Brow Lightening

Brow lightening does the opposite of tinting: it lifts the colour of brow hairs that are too dark or too harsh for your hair colour or skin tone.

Offered on-site by Charm Brows & Beauty.

It's most often used when someone has gone significantly lighter with their hair colour and their natural brows now look heavy against it, or when very dark brows dominate the face. Lifting them a shade or two softens the whole look without changing the shape.

Your therapist works gradually and checks as it lifts — this isn't a process to rush.

• Consultation about how much lighter you want to go
• Brows cleansed and prepared
• Lightening product applied and monitored as it lifts
• Result checked with you and stopped at the right point
• Soothing product afterwards
• Aftercare advice

Allow about 30 minutes. Your therapist agrees the target with you, then applies the lightening product and watches it closely, checking as the colour lifts.

It's stopped once the right depth is reached and the area is soothed. Because brow hair is fine, lifting happens quickly and is monitored carefully throughout.

Anyone whose brows look too dark or heavy against their hair colour or complexion, particularly after going lighter with hair colour. Tell your therapist about any sensitivity or previous reaction to brow products beforehand so a patch test can be arranged.

Keep the brows dry for 12 hours, then use a gentle cleanser around the area. Brow hairs can feel drier after lightening, so a brow serum or a drop of oil at night helps.

The result grows out as new hair comes through, so most people return every four to six weeks if they want to maintain it.

• Go a shade at a time; over-lifted brows look orange and take weeks to grow out
• Bring a photo of your hair colour if you've recently changed it
• Condition the brow hairs at home after lightening
• Ask for a patch test if you've reacted to brow products before
• Combine with lamination or shaping in the same visit if you want a fuller change