Why Grey Brows Are Hard to Tint — And What You Can Do When the Colour Doesn’t Stick

By Ira Bale

Founder, Ira Bale Brows – South Yarra & Toorak Village, Melbourne

If you’ve got grey hairs in your brows and feel like the tint “just doesn’t work anymore,” you’re not imagining it.

Grey and white brows are notoriously stubborn when it comes to tinting — they often resist colour, fade quickly, or don’t change at all.

But why? And more importantly — what can you do about it?

Let’s talk about it.

Transform your look with the Hybrid Tint by the Ira Bale Brows team in South Yarra, enhancing natural brows for a bold, defined appearance.

Grey Brow Hairs Are Structurally Different

First, a quick science detour (but I promise, it’s short and interesting).

As we age, melanocytes (the pigment-producing cells in our hair follicles) slow down — or stop — producing melanin. That’s what turns your hair grey, white, or silver.

But here’s the thing:When pigment production stops, the hair strand changes in texture, too.

Grey brow hairs are:

• Coarser

• Thicker

• Often more wiry

• And can be more resistant to tint penetration

It’s like trying to stain a piece of polished glass vs. a sponge — the dye has nothing to “cling” to unless you prep it properly.

Why Your Tint Might Be Failing

At Ira Bale Brows, we’ve seen plenty of clients come in saying things like:

“I’ve tinted my brows for years, but now nothing sticks.”“My brows still look pale even after tinting.”“The colour fades within days.”

And 9 times out of 10, it’s because the treatment wasn’t adjusted for grey brow hair.

Most brow tints are designed for younger, melanin-rich hair. They’re just not strong or pigmented enough for grey.

Add to that:

• No proper prep

• Wrong developer strength

• No processing adjustments

…and it’s no wonder your tint doesn’t take.

A Real Client Story: When Tinting Just Wasn’t Cutting It

A client named L. came into our South Yarra salon — lovely woman, early 60s, still had full brows but they had gone almost completely silver. She told me:

“I’ve had them tinted elsewhere, but they always look the same when I leave — pale and patchy. I thought I just had to live with it.”

Nope.

We sat her down, reassessed her colour needs, adjusted the formula strength, and switched from a regular tint to hybrid dye (more on that below). After processing and cleanup, I handed her the mirror.

She didn’t say anything for a second. Just stared.

“This is how I used to look,” she whispered. “This is me.”

What We Do Differently at Ira Bale Brows

Whether you're in South Yarra or Toorak Village, here’s how we handle grey:

1. Grey-Specific Prep

We use a gentle exfoliant to open up the hair cuticle and remove oil or barrier residue, making the hair more receptive to tint.

2. Correct Developer Strength

For stubborn grey hairs, a higher-volume developer is often needed — but must be balanced carefully to avoid overprocessing or staining the skin.

3. Hybrid Tint or Brow Dye

Standard tint often isn’t enough.That’s why we use hybrid dyes (like Bronsun or other pro-grade formulas) that combine tint and henna-like stain. These can:

• Tint both hair and skin

• Last longer (up to 7–10 days on skin, 5–6 weeks on hairs)

• Provide better coverage for resistant greys

4. Shaping for Definition

Once your grey hairs are properly coloured, we can see your real brow shape again. That’s when we refine with threading, waxing, or tweezing — giving you structure without needing makeup.

What If You’re Still Struggling? Try Tattooing.

Some greys are just too resistant. Or too sparse. If you’re over fighting with tint every few weeks, it may be time to consider brow cosmetic tattooing.

And I don’t mean blocky, dark brows — I mean soft, ombre shading that mimics the look of your natural, fuller brows before they turned grey.

Done by me personally, brow tattooing at Ira Bale Brows can:

• Define shape

• Fill sparse areas

• Save you the maintenance cycle

• And yes — it can look natural while still giving you the visibility and confidence you deserve

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been blaming your brows — stop.

It’s not your fault. Grey hair is just harder to work with, and not every salon takes the time or has the knowledge to treat it properly.

At Ira Bale Brows, we take the challenge seriously — and whether you’re after a strong tint, hybrid dye, or considering brow tattooing, we’ll guide you honestly.

Because age doesn’t mean fading into the background. It means adjusting the canvas — and painting with better tools.