How to Choose the Right Eyebrow Pencil for Your Hair Color

Eyebrow pencils: They seem simple in theory, but if only they were as easy coloring in the lines. And that’s just talking about using them. Throw in which figuring out which shade to start with and we all might as well be back in kindergarten.

We enlisted the help of New York City brow specialist Maribeth Madron to demystify the struggle that is eyebrow pencil selection for every hair color. Before we begin, look at the photo below: On the left, you’ll see untouched brows, and on the right, you’ll see a comparison of the wrong and right colors to use. The wrong color is on the left eyebrow (your left, looking at the screen), and the better color is on the right eyebrow. Read on for her expert tips.

For red hair…

“When choosing a brow pencil, it’s not just about matching your hair color. It’s also about your skin tone and eye color. If your skin tone has pink in it, you don’t want to match exactly to your hair color or else it will look orange. So you want to go for something a little ashy,” advises Madron. Try: Laura Mercier Eyebrow Pencil in Ash Blonde, $22, lauramercier.com.

For brown hair…

“For brunettes, the general rule is to stay within one to two shade ranges of your hair color. If you have light brown hair with light eyes, pick a darker tone to define. If you have dark eyes, it’s always safer to go slightly lighter. You should match to your highlight rather than your base,” says Madron. Try: Stila Stay All Day Precision Glide Brow Pencil in Medium Brown, $21, stilacosmetics.com.

For black hair…

“People with black hair seem to think they need to find an exact match, but that tends to look drawn-on and fake. Try a cool, medium-brown instead,” she says. We like: Maybelline New York Eye Studio Define and Fill Brow Duo in Deep Brown, $7.99, ulta.com.

For blond hair…

“If you’re a blond, you don’t want to look mousy. If you have light skin and eyes, match to the base tone of your hair. This will provide get definition and, more importantly, make you look awake. If you match to the lightest part of your hair, you’ll look tired and washed-out.” says Madron. Try: Sonia Kashuk Brow Definer in Taupe, $5.99, target.com.

The final looks: