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!
I was a light “honey blonde” and frosted my hair for years. Now that I am mostly white hair (and love it!) taupe and light browns looked too warm! (my skin is warm). I’ve tried grays, but they are looking too bold, too dark….but better than browns. You’ve given me some great ideas….and I am off to the store to experiment with some new suggestions! Will let you know my solution when I find it! Thank you!
Try ashy taupes
I love both the Kosas pencil and brow gel. They come in the perfect gray color for me.
Oh, the struggle is real! I tint my brows and use pencils and powders in between. One of my favorite lazy day options is the Micro Ink Pen by L’Oréal. It’s a liquid inside a pen that dispenses it in multiple individual thin strokes to mimic hair.
Jennifer, this is such a well-balanced post! Tips like “Use a magnifying mirror, but don’t overthink it.” Hit the right notes for me. My eyebrows are uneven because I had a brain tumor that paralyzed one side of my face :/ and you’ve given me courage to just go with it since I can’t change it. Thank you!
I’m so glad this was helpful! You’re beautiful as you are.
Thank you for more great advice! I had always had thick brows and resisted when the trend turned to thin shaped brows. I was never a plucker. Then, as usual for me, when the trend went back to thick brows, I finally waxed mine a few times! In my early 40’s I started losing my tail ends, mostly on one eyebrow. I always keep tweezers in my car because once I was shocked to look in the visor mirror and see so many strays, some that had wandered to my chin! The light is better there! Today, from your site, I ordered the GrandeBrow Serum and the Kosas Air Brow gel. I’m excited to see if I get some improvement. Also, your haircut looks very nice on you. Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.
Why is it that the hairs show up so much easier in the car mirror??
Hello Jennifer: wonderful article on the common issue of the “ageing eyebrows”. Can I relate. The product that I find the best is “Revlon semi-permanent brow ink”. This product will stay on your eyebrows for 3 days! Amazing! Great for swimming, aqua fit etc. Comes off with a gentle persistent rub of make-up remover. Takes me me 3 mins to apply. $20 in Montreal in pharmacies.
That is amazing staying power
Thanks Jennifer. Calling my brows sparse would be very kind. I have a huge gap in the middle of each brow. Yep – I plucked and plucked and now … Anyway, because there is a hole rather than just fewer hairs I went the microblading route. I have a wonderful person who gets me and what I want/need. Funny story – she was actually chastised by someone who trained her and saw a photo after my brows were complete. The “trainer” felt she wasn’t conforming to the shape that the current trends have mandated. Well no kidding – my brows were shaped to work for me, my age and not some young 20 year old (who probably should rethink because who knows what that is going to set her up for as she ages lol). Anyway I have very happy to have brows – they make such a difference.
Good for her. It sounds like you found a real gem in her.
I was one of those with very heavy brows when they were not the thing. I plucked to remove the unibrow, but now at 69 still have fuller brows than most. However, they are lighter and somewhat wiry. I use Beauty Pie’s Arch-ology Eyebrow Sculpting Gel in perfect brown. I was told at Anastasia that brows should be 2 shades darker than hair. Mine definitely are darker than my silver hair. Appreciated all these other good suggestions.
Revitabrow has helped my brows. I get it during Nordy anniversary sale which is coming up. Hope it’s available again, lasts me all year. But I still need to fill in and shape. Thx for suggestions, nothing I’ve tried has been right…
And that hair migration? LOL…A lot of mine stopped on the way to my chin, landed on my upper lip.
LOL, well now that you mention it, a few of mine are there too!
I’ve been getting my blonde eyebrows tinted for years. That way I always have brows and don’t have to apply anything. One less step in the morning. I get them tinted a light brown. Once when Heather was away, another aesthetician did mine too dark. Yikes! I felt like Groucho Marks.
I haven’t tried eyebrow serum. It is expensive and you do have to use it every night. I tried the eyelash serum but it irritated my lid line so I stopped.
I lost my eyebrows and eyelashes during chemo three years ago.
I bought some great eyeglasses with frames that were slightly thicker than I would have chosen otherwise. My eyebrows came back but unfortunately my eyelashes never did. I haven’t found a serum that has worked for my lashes so I am dedicated to eyeliner.
I have about 10 hairs left on each brow which makes it difficult to make my brows look natural! I have been using Merit’s brow products (Brow 1980 & 1990) in taupe which does a good job of matching my silver hair. The best advice I’ve heard about filling in brows is that they should be sisters, not twins!
I agree. Nothing about me is symmetrical, including my brows
I use the Kona’s Air Gel as my brows are almost white and are too thin to dye. I use it in taupe with a very light hand. I’m 80 now but I remember having a thick unabrow as a teenager and plucking them. They always were very light colored as my hair was blonde and now is white and silvery streaks especially in the back. My brow hairs also went and migrated to my chin. Ugh!
Lol, we’re in good company with the chin hair.
Microblading, as long as you find a perfectionist who knows what they’re doing, is the only way to go. I’ve had mine done for over 10 years, with a touchup every 2 years. Perfection without the bother!
It’s sounds like a great solution so long as we can find a perfectionist with an artistic eye! Great tip, thanks
I have used pricey products, gels and pencils on my brows. My very favorite pencil I use daily is ELF blonde. It’s a very neutral taupe shade perfect for my white/blonde/gray color mix. It’s also extremely affordable. Available in drug stores or Old Navy (they always have the sometimes hard to find taupe shade).
It sounds perfect! I’m heading to Target, I’ll check it out.
Loved your article and I am going to try your first recommendation. I get both my eyelashes and eyebrows dyed and have for years. I love the ease of it because I am so active. You definitely need a skilled professional to do them. But I still fill in when I dress up!
Love your posts
Another great post. I love the Grande products, use both the lash and brow serums. I still have fairly good brows, but too much white has creeped in, when I color my hair, my stylist colors my brows…you’re right they do frame and enhance our faces…..Happy Memorial Day weekend
I’m getting more and more of those white ones in my brows. They stick out like cat whiskers.
I’ll give the serum a try. I use one for my lashes and it works beautifully. Alas that serum does not work on brows. I use WOW powder I have had for a long time. I have to be careful with it because it’s easy to over do. Thanks for trying and sharing some other options and reviewing the “rules” of brow shaping.
I’m 72 now and when I was in my early 60s I had my eyebrows tattooed. I was blonde all of my life, and my eyebrows are still blonde, but my hair is now white (or Pandemic Platinum as I like to call it since we couldn’t visit our stylist during the COVID shutdown). I now have my brows waxed periodically and might use brow gel here and there but really don’t need to. My brows always look good whether I have makeup on or not. I very much appreciate now that I did this then.
Eyebrows can be a a challenge, especially those wild, rogue grey hairs. Thank you for such a thorough review of the options.
I use a product to tint called Braebrow. They offer an Instant Tint version without PPD (for those allergic to this compound found in hair dye) and a Color Capsule version with PPD. I have used both with great success. I am a gardener who doesn’t wear make up and tinting my eyebrows gives my pale face/grey hair some much needed definition.