranges of pigment colours we stock.

Ombre or microblading? Which technique is better for grey brows?

The two techniques of cosmetic tattooing are more so chosen based on skin type and the amount of ‘filling’ needed, versus the colour of the actual hair. Both are great options and will be discussed with you on the day of your appointment.

Should you choose Microblading?

In terms of microblading, this is typically used for someone who was going grey and is losing the definition in their brows. Traditionally, we would mix a base colour using a lighter shade of brown pigment to blend hair strokes into the existing brow hair. This will give it a much more natural look. The placement of the hair strokes is key to this process. Our highly skilled artists use an all-over microblading technique and customize the placement of each hair stroke to make sure that you get the best natural-looking result.

Using microblading can be an effective way to disguise your greys, but it’s not without limitations. The most important thing to understand about the microblading process with grey hair, is it will not change the colour of the hair. If you’re expecting a full grey coverage, you may be disappointed with the results.

Even though you are using microblading to disguise the grey hair, you may need a bit more maintenance and may need to keep coming back in to tint the brow hair to match the cosmetic tattooing.

What about Ombre?

While microblading may make sense for some clients because of its natural result, there are also several reasons why you should consider ombré brows to reach your brow goals. To get started with blending ombré with grey hair, brow stylists should start by choosing a colour that’s going to match both the brow hair and the hair on the head. You can get cosmetic tattoo pigments that are grey and also ash brown. You can also opt to mix a combination of both to give them a great colour.

The verdict

When it comes to grey coverage and cosmetic tattooing, microblading and ombré both have great benefits. Using a semi-permanent technique will give you a beautiful brow shape that looks fabulous every day and allow you to wake up and go without the need for makeup.

Make sure you have a thorough brow consultation so you can better understand the options and what’s possible for you, as well as the maintenance involved.

Booking a consultation

During your consultation, we will assess your brow type, skin type and current shape, We recommend coming in with your normal day make up so we can understand your personal style and help guide you on what will suit you. You can also bring images of brows that you love for inspiration as we create a treatment plan for you.