The makeup industry has definitely been feeling threatened by PMU! Brands have been pumping out brow product after brow product, trying to invent that holy grail formula which will give you the brows of your dreams.
In the past couple of years, innovative products and techniques like the fiber gel or eyebrow extensions have emerged, but none of them have managed to fulfill all our eyebrow needs the way microblading can.
But now there’s a new product on the market – the temporary eyebrow tattoo. Let’s explore this alleged powder brows replacement and see what it’s all about.
What’s a Temporary Brow Tattoo?
The temporary brow tattoo is a topical product that’s applied onto the brows. It goes onto the skin, not into it like the permanent brow tattoos known as permanent makeup.
It’s left on the brows for the designated time, and it leaves traces of color, enhancing your brows. It’s meant to last for a few days. The longevity depends on the type of product, the quality of its formula, and how you treat the brow area.
The effects are more permanent than regular brow makeup such as pencils or powders, but it’s still relatively short.
How Does It Work?
There are 2 types of temporary eyebrow tattoo, the sticker type, and the liquid tint formula. Let’s discuss each one.
Temporary Eyebrow Tattoo Sticker
Remember the paper sticker tattoos you probably loved as a child? Well, they found their application in beauty!
Temporary eyebrow tattoo stickers are basically pictures of eyebrows that you stick onto your brows, and they get transferred to your skin. They can look very realistic – each hair is drawn separately, so they look a lot like microblading hair strokes.
There are many brands available, and there’s a whole range of styles, shapes and colors to choose from.
Image source: YouTube Screenshot Tameca Croom
Application Process
- Choose the pair of brows you like best.
- The tattoo stickers come on a paper sheet, so you should cut out the brow, cutting as close to its edges as possible.
- Peel off the plastic from the sticker.
Place the sticky side on your skin where you want your brow tattoo to be. - Dampen the paper side with water. The whole sticker should be wetted evenly, but it shouldn’t be soaking wet.
- Leave it on for about 1 minute.
- Peel off the paper.
And voilà! The tattoo will look shiny and have a sort of glossy film over it, so it’s a good idea to cover it with powder to kill the shine.
*The brow tattoo stickers are suitable for you if you have very little to no brow hairs. If you have some brow hair, you should trim it short before trying brow stickers for the best application.
Longevity
The sticker-type temporary eyebrow tattoo can last out as long as 5 days if you keep it dry as much as possible and don’t rub it against anything (your fingers, towels, pillowcase, whatever).
Cost
Temporary eyebrow tattoo stickers are super affordable! They generally cost under $15, and you get between 10 and 50 pairs of brows in a pack.
Its PMU Counterpart
Since temporary eyebrow tattoo stickers have distinguishable hair strokes, the look is very similar to microblading or nano brows.
Peel-Off Temporary Eyebrow Tattoo Tint
On the other hand, there are gels that tint the brow hairs and skin.
Several makeup brands have developed a form of semi-permanent brow tint that colors your brow hairs and stains the skin underneath them for a few days. It’s a very simple product which is essentially regular makeup, but gives a prolonged effect.
They come in tubes with brush applicators.
Image source: YouTube Screenshot Tati
Application process
- Buy a tube of temporary eyebrow tattoo tint in the shade you like best. Most brands only offer a handful of shades, which can be annoying.
- Apply a coat of the gel onto your brows in the shape you want your brows. Clean up the shape white the tint is still wet, or you’ll end up with a messy brow.
- Leave it on for a certain time, between 20 minutes and 2 hours. Most formulas work on the principle of, the longer you leave it on, the longer the effects will last.
- The tint should have dried into a dry film. Peel it off – it should come out in one piece.
That’s it! Enjoy your tinted brows!
Longevity
The longer you leave the tint on, the more your skin will absorb it, and the longer the effects will last.
A short application of 20-30 minutes gives you a full day of tint, while the full 2 hours can give you 3-5 days. Of course, it also depends on your routine, as harsh skincare will fade the temporary brow tattoo.
Cost
The cost is similar to any drugstore brow makeup gel – around $15.
Its PMU Counterpart
Since temporary eyebrow tattoo tint gives a shaded effect along with coloring the hairs, the look is similar to microshading or combo brows.
Is It Worth Trying?
A temporary eyebrow tattoo is a quick DIY way to achieve a brow enhancement somewhat more long-lasting that old-school brow makeup we’re used to. It will give you a few days of enhanced brows, so it’s a useful solution for short trips or special occasions.
What’s great is that you have the option of choosing between the shaded effect achieved with a tint and a hair stroke look that sticker tattoos give, but you should be aware that the sticker kind won’t really look realistic up close – even a pencil can look more natural.
Final Tip
If you’ve been considering permanent makeup for eyebrows as something you might be interested in doing, getting a permanent eyebrow tattoo is a great way to test out the look before you commit to the long-term effects of PMU. If you like the temporary version, you’ll definitely love the permanent one!
For more temporary brow enhancement methods, check out our guides through Brow Tinting and Henna Brows.
Cover image source: Freepik
