Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the purpose of a brow gel for gray hair?
“Some fun or (not-so-fun) facts about aging and eyebrow hairs,” Dobos begins, “As women age, our eyebrow hairs become more sparse, coarser, and turn white or gray.” So, when and if that happens as you enter your mature beauty era, a colored tint or a holding gel can help manage those changes. “Many eyebrow gels contain film-forming polymers like PVP or VP/VA Copolymer that can tame unruly brow hairs; these polymers also help bind pigments to the hair fibers and provide long-wear properties,” Dobos adds. In men, the opposite happens, she explains. Even though their brows will also go gray because of fluctuations in testosterone, they’ll likely become bushier. That’s not the case for women, so a fluffy-looking brow gel is the next best thing.
If your brows are turning the corner towards grayness, covering up unwanted strands with a tinted gel is preferable to plucking. “Plucking, in some cases, can cause inflammation of the root of the hair, leading to damage to the follicle, helping the hair look like it’s coming in thinner,” Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City previously told Allure. “Most of the time, plucking does not truly thin out the hair, but it appears thinner as it grows in because a new hair is formed with a thin edge.
How should I choose a brow gel for gray hair?
As always, a close read of the ingredient list can be hugely helpful in picking your perfect product. “Many eyebrow gels contain film-forming polymers like PVP or VP/VA copolymer that can tame unruly brow hairs; these polymers also help bind pigments to the hair fibers and provide long-wear properties,” says Dobos. Much of the time, these are the same ingredients that you’ll find in your favorite hair products. “You might be familiar with these ingredients as they are also used for their strong hold in hairstyling products [like hairspray].” Also, keep an eye out for conditioning ingredients like ceramides, peptides, and vitamins to help soften and hydrate.
Be mindful of the applicator as you shop, too. “Just like mascara, the size and shape of the applicator brush and bristles are important in depositing just the right amount of product,” Dobos explains. “The wiper at the mouth of the bottle is also carefully matched to the brush and helps to control the amount of product on the brush. Ball wands and those with a compact tapered section of bristles are good for reaching shorter eyebrow hairs and the edges of brows.”
And when you’re choosing between shades? NYC-based makeup artist Tommy always advises selecting a color slightly lighter than your dyed or natural hair color—gray or dyed. He previously explained that “the ideal color will mimic the shadow already there that is created by eyebrow hair.”
Meet the experts
- Kelly Dobos, a cosmetic chemist based in Cincinnati
- Billie Gene, a makeup artist and founder of Billie Gene Body based in New York City
- Shari Marchbein, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
- Tonya Riner, a makeup artist based in Houston
- Tommy, a makeup artist based in New York City
- Kierra Lanice Wray, a makeup artist based in Lansing, Michigan
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
How we test and review products
Before reviewing any makeup, we ask questions about a number of factors: What ingredients are in it? Does the brand offer a wide shade range inclusive of consumers with all skin tones and undertones? Is it safe for readers who have sensitive skin or wear contact lenses? Is it on the affordable side or more of a splurge? Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
For our review of the best brow gels for gray hair, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, dermatologists, and cosmetic chemists to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.allure.com
