If a person’s eyelashes and eyebrows are different from his or her hair color or are so light that they are invisible, then eyelash and eyebrow tinting can be used to temporarily darken them. The tint generally lasts four to six weeks, and the eyelashes and eyebrows will have to be redone after the hair grows or falls out naturally. Ideally, eyelash and eyebrow tinting should be done by a licensed professional, but it can be completed at home with the proper products and tools. Working with tint around the eye area is serious business because it has the ability to cause blindness. Avoid using regular hair dye, and use a non-toxic dye product that is produced from vegetable implant extracts.
The key to successful tinting is being prepared and having all of the tools within reach. Individuals who tend to be allergic to dye should consider completing a patch test first. To conduct a patch test, the inner area of the forearm should first be cleaned with alcohol. A small amount of the tint should be applied to the area, then wiped off after the area is completely dry. If irritation or redness occurs, do not continue with eyelash and eyebrow tinting.
Prior to tinting, use a cotton swab to apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly around the eyebrows as well as the upper and lower lids. Do not get the petroleum jelly on the lashes, because tint color is unable to penetrate through it. A quarter-inch (6.35 mm) of lash tint should be squeezed into a pigment cap or small dish. Mix the oxidant until it creates a smooth paste.
All tint colors will look brown until the dye has been exposed to the air and has oxidized. To avoid the tint from spreading to other areas around the eye, place a moistened cosmetic pad under the lower lash line. For the pad to fit neatly under the lashes, separate the cotton pad in half.
Use a wooden applicator stick to apply the tint to the eyelashes and eyebrows. If any tint gets on the skin, immediately wipe off with a moistened cotton swab. It will take the tint one to two minutes to process on the eyebrows.
Do not leave it on for longer than two minutes; if the color is not dark enough, it can always be reapplied. It takes five to 15 minutes for eyelashes to be tinted. A longer processing time when doing eyelash and eyebrow tinting will yield a deeper color.