“Most pain-free threading experience ever!! Alba shapes eyebrows better than anyone else and I’ve been threading for over 10 years. Thank you! I would recommend her to anyone interested in threading.”

Neeta Soni
Redondo Beach, CA

Eyebrow Tattoos

Eyebrow Tattoos: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

by Alba Garcia

An eyebrow tattoo, properly designed, could be a lifesaver for those with very sparse or non-existent brows. Ordinarily, you'd have to take time every morning with an eyebrow pencil to fill them in. So a brow tattoo has the potential of being a maintenance-free solution.

But I have one big problem with brow tattoos: I have yet to see one that's been properly designed!

I get clients who come to me with brow tattoos all the time that are crooked, misshapen, and not properly designed for the face. They're often too thin, with not enough of an arch, too high of an arch, too round of an arch, or just no form whatsoever.

You'll notice that most eyebrow tattoo parlors show only close up photos of the brows. This betrays a fundamental lack of understanding about brow design. They should take into account the structure of your entire face…not just your eyes or brow ridge.

I often see colors that are all wrong, as well. There's an art and science to choosing the right color for your skin and hair tone, and all too often, tattoo artists get it all wrong.

Tattooing is both a technique and an art. And just because someone is capable of the technique does not mean they have the necessary artistic skill to design a brow shape that will perfectly compliment your facial structure and bring out your natural beauty. It's like asking a house painter to paint the Mona Lisa!

(Note: To see photos of poor tattoo work, see my blog posts on eyebrow tattoos.)

If you're thinking about a brow tattoo, I'd take a close look at the quality of work of anyone you're considering for the job. In fact, it might even be a good idea to see an eyebrow artist beforehand to get an idea of what your ideal brow design should be. Then, take a photo—or better yet, your eyebrow artist—with you to get your tattoo work done.

But my recommendation is to stick with the brow pencil or powder. It might be more work, but at least you won't be stuck with a horrible design forever!