Fixing Bad Henna-Dyed Brows (And How To Do Them Right Next Time)

There are many options if you're looking to dye your eyebrows, and, thanks at least in part to TikTok, henna has become a very popular option. Videos of the technique have garnered over 17 million views on the platform. The trend involves using henna dye, a red-orange dye made from dried henna tree leaves mixed with liquids, to darken your brows.

Henna can be used to dye your hair or brows as an alternative to other boxed dyes, though Healthline warns that it may also come with disadvantages like hair damage, allergic reactions, or stained skin and clothes. There are a couple of things that can go wrong when you're dyeing your brows with henna. You might have gone too dark, you might have applied the dye to too large of a space, or you might just not like how they turned out. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to fix the result if you don't like what your brows look like post-henna dye.

If something has gone wrong with your henna-dyed brows, don't panic. There are some things you can do right away to help fix them. If your henna straight-up didn't work, experts at PMUHub suggest simply doing the process over again. Leave the dye on for longer or reach for a darker shade next time.

If your brows come out too dark, PMUHub warms that you should make sure to wipe the skin around your brows to remove any dye on the skin first. The dye won't go away right away, so if you've messed up the shape in some form, you'll have to wait for the stains to fade as you wash your face in the next few days. While applying the henna, stick to your natural brow shape, or find the perfect brow shape for your face. While you may have the shape right, you'll likely have to wait for your dyed brows to lighten and go back to normal. If you don't want to try again next time, consider using temporary eyebrow tattoos to fill in your brows instead.

There are a few steps to follow to make sure your henna-dyed eyebrows come out perfectly next time you try. Before you do anything, Hello Glow recommends doing a patch test. Brush henna dye on the inside of your arm to make sure you don't have a reaction to it before applying it to your eyebrows.

Byrdie stresses the importance of making sure your face is clean and your brows are free of makeup as well. You want to also take the time to find the correct shade for your brows. Once you have your face prepped and color picked out, grab a cotton swab or a clean brush, dip it in the dye, and apply it to your brows directly. Wait up to 10 minutes and then clean it off your brows. 

For the next day, make sure you're not exposing your henna-dyed brows to the sun. Also, make sure you're not touching your face too much. If you want to make sure you're getting the shape you want, consider taping off the sections around your brows so you don't end up with dyed skin because, as mentioned, it takes some time to fade.