How To Choose Eyebrow Pencil Color and Shade for Your Hair and Skin Tone

It may feel near impossible to pick a shade. If you’re wondering whether to go lighter or darker with your eyebrow pencil, here’s a download on everything you need to know about it.

Praneet Sahni Kalani

Praneet Sahni Kalani

16 Apr ‘25
Eyebrow Pencil Shade Selection Eyebrow Tips Makeup
Eyebrow Pencil Shade Selection Eyebrow Tips Makeup

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It may not seem like a life or death situation to you, but ask any girl and she’ll tell you how precious her eyebrows are to her. And why shouldn’t they be? It’s a prominent feature on our face. Just like the eyes, eye brows are the first thing anyone notices and they probably don’t even know it. The pressure to have the perfect eyebrows is undeniable. They’ve to be thick but not too thick. Arched but not too arched. Natural yet defined, and so on. That said, there are countless brow gels, powders, and waxes out there, in varying colours and shades to choose from. We get it, it can be hard to know where to begin. The right makeup step can make all the difference in achieving those brows you’ve always dreamed of.

Benefits of Eyebrow Pencil Shades

Choosing the right eyebrow pencil shade can make a huge difference in achieving natural, defined brows. Here’s how different shades can benefit your look:

  • Light Brown: Ideal for blonde or lighter hair tones. This shade gives a softer, more natural look, perfect for those who want a subtle fill without harsh lines.
  • Dark Brown: A versatile shade that works well for brunettes and those with darker hair. It defines and fills in brows for a bold, structured appearance.
  • Soft Black: Perfect for those with very dark hair or those who prefer more intensity in their brow definition. It creates strong, sharp lines for a more dramatic, defined brow.
  • Ashy/Gray Tones: A great choice for those with cool undertones or gray hair. It gives a more neutral, natural look without the warmth that some other shades might bring.
  • Blonde/Light Taupe: Ideal for fair to medium skin tones. This shade helps create a soft, natural brow, perfect for those seeking a lighter, more subtle fill.

Why the Right Shade Matters:

Using the right shade for your brows helps them appear more natural, enhances your facial features, and complements your overall makeup look. Choose wisely to achieve brows that pop but still look effortless.

Read ahead to find out how you can choose an eyebrow shade, its benefits and the best eyebrow pencils that suit the Indian skin.

How Does One Choose The Right Eyebrow Pencil Colour?

How Does One Choose The Right Eyebrow Pencil Colour

Did you know that the colour of your eyebrows is very close to the natural colour of your hair? This is why when you happen to use a brow tint or pencil that’s slightly darker or lighter than the actual colour of your hair, your eyebrows end up looking fake and overpowering. It’s the one big rule to achieve the best brows—they need to look natural, blend with the natural colour of your tresses and go with your skin tone. While no one other than you can ultimately determine what your brows should look like, we can make it easier to sort through all of those options.

How to Choose Eyebrow Shade According to Your Hair Color

Naturally dark for black hair:

Naturally dark for black hair

You might assume that a black eyebrow pencil will complement your super dark hair but a black one might end up looking rather fake. Trust me, I’ve tried it. It’s horrifying. Instead, go for a dark brown that would work best when filling in your brows. But if your skin tone is rather deep, make sure you first use a dark brown and then go over to fill them in with a black very subtly.

If you have naturally brown hair:

If you have naturally brown hair

If you have brown tresses, go for a medium brown shade that will do perfect justice. Also remember that your eyebrow pencil shade should be a wee bit lighter than the actual brow colour since the oils in your skin often oxidise the pigment and make it darker. Lakme Absolute Precision Eye Artist Eyebrow Pencil comes in two colours – natural black and dark brown. The beauty of this eyebrow pencil is that it comes with a precision tip to give you those defined eyebrows. With a long

If you have blonde hair colour:

If you have blonde hair colour

Usually, overtly light colours start looking ashy on your skin (for both cool and warm tones) and do nothing for eyebrows too. So if you have a very typical Indian skin tone, try sticking to a taupe that’s not overtly deep brown, not too light; more in the nude family.

BeBeautiful Tip: Balance out your bold brows with bold lips, leaving the rest of your face nude for a modern, edgy look.

If you have a burgundy hair colour:

If you have a burgundy hair colour

In this case, you can’t match your brows to your hair. If you’re cool toned, rely on a pale brown eyebrow pencil that should do the trick but if you’re warm toned, go with a deep brown that won’t look too overpowering on your face yet enhance your features.

How To Choose Eyebrow Pencil Based on Skin Tone and Undertone

How To Choose Eyebrow Pencil Based on Skin Tone and Undertone

If you want to achieve a harmonious, flattering and natural look, defining beautifully bold eyebrows while also creating a balanced look, then you must consider your skin undertone before reaching out for an eyebrow pencil shade.

  1. Warm undertones in your skin pair well with eyebrow pencils that have a warmer, reddish-brown or golden hue.
  2. Cool undertones in your skin work best with eyebrow pencils that have ashier, more neutral, or cool shades (like cool browns or taupes).
  3. Neutral undertones allow for more flexibility, and you can choose from a broader range of shades.


To simplify it further, if you have fair skin, shades like light browns, taupes, or soft blondes work best. If you have a medium skin tone, you should go for neutral to warm shades, like soft brown or medium brown. And if you’re dark skinned and have a deeper skin tone, opt for rich browns or even dark black browns. Lakme Absolute 3D Eyebrow Definer comes with a built-in spoolie that makes the application process super easy and effective. It gets your arches in place, grooms stray strands and helps define the shape of your brows.

How to Use Eyebrow Pencil

Here are some of the eyebrow pencil tips and tricks you must know–

  • Sharpen for Precision: The pencil can be sharpened to create precise, defined strokes that mimic natural brow hairs.
  • Avoid Stark Contrast: Choose a shade that’s close to your natural brow colour to ensure a balanced and natural look.
  • Pick the Right Shade: Keep in mind these simple tips to find the perfect eyebrow pencil shade for your brows.

BePicks

Eyebrow Pencil Hair Color Skin Tone
Eyebrow Pencil Hair Color Skin Tone
Praneet Sahni Kalani

Praneet Sahni Kalani

Praneet Sahni Kalani is a fashion & lifestyle writer. Find her near cream cheese dimsums and obsessing over hair care.