Do Dark Eyebrows Age You? - Rachael Bebe

For many of us, our eyebrows are a feature we rarely give much thought to. But the truth is, they play a powerful role in shaping how we look and how others perceive our age. 

As a cosmetic tattoo artist with over two decades of experience, I’ve seen firsthand how a simple change in eyebrow colour or shape can take years off a person’s appearance. 

Eyebrows frame the face, highlight the eyes, and bring balance to our features. But can the colour of your eyebrows really make you look older? 

Well, the answer isn’t as simple as “yes” or “no.” In this guide, I’ll take you through how dark eyebrows interact with age, and why choosing the right shade and shape could be the key to a more youthful look.

Do Dark Eyebrows Make You Look Older?

Understanding the Relationship Between Eyebrow Colour and Age Appearance

Now, let’s address the burning question: do dark eyebrows make you look older? The answer lies in the balance. Dark brows can enhance your facial contrast, making your eyes pop and framing your face beautifully. 

However, if the colour is too harsh—think jet black brows on pale skin—they can appear heavy and intense, which can actually accentuate the lines around your eyes and make you look older. 

I’ve worked with women in their 40s and 50s who are surprised at how their brows, once too dark and bold, actually highlight their fine lines, making them appear older.

The key is finding the right shade for your skin tone and hair colour. Dark brows, when done correctly, can add definition and youthfulness. But if they’re too dark or thick, they may start to overpower the softer features of an aging face.

Impact of Eyebrow Colour Trends on Age Perception

As eyebrow trends evolve, so does our perception of how they influence our age. In recent years, the trend has shifted towards softer, more natural brow shades. 

While dark, bold brows were all the rage in the past, lighter or warmer brow colours have gained popularity. The trend towards softer shades comes with a noticeable side effect—youthful energy.

For example, in my practice, I often advise my clients to opt for a dark brown or soft brown instead of black. 

I find that the softer shades are much more flattering as they don’t create a stark contrast, which in turn, avoids a ‘harsh’ or ‘aged’ look. Dark brown, as opposed to black, naturally frames the face while still maintaining a warm, youthful vibe.

The Power of Eyebrows in Aging Perception

Eyebrows as a Key Feature in Facial Aesthetics

Think about it for a moment: when someone mentions “youthful,” what do you picture? A fresh, glowing face with well-defined features, right? And where do eyebrows fit into that picture? Eyebrows are incredibly powerful when it comes to enhancing facial beauty. 

They’re one of the first features that draw attention when we look at someone’s face, and they can completely transform the way we’re perceived. 

When eyebrows are well-groomed and filled in, they create a polished, awake look, making you appear more youthful. However, poorly shaped or faded brows can make you look tired, older, and even unbalanced.

I’ve worked with countless clients who come in feeling like they’ve aged overnight because their brows have thinned, grayed, or fallen out of shape. 

A simple brow reshaping, with a natural, slightly darker tint, can often make them look a good 5-10 years younger. As we age, eyebrows undergo many changes, and knowing how to work with those changes is crucial.

Eyebrow Changes with Age

As we age, our bodies undergo inevitable transformations, and our eyebrows are no exception. Here’s how the aging process typically affects brows:

• Thinning and Sparseness: Eyebrows often start to thin out over time, making them look sparse. Over-plucking can exacerbate this problem, especially for older women. If you’ve been plucking your brows for years, you may notice them becoming thinner and more uneven. This can make you appear older and more tired.
• Graying or Whitening: Just like the hair on our heads, brow hairs can start to gray or turn white. This natural process, while expected, can result in brows that lack definition. When you’re looking for youth, faded or gray brows are hardly ideal—they can make your face appear washed out.
• Coarser and Unruly Hairs: Many people find their brow hairs get coarser as they age. This can make your brows look unruly and out of control, especially if you’ve got longer hair that tends to flop over your eyelids, making your eyes appear smaller or hooded.
• Loss of Natural Shape: Over time, your eyebrows lose their natural shape and fullness. This can lead to a drooping effect, which contributes to an older look. I often tell my clients that reshaping the brow to follow the natural arch can significantly restore youthful definition.
• Diminished Facial Contrast: As we age, the contrast between our features diminishes. When your brows become lighter or grayer, they blend in more with your skin tone, making your facial features less defined and contributing to a more aged appearance.

How Eyebrow Colour Affects Your Facial Aesthetics

The Importance of Choosing the Right Shade

Choosing the right eyebrow colour is essential for your overall appearance. It’s not just about making sure the colour matches your hair—though that’s important too—it’s about enhancing your natural features. 

For example, I tell my clients to pick an eyebrow shade that’s one or two shades lighter than their natural hair colour if they have dark hair. This keeps the brows soft and natural-looking.

For older clients, I often recommend softer brown shades. Dark brown or grey shades can help lift the face, creating a youthful look without looking artificial. 

On the flip side, I’ve seen clients who’ve gone too dark with their brows and ended up looking like they were wearing a mask rather than enhancing their natural features.

Choosing the Right Eyebrow Shade for Aging

Choosing a shade that matches your hair and enhances your skin tone can make all the difference. It’s no secret that darker shades often look too harsh.

I see many older clients who come in with darker brows—sometimes too dark for their current hair colour—and we immediately adjust it to a lighter, warmer tone. This little change can make a world of difference, creating a more harmonious and youthful appearance.

Mistakes That Make Your Eyebrows Look Older

Super-Thin and Over-Plucked Eyebrows

Eyebrows that are too thin, often a product of over-plucking, can make you look older and even tired. I’ve worked with many women who have long, thin eyebrows from years of over-plucking. These brows contribute to an aged look because they lose their framing power.

If you’ve been caught up in the thin brow trend of the 90s, it’s time to reconsider. I’ve had clients come in who are shocked at how thickening and reshaping their brows brings back a youthful radiance. So, my tip is to go fuller, not thinner.

Choosing Too Dark or Too Harsh a Colour

We’ve touched on this before, but it’s crucial: too dark of a shade can make you appear older. When filling in your brows, aim for a shade that enhances your face’s natural colour, rather than a shade that contrasts too harshly with your skin tone. 

I can’t stress enough how softer shades like dark brown or medium brown do wonders for creating that youthful frame.

Ignoring Grey Hairs and Brow Shape

Let’s face it, grey hairs happen. But they don’t have to be the end of your youthful brow appearance. Untamed grey eyebrows can make you look older than you are, so it’s important to embrace brow tinting or filling.

Eyebrow Design and Age Perception: Tips for a Youthful Look

The Golden Ratio for Perfect Brows

If you’re unsure where to begin, use the Golden Ratio. It’s an easy guide for ensuring that your brow shape enhances your face shape. I use this method in my work with clients, and it’s proven to help with balance. Here’s a quick guide to the perfect brow placement:

• Start Point: Align your brows with the nostrils.
• Arch Point: Two-thirds of the way along the brow, with the arch located above the iris.
• End Point: The tail of the brow should align with the outer corner of the eye.

Fuller, Thicker Brows for a Youthful Look

A fuller brow generally suggests a youthful, vibrant appearance. When shaping your brows, focus on creating fullness rather than sharp lines. This doesn’t mean over-filling—just adding a bit of volume and definition. 

For older clients, I always suggest focusing on the inner part of the brow to give the face a fresher, more open appearance.

Eyebrow Tattoos: A Solution for Aging Brows

Microblading for Older Women

Microblading has become a popular solution for aging brows. It’s a semi-permanent tattoo technique that creates the illusion of hair strokes. Akin to how you might give an old property a fresh coat of paint, you use a tattoo to restore definition and structure to thinning or sparse eyebrows.

I’ve worked with many older clients who’ve turned to this technique to bring life back to their brows. For women with thinning or sparse brows, microblading provides a natural, fuller appearance that lasts up to two years.

Eyebrow Tinting for Restoring Youthful Colour

Eyebrow tinting is a quick and affordable way to restore the colour of your brows. I often recommend tinting for clients who want a subtle lift. The treatment can help to combat the appearance of grey hairs and offer more definition to the face.

The Influence of Eyebrow Shape on Your Age Appearance

How Eyebrow Shape Can Enhance Your Youthful Look

When it comes to eyebrows, shape plays an even more significant role than colour in influencing your age perception. A well-shaped brow can enhance the natural contours of your face, lifting your eyes and making your face appear more open and youthful. 

As we age, the natural arch of the eyebrow tends to flatten, which can contribute to a drooping, tired appearance. Adjusting your brow shape can counteract this effect, giving your face a more lifted, refreshed look.

In my experience, I’ve found that clients who have a more pronounced arch tend to look younger because the lift draws attention away from the eyelids and onto the eyes themselves. 

Eyebrows that follow the natural contour of the brow bone also tend to highlight the eyes, making them appear larger and more vibrant. Here’s a quick breakdown of how different brow shapes affect the face:

• Soft Arch: A gentle curve to the brow shape can lift the eyes without being too dramatic, making you look refreshed and youthful.
• High Arch: This brow shape adds a more defined lift to the eyes, giving the face a sharp, youthful look. It works best on oval or round faces.
• Flat Brows: Flat brows can make the face appear longer and more angular. This shape can be beneficial for those with round faces to add some contrast and structure.
• Rounded Brows: This shape softens harsh lines, making it perfect for square or angular face shapes to create a more youthful, feminine look.

It’s essential to tailor your eyebrow shape based on your face shape and the natural brow bone contours. For example, if you have a square face, a more rounded brow shape can soften the angles, giving you a youthful and approachable look. 

If you have a longer face, a more horizontal, straight brow shape can help balance the length of the face, making it appear more youthful.

Here’s how different brow shapes match various face types:

Face Shape	Ideal Brow Shape	Why It Works
Oval Face	Soft Arch	Complements natural face symmetry, adding lift.
Round Face	Angled Brow	Adds structure, elongates the face, softens roundness.
Square Face	Rounded Brow	Softens strong jawline and sharp angles, making face appear more youthful.
Heart Face	Rounded Arch	Balances narrower chin, softens the face shape.
Long Face	Flat Brow	Shortens the face and adds horizontal balance.

When shaping your brows, keep these face-type guidelines in mind. They will help create symmetry and balance, allowing you to highlight the features that give you a more youthful appearance.

Eyebrows play a significant role in how old or young we look. By choosing the right shade, shape, and grooming method, you can significantly enhance your natural beauty. 

Don’t be afraid to embrace fullness and softness in your brows—this can help combat the effects of aging and keep your look fresh.