Quick answer: To tame white or gray brows, brush them up with a spoolie, trim only the few hairs that stick straight up, add a little taupe pencil to any skin that shows through, then comb a tinted brow mascara through the hairs to cover the gray. Nikol blends Blonde and Milk Chocolate for a soft, natural frame you control day to day—no harsh dye and no drawn-on brows.
Key takeaways
- Gray and white brow hairs are coarse and lose pigment, so they don't hold dye well—tinted brow mascara is the easier, wash-off fix.
- Brush up first and trim only the unruly tips; a heavy trim looks over-groomed.
- A taupe pencil adds color to skin peeking through, following your natural shape.
- Match the brow-mascara shade to your hair, staying a touch softer—Nikol mixed Blonde with Milk Chocolate for her auburn-haired model.
- The finish covers the gray but still reads natural—no black brows you're stuck with for a week.
Hey ladies! White and gray brows are one of the biggest concerns I hear about—the hair goes coarse, it won't hold color, and it can grow every which way. In this Fierce Aging episode I worked with Joanne (66) and showed the exact trick I use to trim, shape, and color grayed brows so they frame the face softly instead of looking harsh or drawn on. Here's how it works.
Why do white and gray brows behave differently?
As brow hair grays it loses pigment and turns coarser, so it's stubborn about holding tint or dye and the color fades quickly. On top of that, those coarse hairs tend to stick up and refuse to lay flat. That's why my go-to isn't a permanent dye—it's a tinted brow mascara that coats each hair with buildable color you can add when you want it and wash off at night.
How does Nikol tame white and gray brows, step by step?
- Brush the brows up. Use the spoolie end of your pencil to brush the hairs up so you can see what you're actually working with.
- Coax only the tips. Less is more—just work the tips so they lay properly. Don't go in aggressively or the brows look unruly.
- Trim the strays. Snip only the few individual hairs that stick straight up and won't lay down. Go slowly and cut less than you think you need.
- Add color underneath. Where a little skin shows through, use the Skinny Brow Pencil in Taupe with light strokes that follow your natural brow shape—just enough to fill gaps, never a hard line.
- Color through with brow mascara. Comb a tinted brow mascara over the hairs to cover the gray. I picked two shades—Blonde and Milk Chocolate—and started with Blonde, mixing in a little Milk Chocolate for Joanne's auburn hair.
The result covers the gray while still looking completely natural. You don't end up with black brows you have to live with for a week—just a soft, defined frame that suits the face.
What products does Nikol use on the brows?
The brow work is simple: a spoolie and small scissors to shape, the Skinny Brow Pencil in Taupe to add subtle color to the skin underneath, and a tinted brow mascara in Blonde and Milk Chocolate to color through the hairs. Matching the mascara a shade softer than the hair keeps everything natural.
How do the brows fit into the full fierce aging look?
The brows are one piece of a soft, hydrating everyday look I created for Joanne. After prepping the eyes with a cooling roller and serum, I smoothed on Fiercely Smooth Face Primer for a burst of hydration. On the eyes I used the #1 Eye Primer to neutralize discoloration, the Naughty Nancy palette, a waterproof plum eyeliner, and Volume Up Mascara to separate and lengthen mature lashes, finished with KISS New Natural half lashes.
For complexion, I corrected redness with No Redness and brightened under the eyes with Just Peachy, then melted in BB Cream in Light Medium and set with Nikita Banana powder. Lips got a Cameo liner, 1975 lipstick, and a little Coco 13 gloss on top. If you're trimming near the brow, work slowly and carefully with clean tools.
The bottom line
You don't have to dye your brows or draw them on to look polished. Brush up, trim only the strays, add a whisper of taupe pencil, and color through with a tinted brow mascara matched to your hair—and your grayed brows will frame your face softly and naturally. Ready to try it? Shop brows, explore the full face edit, or browse all makeup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you color white or gray eyebrows?
Brush the brows up with a spoolie, trim only the few hairs that stick straight up, then add a little taupe pencil to the skin that shows through. Finish by combing a tinted brow mascara through the hairs—Nikol blends Blonde and Milk Chocolate—to cover the gray while keeping a soft, natural frame.
Why won't my gray or white brow hairs hold color?
Gray and white brow hairs are coarser and have lost pigment, so tint and dye grab unevenly and fade fast. That's why Nikol reaches for a tinted brow mascara instead: it coats each hair with buildable color you control day to day, without committing to a harsh dye that lingers for a week.
Should you trim white or gray eyebrows?
Only lightly. Nikol brushes the brows up first, then snips just the individual hairs that stick straight up and won't lay down—never a heavy trim. Doing only the unruly tips keeps the brows looking full and natural instead of over-groomed. Go slowly and cut less than you think you need.
What brow mascara shade works best on gray brows?
It depends on your hair. Nikol usually likes Milk Chocolate, but felt it was too dark for her auburn-haired model, so she mixed in Blonde and started with the lighter shade. The goal is to cover the gray while staying a touch softer than your hair color for a natural result.
Is tinted brow mascara better than dyeing gray brows?
For many mature women, yes—it's lower commitment. A tinted brow mascara lets you add color only when you want it and wash it off at night, so you're in control for an event or an everyday look. Dye and black brows can look harsh and stick around for a week.
What does Nikol use to add color under sparse brows?
The Skinny Brow Pencil in Taupe. Where a little skin shows through the hair, she draws light strokes that follow the natural brow shape to add subtle color underneath—just enough to fill gaps without drawing on a hard, obvious line.
