How to Do Your Eyebrows Over 60
There’s something about a well-shaped brow that quietly lifts your whole face. I also love how they create a lovely frame for your eyes. My brows have thinned, faded, and lost their shape over time, and my Thyroid challenge isn’t helping. It feels like all the hairs are marching south to my chin, and the struggle is real. What used to be effortless now takes more thought, so if yours have changed too, you’re in good company. Today, I’m sharing how I do my eyebrows over 60…what’s worked, what hasn’t, and the simple products that help me feel more polished without overdoing it.
Understanding Eyebrow Changes After 60
Why Brows Thin With Age
Over time, our hair follicles naturally slow down, and hormonal changes, health conditions like thyroid issues, or years of over-plucking can all leave brows looking sparse. If you grew up in my era, we plucked the living daylights out of our brows, and many of ours have never recovered. What used to be a quick swipe of a pencil might now take a bit more intention and products. Luckily, there are lots of great products.
How I Shape My Brows Now
My approach to eyebrows these days is pretty straightforward, and I’m not chasing a dramatic arch or some idealized “perfect” shape. I’ve learned it’s far more flattering and less stressful to simply work with what I have and enhance it gently.
If you’re unsure where your brows should begin and end, here’s a classic guideline that’s easy to follow, and I’ve demonstrated it with a brush in the photo above:
- Start: Hold a brush vertically from the outer edge of your nostril straight up toward your forehead. Where it meets your brow is where your eyebrow should ideally begin.
- Arch: Next, angle the brush from the edge of your nose through the center of your pupil. That’s where your natural arch tends to look best.
- End: Finally, tilt the brush from the outer edge of your nostril to the outer corner of your eye. Where it meets your brow is where your brow should taper off.
These aren’t hard rules, just helpful landmarks to keep your brows balanced with the rest of your features. I don’t aim for precision anymore. I aim for harmony and follow my natural shape. I don’t try to reinvent anything. I use a light hand to define the top of the brow, clean up a few strays underneath, and that’s it. I’m very conservative with tweezing because over-plucking in my youth is one of the reasons my brows are so sparse now.
How to Fill In Sparse Eyebrows
The goal isn’t to create entirely new brows but to gently fill in the areas that need a little help. I think of it more like restoring balance than rebuilding.
Pencil, Powder, or Gel?
- A Brow pencil is great for mimicking hair strokes. I particularly like this Brow Wiz by Anastasia, which comes in lots of shades. Use a light hand and blend with a spoolie. I love a micro-tip pencil for control and a soft, natural finish.
- Brow Powder gives a soft, diffused option for those with very fair or gray brows. It gives shape without looking harsh.
- Tinted brow gel is my personal favorite. It defines and sets brows in place, and when tinted, it adds volume to fine hairs.
Pro Tip: Don’t overfill. It’s easy to get carried away trying to “fix” sparse brows, but less really is more here. I only fill where it’s needed and keep the strokes light. The goal is definition, not drama.
Can Eyebrow Serums Help Thinning, Sparse Brows?
In a word, yes! I was skeptical about brow growth serums, but RevitaBrow Advanced truly surprised me and has made a visible difference. With consistent use (I apply it nightly), I saw noticeable improvement after two months. It helped fill in my most sparse areas and made what I still had feel stronger.
My ophthalmologist advised me not to use the eyelash growth serums on my lash line but gave me the all-clear for my eyebrows. After I ran out of the RevitaBrow, I switched to this GrandeBrow Enhancing Serum and love it just as much…plus the price is better.
Choosing the Right Color for Mature Brows
This part took lots of trial and error. As my hair lightened, then I let it go naturally silver/blonde/gray, many of tto look he blonde pencils started browns I used to look too warm. You may also enjoy- How to Determine If You Have a Warm or Cool Undertone
- Taupe is now always my go-to because it’s soft, neutral, and doesn’t pull warm.
- Ash blonde or gray-brown can work beautifully for cooler hair tones, but check to see if they are cool enough for you.
- Avoid shades labeled “warm” or “auburn” unless your coloring naturally leans that way.
- If you still have darker hair, don’t go too deep with your brow pencil because it can look harsh against an aging complexion.
Best Eyebrow Products for Women Over 60
Here are a few favorites I rotate through. Some are my own staples, others come highly recommended by my readers.
Legendary Brows Micro-Precision Tinted Brow Gel
This Legendary Brows Micro-Precision Tinted Brow Gel is pretty amazing. It comes in Dark Brown, Black Brown, Soft Brown, and Taupe, which is perfect for my graying brows. It has a teeny, tiny brush that allows me to capture and tint every little hair I can find along my brow line. I brush them down to coat the hairs, then up to set them in place.
Some women love a heavy brow, but I prefer a soft look, and this allows mine to look feathery but still show up. They look natural, not fake, and aren’t stiff at all.
MERIT Beauty Brow 1980 Volumizing Pomade
MERIT’s Brow 1980 has a soft, flexible formula that adds just the right amount of tint and shape without making your brows feel stiff or overdone. It’s incredibly easy to use…just a quick swipe through the brows, and they instantly look fuller, more defined, and lifted. I like that it never looks harsh or shiny, and it stays put throughout the day.
Kosas Air Brow Volumizing Treatment Gel
This one’s a bit more than makeup…it’s actually a treatment. Kosas Air Brow gives you that fluffy, full brow look, but it also has ingredients like peptides and panthenol that support brow health over time. I use the tinted version when I want a bit more depth and volume, and I appreciate how lightweight it feels. It doesn’t flake or crunch and never feels heavy.
NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Micro Brow Pencil
I know many of you are embracing your natural gray hair, and finding the right brow pencil to match can be tricky. The NYX Micro Brow Pencil in gray is an affordable option that gets consistently strong reviews. The Instant Lift Waterproof Brow Pencil from e.l.f. is another cruelty-free, vegan choice to consider.
What About Tinting or Microblading Your Brows Over 60?
- Tinting is a great low-commitment option if your brows have gone very light. It can last 3–4 weeks and helps streamline your morning routine.
- Microblading is a bigger decision. I haven’t tried it personally, but I’ve heard from readers who love the results, especially those with very sparse brows. Just be sure to find a highly experienced technician who understands mature skin.
Why This Matters
Our brows do more than frame our faces, they reflect how we feel about showing up in the world. A few thoughtful tweaks can restore a sense of polish and presence without making us feel overly “done.” It’s not about chasing youth but embracing your features with softness and intention.
Applying This to Your Routine
- Use a magnifying mirror, but don’t overthink it.
- Matching your brow tone to your current hair color gives a more natural look than trying to duplicate what it used to be.
- Try a tinted gel before jumping into powders and pencils.
- Be gentle with tweezers because you can’t glue them back on!
If you enjoyed this post, you may find these interesting:
- How to Apply Cream Blush on Aging Skin for a Soft, Youthful Flush
- Best Foundation for Women Over 60
- Choosing The Most Flattering Lipstick For Over 50 Lips
I’d love to know what your go-to brow products are these days. Have you tried tinting or even microblading?
Thanks for reading and be sure to wear what makes you feel confident!
Jennifer, you’re on a roll. Yesterday with the topic of thinning hair and today thinning eyebrows, you are providing insight and help to this 71 year-old. Thank you. I appreciate you.
Lots of great tips. I have not used a product on my eyebrows and think it’s time. I’ll try the gel first. Thanks!
Great idea. I find it a great 2in1 product. Color and shaping.
My brows are still mainly black, but extremely sparse. I use a combination of a soft black and medium brown brow powder, and then IT Cosmetics Brow Power universal shade pencil. I then use the spool brush to soften.
I had tried the NYX grey pencil, but found it too dark.
Gosh, it really does take longer to put “our faces” on as we get older.
Lol, it gets longer everyday. A spoolie is a must for me too.
I really like how you do your brows. I was so lucky that I didn’t lose my brows during chemo. I pluck some stray hairs but other than some grey they are good with a brown pencil.
You are fortunate Rosemary. The thyroid and past tweezing has really done a number on mine.
What great tips
I too overplucked and there is no going back
Thank you
I had been a plucker since Jr High School in the late 70’s. Finally at 55, I’d had enough of the thin eyebrows that I had microblading done. That was the best decision that I’ve ever made for myself. It looks so natural and brings out my blue eyes so much. It was painless and my only regret was not doing it sooner !
Hi Jennifer! I’ve been using Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Eyebrow Gel in Cool Grey. I recently repurchased it for the second time at Nordstrom in the 0.05 ounce size; I find the smaller size allows me to use all of the gel without it drying up. Thanks for the tips and enjoy the long weekend!
Great tip! I find many of mine dry out too.
Thanks and very helpful (my week spot)….is that a glimpse of a new hair cut?
In the blue dress. It’s pretty similar.
I have been using REVITABROW for a while and it really works. However it’s a little pricey so I will definitely try the alternative that you mentioned. Thank you for all the good advice.
Fantastic post, Jennifer. I love the Anastasia brow gel. You are so right about the brows moving south to the chin🤪.
I tint my own eyebrows every 2 months or so. It takes all of 15 minutes and gives me just enought color so they appear – they’ve have always been on the light side and I like them a tad darker! I’ve used expensive ‘eye brow tint’ and now I use “just for men” beard dye in a medium brown…it works exactly the same. I recommend a vaseline outline around the brow where you DON’T want the dye. I am not ‘consistent’ with products like Latisse…so I stick to something ‘one and done’ like dye. I’ve offered to do my friends brows, too…and sometimes we’ll just have a coffee klatch and do a few sets together! What a way to build community!! 🙂
I also use elf, Nyx and Anastasia gels (with the mascara wand) and the same brand pencils (the retractable one is softer IMHO)…I find them all very similar and the price of the first 2 can’t be beat! I’ve never plucked my eyebrows; had them ‘shaped’ at Anastasia twice in my life – when Nordstrom’s had that service! In retrospect, the idea of hot wax on such a delicate area really makes me ponder WHAT women are willing to put themselves through for fashion/beauty/maintenance…it’s a lot…I do find fascination with my 15 x mirror and the speed at which strays sprout. Keeps me on my toes, that’s for certain!
Lol, my magnifying mirrors are required!
I love the Anastasia brow wiz. After seeing this I think I will try a gel!
Thanks for sharing
It’s a great addition or on its own.
Mine have thinned a bit but are dark, so still look okay. My issue is that my eyebrows have become quite wiry. My right brow has several hairs that point up towards my forehead making me look a little like Mr. Spock! I have tried eyebrow wax to hold the hairs in place but my eyebrows win the battle and the hairs point upwards before I even get out of the house. I would appreciate any recommendation for products that could tame these wayward hairs.
I trim my long ones then use the gel to keep in place. Maybe try mustache wax?
This info came just in time for me. I also have overplucked my eyebrows & now struggle with my brows. I definitely will try a tinted gel first. Thank you!!
This post was really needed for me. My brows have changed dramatically as I have aged, thinned, gray and grow in the wrong direction! So frustrating but I finally realized the odd growth direction is due to the steroid eye drops I am now required to use after corneal transplant surgery. So I trim my brows to try and tame them and look normal. I also wear my bangs long to hide the brows. I am going to try some of the products in this post to see if I can get more brows to grow! Hopefully in the right direction so they lay down! Also, giving the brow pencil a try. Thanks for all the information!
Gel will help them lay down either clear or tinted.
I have been using the Kosas eyebrow gel for a couple of years. Not only do I like it but it comes in grey. Only a couple of gels or pencils come in grey. My eyebrows are still black so this gives me a softer look.
Very smart of you!
Bonjour, merci beaucoup pour ce conseils, j’ aime beaucoup votre blog,très bon weekend 🌹🕯️🙏.
Happy weekend!
I had my brows microbladed several years ago and I highly recommend it! The shape is just my natural shape, nothing dramatic. Touchups are only once a year, and in between I’ll get them dyed every 4 wks whenever I get a haircut. My hair is shock white and my brows are medium ash brown, but there are some that have turned white as well. This system works well for me….especially since we travel a lot, and that’s just one less cosmetic to pack.
I pack just a “capsule” of cosmetics anyway…tinted moisturizer, under eye concealer, Miracle Balm (Jones Road) in pinky-bronze and a “Flushed cheeks” for blush. One shade of eyeshadow, one liner and one mascara. (I’d rather save room in my bag for an extra pair of shoes..🤣)
I hear you on the shoes!! Uncomfortable feet are miserable.
Great post! My brows are so sparse and I know it is from over plucking when I was young too. I might try a brow serum to see how it works. Thanks
It’s really helped mine a lot. Stick with it because it takes a while to kick in.
This post is about something that I have had a problem with. I think I was one of the few people that did not pluck my eyebrows into a thin brow. I am 74 and my brows were ok until about 70. Aging has thinned out my brows. I use Nutrafol and it has helped a great deal. My hair color is gray and brown and mostly gray. Selecting a color has been difficult because they all look too harsh. I currently use a MAC gel in thunder and it seems to look they way I wanted
Thank you for making it simple!