combining brow wax and tint in one appointment
Tint first, then wax. Tinting on clean, oil-free skin before waxing lets you see the full brow and shape it accurately, and it keeps tint off skin that waxing has just left sensitive. Waxing afterward also lifts some of the tint that landed on the skin around the brow, and the after-wax care goes on last.
wax first or tint first
Tint first. Fine, light hairs become visible once they are tinted, so you see the real shape of the brow before you decide what to remove. You wax to that shape and avoid taking off hairs that would have filled the brow.
The order also protects the skin. Tint goes on intact skin, and the wax, cleansers and after-wax products come after the color has been removed.
what waxing does to the skin barrier
Wax lifts hair and a layer of surface skin cells with it. The waxed area is left warm, sensitive and more absorbent than the skin around it. Tint applied on that skin takes more color, stains more visibly, and is more likely to sting.
Waxing products add a second issue. BB&L's Pre Wax Cleanser contains coconut oil, and after-wax care is made to soothe and hydrate. Oil left on the brow stops a tint from taking evenly, so those products belong after the tint.
protecting freshly waxed skin from stain
- Keep the order: tint, remove and clean the skin, then wax.
- Clean stray tint before waxing with a tint remover made for the brow area.
- Map the shape first, so tint and wax follow the same outline.
- If you must wax first, keep the tint inside the brow hairs and away from the waxed skin, and watch for sensitivity.
Let the wax tidy the stain
When you wax after tinting, the wax lifts some of the color left on the skin around the brow. The finished shape looks cleaner with less correction.
timing a realistic appointment
- Consultation: confirm the patch test for the tint and check the skin for anything that rules out waxing.
- Prep and mapping: cleanse oil-free and map the shape.
- Tint: mix, apply and process for 5 to 7 minutes, then remove and clean the skin.
- Wax: shape to the mapped outline.
- Finish: after-wax care, brush into place, and brief the client.
The full tint protocol is in how to tint eyebrows: the professional method.
Waxing Essentials
Wax heater, Pink Passion Fruit Wax, White Coconut Wax, wax remover, pre wax cleanser, after wax cream, lotion and oil, brow thread, pink ink mapping thread and slim sticks.
See Waxing Supplieswhat the combined service needs
Color and developer
Tint, its developer, a glass mixing cup, a tinting brush and a tint remover for the skin.
Wax and heater
Brow wax, a heater, applicator sticks and a wax remover.
Before and after
A pre-wax cleanser for the wax step only, and after-wax care to finish.
training for the combined service
Waxing and tinting are both regulated by state cosmetology and esthetics boards. Check that your license covers both services, follow your state board's rules, and keep your training up to date. BB&L lists its courses on its trainings and certifications page.
Patch test the tint 24 to 48 hours ahead
Run a patch test with the exact tint and developer you will use, 24 to 48 hours before the appointment, and follow the product instructions and your state board's rules. Burning, swelling or spreading redness means no service and a referral to a physician. Swelling around the eyes or difficulty breathing is an emergency: call 911.
keep reading
wax and tint questions from the chair
Should you wax or tint eyebrows first?
Can you tint right after waxing?
Does waxing remove tint from the skin?
Do I need a patch test for a wax and tint?
Do I need a license for brow wax and tint?
trainings and certifications
BB&L courses and certifications for brow and lash professionals.
See Trainings