When and How to Use Brow Gel: What It Does?

Did you know that even with semi-permanent brows on, you can further enhance your look with tools such as brow gel? In fact, many of those who had their brows microbladed swear by the magic touch of this trade favorite. Below, we detail what brow gel does and the best alternatives for you to explore your options.

What is Brow Gel and How Does It Work?

The main goal of brow gels is to hold the brow hairs in place, but it offers other benefits, too. 

Applying eyebrow gel is fairly straightforward. First, you will need to pat your brow line dry then comb your hair strands with a spoolie using upward motions until you achieve the brow shape you want. Finally, brush through your brows using the brow gel wand. After a few minutes, the gel would have hardened enough to keep the hair in place.

What are the benefits of using brow gel?

Apart from keeping those unruly strands neat, gels can also give the illusion of thicker brows, add dimension, and help fill in gaps in sparse brows. What’s great with this product is that it can be used with 100% natural hair and on those who opted to undergo semi-permanent procedures like microblading and powder brows.

How does brow gel compare to other brow products?

Other eyebrow makeup products are primarily designed to fill in areas wherein the brows have gone too thin. A brow pencil, pomades, or powder can easily cover up spaces in between to give a fuller, healthier-looking result. Brow gel, on the other hand, is perfect for those who need to tame unkempt brow hairs and also need to sweep hair over areas that need more coverage.

What ingredients are commonly found in brow gel?

While brow gels differ based on brands, most are made of waxes, polymers, or other fixative agents. Because the ingredients are generally safe for all skin types, negative side effects even when applied on microbladed brows should be minimal.

When Should You Use Brow Gel?

The three main instances wherein brow gels are most beneficial are:

• When you need to groom unruly brows.
• When you need to thicken sparse areas or give the illusion of more coverage.
• When you want to add color to your existing brows use tinted gels.

Is brow gel suitable for everyday use?

Yes, brow gels are great for everyday use and can help in maintaining a cleaner appearance. Even those who have gotten semi-permanent brow treatments will notice the positive effects dabbing on a bit of gel can have on your overall look. However, if you have undergone nano-blading or similar methods, you must ensure that you start applying brow gel only after your aftercare routine is complete.

Can you use brow gel with other brow products?

Yes, brow gel is a great pair to other brow products and brow treatments. By securing other products with a layer of gel, you can go about your day with more peace of mind knowing your brows are safe, secured, and can last much longer!

When is the best time to apply brow gel?

Brow gel should be considered the last and final step in your routine as it is to hold everything in place and set your brows for the day. By getting your brows prepped before applying gel, your makeup or microbladed brows can stay neater for a longer period. Especially for those who have invested in the cost of microblading, getting a handy brow gel to further boost the results can be worthwhile.

How to Apply Brow Gel for the Best Results?

If you think there is no proper way to apply brow gel, think again. The method you use can greatly impact the before and after transitions, which is why paying attention to a few details goes a long way.

What is the proper technique for applying brow gel?

The proper technique starts with a quick comb of your brow hairs against the grain, then again in the direction of their growth. This helps make it easier for you to shape your brows before setting with gel. Once ready, take the gel wand and apply upward motion strokes, essentially combing through your brow again and getting the product where it needs to be. Lastly, allow the product to dry.

This also applies to brows that have undergone microblading and similar treatments.

Should you use a spoolie brush with brow gel?

Brow gels often come with wands to help you apply in between strands. However, in times when the wand isn’t present, the spoolie brush is the perfect alternative!

How to achieve a natural look with brow gel?

It’s relatively easy to get a natural finish with gel since the product is designed for you to work with what you have. By simply manipulating how your hair stands fall into place and keeping them set using the product, you can get a natural look without needing to apply other makeup tools. This is especially helpful for those who notice their ombre brows start to fade out and need a quick fix before setting a retouch appointment.

What Types of Brow Gel Are Available?

There are quite a number of brow gel options on the market today. From clear to tinted and even those infused with other ingredients for added health benefits.

What is the difference between clear brow gel and tinted brow gel?

As the names suggest, clear gel is transparent and brings out your natural hue while tinted gels assist in adding depth, color, and volume to your brows.

Which brow gel is best for sparse brows?

Those with sparse brows can better benefit from using a tinted brow gel. With the boost in color and density, the gaps between strands will become less visible. It is also recommended to choose a product with hair growth oils infused, offering a double benefit with each application.

How to choose the right brow gel for your brow color?

When it comes to choosing a product shade for your brows, be it brow gel, tint, or any other, the general rule of thumb would be to opt for a hue that is one or two shades lighter than your natural hair color.

Tips for Maintaining Your Brow Look Throughout the Day

Long-lasting brow products are essential to maintain your desired brow look from morning to night. It is also best to find one that is sweat-proof and waterproof to ensure you’re covered for all kinds of activities the day will bring!

How to keep your brows in place all day?

If you have been naturally blessed with a good amount of brow hair, you’ll quickly find that making sure they stay neat throughout the day can sometimes be challenging. One of the best ways to keep them set in place is by brushing through a layer of brow gel, thoroughly combing through the strands, and getting them in place.

What to do if your brow gel wears off?

Brow gels typically wear off in 24-36 hours, or less depending on your lifestyle. This gives you plenty of time without having to worry much about it wearing off mid-day. However, unless you’re on a long-haul flight, it’s not advisable to leave the gel on overnight since it can be unhealthy for your natural hair.

That being said, those with oily skin or extra moisturized brows may want to reapply gel as needed throughout the day. It’s as simple as cleaning your brows to ensure the product can hold onto the strands, and applying a layer of gel.

How to refresh your brow look during the day?

You can refresh your look by reapplying the product. This can be done by either removing the existing layer first and cleansing the area, or applying directly which may or may not give great results. Removing makeup is not as difficult as removing microbladed brows. The latter will need a professional appointment while the former will need a cotton swab and some makeup remover.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Brow Gel

With any new endeavor, there will be a learning curve, and applying brow gels is no different. To help guide you through your first few tries, we’ve gathered a shortlist of the most common mistakes, and how you can use the applicator to your advantage.

What are the most common brow gel application mistakes?

#1 Choosing the wrong shade: Avoid choosing shades that are too dark as it can make your brows look harsh. Instead, opt for a shade lighter than your hair color.

#2 Not cleaning your brows: It is important that the foundation on which you apply the gel is clean of debris and patted dry to ensure the product latches on.

#3 Applying too much: Putting too much gel can end up making the brows too thick and clump up.

#4 Using gel when your brows are healing: If you have gone through a brow treatment such as microblading, you may feel soreness in the first two weeks while your brows heal.

How to avoid clumping when using brow gel?

The best way to avoid clumped brow gel is by using a small amount at a time and gently combing thoroughly to spread the product out evenly.

What should you not do when using brow gel?

The main thing to avoid when using gel is applying too much at a time. A gradual build-up of the product is far better than putting it all in one go.

You’re All Set!

A brow gel is a great addition to your brow routine, whether you’re applying on natural strands or tattooed brows. However, if you want to keep your morning makeup down to one product alone without having to go through any treatments, products such as temporary eyebrow tattoos and eyebrow stamp kits are the perfect options.

In as easy as a few steps and under one minute, you can have natural-looking brows in the right shade and shape. Discover more on My Two Brows!