From Copper to Auburn, These Are the Best Eyebrow Pencils for Redheads

Madelaine Petsch

@madelame

Just like the hair on our heads, the precious strands atop our brow bones are unique—hardly fitting into the "blonde," "brunette," and "black" checkboxes so many makeup brands would prefer to stuff them in. Annoying.

Similar to a bad dye job, the wrong shade of powder, pencil, or pomade can leave our arches looking anything but elegant. And really, finding the perfect ratio between shade, texture, and finish can seem like the ask of a century. Who has time for that? No one. After all, when it comes to makeup, we'd much rather experiment with unexpected shades of lipstick, eye shadow, and blush, and not the hue of our brows. (We have the brow evolutions to prove it.)

And if your strands happen to be red, an already tricky job can soon become downright maddening. One of the biggest issues redheads—both natural and not—face is figuring out what exactly to do with their eyebrows. Natural redheads tend to have super light brows, while women who color their hair red might want to change up their brow color to better complement their hair. The fix? Ashley Rebecca (a redhead herself) says to start by figuring out your perfect shade.

Meet the Expert

Ashley Rebecca is a NYC makeup artist and redhead brow expert. She is a monthly contributor to Byrdie and a member of the E! Style Collective panel.

Finding the Perfect Shade for Red Eyebrows

Redheaded woman with nice eyebrows
Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

When it comes to the perfect eyebrow product shade, consider your hair color. Rather than go with a brow shade that's too matchy-matchy with the rest of your hair, try using a shade darker or even lighter instead.

For lighter redheads, Ashley says to try taupes and dark blondes. "Too ashy of a brow can cause the skin to look sallow, and draw attention in the wrong kind of way,” she says. “There should be a slight warmth to the blonde to maintain a natural, elegant look."

Darker redheads might opt for auburn and dark brown shades for brows. When it comes to filling in and shaping brows, "the key is to do this naturally, not drastically," Ashley says. So, which product is best to use for a natural yet noticeable difference in shade and shape? A trusty eyebrow pencil.

Picking the Right Red Eyebrow Pencil

When it comes to brow products, you’ve got more than a few options. But what sets eyebrow pencils apart from gels, powders, tints, and pomades is their ability to give a precise definition to the overall shape as well as create micro-fine strokes that actually look like tiny brow hairs. But finding that perfect red eyebrow pencil can be a tricky task.

Is the perfect red eyebrow pencil really too much to ask for? Previously, maybe. But now that we've rounded up seven of the options that represent the crème de la crème, not so much. Keep reading for seven richly red eyebrow pencils to create the impeccable finish you crave.

Brow Wiz Mechanical Brow Pencil - Ebony
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Mechanical Brow Pencil in $21.00
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A makeup artist go-to (it's what Tamah Krinsky used on Madelaine Petsch), this mechanical red eyebrow pencil not only glides effortlessly on top of the skin—a must—it also delivers a believable saturation of pigment for full, feathery eyebrows that never look cartoonish or overdone.

Maybelline EyeStudio Brow Precise Micro Pencil in Auburn $8.00
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Easy on the eyes (and that tight holiday budget), this pick from Maybelline helps you multitask your way to better brows in seconds. The incredibly thin tip is über-precise, so you'll never have a hair out of place, and the soft spoolie brush blends out the contour for a softened, ever-so-slightly auburn result.

Revlon ColorStay Brow Pencil $9.00
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Lasting durability is this eyebrow pencil's prerogative. Boasting a rich copper-inspired hue of red, this 100 percent waterproof drugstore option from Revlon (a classic) gifts arches with a bold crimson appeal.

NYX 3-in-1 Brow $13.00
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An expansive color range isn't the only trick up this brow pencil's sleeve. It also happens to be a three-for-one package featuring a retractable pencil, brow powder, and a handy brow mascara for a touch of glossy glamour that will still take you from work to spin in one, brow-blessed piece.

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Dior Diorshow Brow Styler in Auburn $29.00
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If it's not enough that this gorgeous pencil also happens to be Lucy Hale's personal favorite, it also goes above and beyond when it comes to the application (smooth and precise) and finish (dreamy and dramatic). For the perfect wash of red, reach for this eyebrow pencil in auburn.

Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil - Auburn
Hourglas Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil in Auburn $34.00
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Great for those with medium to deep red tones, this sleekly designed eyebrow pencil builds up the brow to perfection. The luxe formula is soft, easy to maneuver, and can easily transition from elegant to dramatic in a flash. Plus, the packaging is a dream.

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