dying my hair or eyebrows back to black
March 5, 2012 6:29 PM Subscribe
I'm a male in my early thirties in DC and starting to get pretty visible white hair (i have completely black hair). That's not that big of a deal - but I've started to get a visible white patch on one of my eyebrows (and THAT is bothersome and visible). I'd like to fix that.
I'm interested in finding a reasonably priced salon that can dye my eyebrow back to a black color, and possibly give me some advice on being able to do it myself (either for the eyebrow(s) or also for my hair in general). Most any advice on this online is for women, but there is a lot of suggestions NOT to do it yourself when your eyebrows are involved.
I very rarely go to salons (since i get my hair cut about every couple of weeks and that would get very expensive), so I'm a little unsure of where to go.
Points for nonpretentious, friendly and affordable. Somewhere in DC or the inner suburbs in Montgomery or Prince George's County would be great.
I did look in past Ask MeFi questions, but none were location specific and most (as far as I know) that were male oriented. Thanks in advance!
I'm interested in finding a reasonably priced salon that can dye my eyebrow back to a black color, and possibly give me some advice on being able to do it myself (either for the eyebrow(s) or also for my hair in general). Most any advice on this online is for women, but there is a lot of suggestions NOT to do it yourself when your eyebrows are involved.
I very rarely go to salons (since i get my hair cut about every couple of weeks and that would get very expensive), so I'm a little unsure of where to go.
Points for nonpretentious, friendly and affordable. Somewhere in DC or the inner suburbs in Montgomery or Prince George's County would be great.
I did look in past Ask MeFi questions, but none were location specific and most (as far as I know) that were male oriented. Thanks in advance!
Response by poster: Well, my eyebrows aren't growing at that fast a clip, so I cant imagine I'd have to do that a lot...
posted by waylaid at 6:38 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by waylaid at 6:38 PM on March 5, 2012
I've dyed my eyebrows before. Lightened them actually, so I was bleaching them which I'm sure is considered an even bigger no-no. It was fine. I think the concerns with dying your eyebrows as an amateur are, in order: getting chemicals in your eyes, bleaching them and making them fall off, getting dye on the skin under your eyebrow making it look weird, and the fact that if the color comes out weird it'll be more noticeable bc it's your eyebrow.
If I were you I would get that beard dye for men that you apply with a brush, use it on the eyebrow and not worry about it. Wear eye protection and try to keep the dye off your skin.
posted by cairdeas at 6:47 PM on March 5, 2012
If I were you I would get that beard dye for men that you apply with a brush, use it on the eyebrow and not worry about it. Wear eye protection and try to keep the dye off your skin.
posted by cairdeas at 6:47 PM on March 5, 2012
They probably are growing at a pretty decent clip — it's just that eyebrow hairs fall out when they get to a certain length, so you don't notice them growing.
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:47 PM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by nebulawindphone at 6:47 PM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
I use this on my eyelashes. I bet you could use it on your eyebrows. And I assume if it's safe enough to use on your eyelashes you can use it on your eyebrows, but I haven't tried it do no promises.
posted by whoaali at 6:50 PM on March 5, 2012
posted by whoaali at 6:50 PM on March 5, 2012
As another tip for DIY, use some Vaseline to surround the area that you don't want to dye. Be careful not to get it in the eyebrow, though. That should help protect your skin. What you don't want to do is dye your skin and your eyebrow.
One suggestion is to watch what they are doing as carefully as you can in the mirror when you get it done professionally. Tell them that you want to learn how to do it. I've done this with hair styling before and they're always super eager to show me how it's done.
There are lots of eyebrow only places. They mostly do waxing but will many times also do dyes. It is called an "eyebrow tint" and you can find it on the "spa menus."
Your alternative is to just own it. It sounds cool to me, but I can totally understand wanting to cover it up.
posted by k8lin at 7:09 PM on March 5, 2012
One suggestion is to watch what they are doing as carefully as you can in the mirror when you get it done professionally. Tell them that you want to learn how to do it. I've done this with hair styling before and they're always super eager to show me how it's done.
There are lots of eyebrow only places. They mostly do waxing but will many times also do dyes. It is called an "eyebrow tint" and you can find it on the "spa menus."
Your alternative is to just own it. It sounds cool to me, but I can totally understand wanting to cover it up.
posted by k8lin at 7:09 PM on March 5, 2012
Something like Just For Men hair color for facial hair might do the trick; it comes with a little applicator brush that would make an easy job of doing your brows. And it'll be a lot cheaper than a salon for pretty much the same effect. You can buy it at the drugstore.
posted by erstwhile at 7:49 PM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by erstwhile at 7:49 PM on March 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
If you google "eyebrow mousse" or "eyebrow gel," that's a thing, and it comes in colors, including brunette and black. It's daily make-up, not a permanent or semi-permanent solution, but it's not very expensive and it can help you touch-up between dyes if that's the route you go. It's basically a gel that you apply with a mascara-type applicator that keeps your brows from getting messy (click my profile to see my picture and see how I know!) but it can also add color. It's pretty subtle color, it won't look dye-y, and the mouse part doesn't look product-y (though don't super-cake it on!).
There are drugstore brands under $10 so you can give it a try without a huge money outlay.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:24 PM on March 5, 2012
There are drugstore brands under $10 so you can give it a try without a huge money outlay.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 8:24 PM on March 5, 2012
I know this is a bit off-topic, but I would second K8lin and own it. It sounds sexy, actually.
posted by slateyness at 8:25 PM on March 5, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by slateyness at 8:25 PM on March 5, 2012 [2 favorites]
Hugo Salon in Wheaton/Silver Spring, near Wheaton Plaza or whatever they call that this year. Cute but not DC-Pretentious, easy to get in and out. Not near as pretentious as their website, www.hugosalon.com, which now forwards to a new pretentious website. You probably could call for an appointment and to discuss a price for this special dye job which is off their "menu". The place certainly is 90% for women but they do men normally too.
And I 2nd the Just For Men if you want to try yourself, try the "Moustache and Beard" version. It's a two part gel and you mix just what you need, so it will last you a long time for your small use.
Both recommended from personal experience.
posted by caclwmr4 at 9:20 PM on March 5, 2012
And I 2nd the Just For Men if you want to try yourself, try the "Moustache and Beard" version. It's a two part gel and you mix just what you need, so it will last you a long time for your small use.
Both recommended from personal experience.
posted by caclwmr4 at 9:20 PM on March 5, 2012
Heaps and heaps and heaps of beauty salons do eyebrow/eyelash tinting.
You can go in, and they will dye your eyebrows.
Alternatively, you can dye your hair black, and apply a little of the dye to your eyebrows with a cotton bud, carefully wiping it off the skin, and being aware that for a day or two your skin will be dyed (do not wash your eyebrows/face beforehand, and you have a better chance of picking up less dye.
posted by Elysum at 9:32 PM on March 5, 2012
You can go in, and they will dye your eyebrows.
Alternatively, you can dye your hair black, and apply a little of the dye to your eyebrows with a cotton bud, carefully wiping it off the skin, and being aware that for a day or two your skin will be dyed (do not wash your eyebrows/face beforehand, and you have a better chance of picking up less dye.
posted by Elysum at 9:32 PM on March 5, 2012
I go to the Grooming Lounge, a men's salon, in Tyson's Galleria (yeah, yeah, I know). Despite it's location, it's a pretty chill place and I'm sure they'd be able to take care of you no problem. I've never had bad service there. They have a DC location but I've never been as I like my stylist at the VA location.
posted by Loto at 6:51 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by Loto at 6:51 AM on March 6, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks al! This has been really helpful
posted by waylaid at 8:09 AM on March 6, 2012
posted by waylaid at 8:09 AM on March 6, 2012
I agree with going the home route or just rockin' it.
Another idea is to ask the person who cuts your hair (or "the next person", as per your situation) for a recommendation. When my regular hair stylist moved, I randomly went to a Bubbles (which is a local chain salon) in Bethesda for a quick trim, and chatted with the stylist about highlights, which I haven't done in years, and was somewhat wary of.. Between the cut (which I loved) and hearing her (non-pretentious!) knowledge and suggestions, I went back again to try highlighting and was really happy with the result.
posted by NikitaNikita at 11:10 AM on March 6, 2012
Another idea is to ask the person who cuts your hair (or "the next person", as per your situation) for a recommendation. When my regular hair stylist moved, I randomly went to a Bubbles (which is a local chain salon) in Bethesda for a quick trim, and chatted with the stylist about highlights, which I haven't done in years, and was somewhat wary of.. Between the cut (which I loved) and hearing her (non-pretentious!) knowledge and suggestions, I went back again to try highlighting and was really happy with the result.
posted by NikitaNikita at 11:10 AM on March 6, 2012
I might be a little late, but I use Godefroy Instant Eyebrow Tint by myself at home and I love it. It's much better than having my stylist do it at the salon when she does my hair (even though she's awesome); I can get really close to the mirror and make sure I'm getting the shape and saturation to my liking. It only takes about five minutes total and it's pretty easy to tweak the shade, plus it covers white eyebrow hairs quite well not like I know from experience or anything.
posted by stellaluna at 2:07 PM on March 7, 2012
posted by stellaluna at 2:07 PM on March 7, 2012
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posted by Sal and Richard at 6:35 PM on March 5, 2012