Why Your Brows Change Color Over Time (and What to Do About It)

So your brows were once the perfect shade of soft brown, and now you’re staring into the mirror thinking…

“Why do my brows look kind of… reddish? Or worse… gray?”

Girl, you’re not crazy — and you’re definitely not alone. This is actually super common with permanent makeup (PMU) brows, and the good news? There’s a solution. But first, let’s break down why it happens (with a little science, a dash of beauty-school realness, and zero BS).

Brow Pigments Aren’t Just One Color

Unlike tattoo ink, PMU brow pigments are blends — made up of multiple color components like yellow, red, and blue. These ingredients come together to create your perfect custom shade. Think of it like mixing paint: you don’t just use one brown; it’s a recipe.

Here’s the kicker: those ingredients fade at different speeds. So over time, your body’s immune system metabolizes certain tones faster — usually yellow first, then blue — leaving behind more of the red or gray undertones.

➡️ Red brows = leftover warmth (from warmer pigments breaking down unevenly)

➡️ Gray brows = cooler pigments, sometimes oxidizing in drier or mature skin types

Sun Exposure Plays a Sneaky Role

Even if you don’t tan, your face still gets hit with UV rays — through windows, on cloudy days, and especially if you’re not wearing SPF on your brows (be honest… are you?). And UV light accelerates pigment breakdown.

Think of it like leaving a magazine in the sun. Over time? Faded, warped colors. Same thing with your brows.

Color Shift ≠ Time for a Basic Touch-Up

Here’s where most people get tripped up:

They see their brows fading or changing color and immediately think, “Time for a touch-up!”

But layering more pigment on top of a shifted color doesn’t fix the problem — it makes it worse.

Instead, what you actually need is a color correction.

This is like toner for your hair. It neutralizes the leftover tones (whether too red, gray, or ashy) and brings everything back to balance before adding any more brow color on top.

When Should You Get a Color Correction?

There’s a sweet spot. You want your brows to be:

• Light enough that we can work over them

• Discolored enough that a correction is necessary

If your brows are still super saturated, we may need to wait or lighten first. But once you see that weird red, gray, or even greenish shift creeping in — and they’ve faded a bit? It’s time to book that color correction, babe.

What to Expect After a Correction

The result? Brows that look balanced, soft, and natural again — not too cool, not too warm, and way closer to how they originally looked when you first fell in love with them.

You’ll walk out of the studio saying:

“Yep… those are my brows again.”

Color shifting is normal. It’s part of the PMU lifecycle and not a sign that something “went wrong.” What’s important is that you don’t ignore it, and you don’t just slap more pigment on top.

✅ If your brows are changing color, fading unevenly, or making you feel “off” — reach out for a consultation. We’ll map out the best game plan for correction or refresh.

And pro tip? SPF on the brows, always.

👇 Ready to refresh your brows the right way?

Book a consultation