Key ingredients: vitamin B5, kaolin clay, carnauba wax | Shades: 4 | Who it’s for: people who like a buildable formula that won’t result in a crunchy finish
Best Waterproof Brow Gel for Gray Hair: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Gel
Why it’s worth it: Over and over, we pledge allegiance to the Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Gel, which is a treat for mature and youthful hairs alike. The titular “dip brow” may conjure images of overly geometric, pomade-painted-on brows, but make no mistake—this deposits evenly, making for long-lasting, well-held arches without over-the-top drama. The brush allows for precise application that imparts solid color payoff and dries down to a waterproof, soft-matte finish. A little goes a long way, though, so less is more if you’re going for a notably natural look. The colors range from taupe to ash brown to chocolatey brunette and beyond.
Key ingredients: isododecane, beeswax, | Shades: 11 | Who it’s for: people who want no-budge, all-day pigment
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.