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Revised 10/08/26
beauty, brows and lashes
No Eyebrows? Your Eyebrow Replacement Options
If you have no eyebrows, or part of an eyebrow is missing, from chemotherapy, alopecia, age or years of plucking, you can have brows again today with makeup, temporary eyebrow tattoos or eyebrow wigs. Longer term, there are salon options too. Here is how the main eyebrow solutions compare, and how to choose.
Brows frame the face. When they go, you notice it every time you look in the mirror.
first, the basics
what are eyebrows for?
and why losing them changes how your face looks
Eyebrows are the arches of short hair that grow along the ridge of bone above each eye. They do three jobs:
- They protect your eyes. The arch and the direction the hairs grow help steer sweat and rain to the sides of the face, away from the eyes.
- They carry your expression. Surprise, worry, warmth and a frown all show first in the brows.
- They help others recognize your face. In one study, people found famous faces harder to recognize with the eyebrows removed than with the eyes removed.1
When your eyebrows thin or disappear, whether you're eyebrowless after chemo or alopecia or your brows have faded with age, it can be hard to know where to start. Makeup, temporary eyebrow tattoos and eyebrow wigs each recreate a brow in a different way, and there are salon and medical options too. Here is how they compare.
at a glance
eyebrow replacement options compared
what each one is, how long it lasts, and who it suits
Here are the alternatives side by side, from replacement eyebrows you put on at home to salon and medical options.
| option | how it works | wear time and upkeep | works with no brow hair | during chemo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| brow makeup | Pencil or powder, drawn on each day | Reapplied daily | Yes | Usually; patch test new products |
| temporary eyebrow tattoos | A printed brow, pressed on with water | 2 to 3 days per pair | Yes, works best on bare skin | Usually; patch test first |
| eyebrow wigs | Real hair on a gel strip, worn with adhesive | Off at night; one pair lasts 2 to 4 months with care | Yes | Usually; test the adhesive first |
| brow extensions | Single hairs glued on at a salon | About 2 to 3 weeks | Sometimes; it depends on the salon's technique | Ask your treatment team |
| microblading | Hair-like strokes tattooed into the skin | About 1 to 3 years, fading gradually | Yes | Not without your doctor's approval |
| eyebrow transplant | Hair moved surgically from the scalp | Long term; the hair grows and needs trimming | Yes, with healthy scalp hair to move | No |
Not sure where to start? Try temporary eyebrow tattoo #17, our most popular shape. It's an easy first step: no drawing, and it comes off in a few days if it isn't right. To compare everything, see which eyebrow replacement is right for you, or call us at 1-800-264-4287 and a person will help.
option 1
brow makeup: draw them on
the lowest cost, and full control of shape and color
An eyebrow pencil and a little powder can recreate a natural-looking brow, even on bare skin. It takes some practice, and you redo it each morning, but you choose the shape and color every day. If you have no eyebrows, look for a pencil that is waterproof and long-wearing, so it lasts through the day.
for drawing on browsCardani Refine Brow pencilAn ultra-fine, twist-up, waterproof pencil for hair-like strokes. Add brow powder over the top for depth, and see all our brow makeup.
Some people use an eyebrow stencil for the shape. You can get the same result without one by marking three points with your pencil: where the brow starts, peaks and ends. Step by step, with pictures: how to draw on eyebrows.
option 2
temporary eyebrow tattoos: brows without drawing
no drawing, and made for bare skin
Temporary eyebrow tattoos are realistic, printed brows that transfer to your skin with a wet cloth in about a minute. They are waterproof once applied, last two to three days, and come off with makeup remover or baby oil. They hold best on bare, smooth skin, which makes them a natural fit when you have no eyebrows.2 Each sheet holds several pairs of one shape, and there are eight shapes in a range of colors.
start hereeyebrow tattoo #17Our most popular shape: a soft angled arch in 10 colors. If you aren't sure what to buy, it works on most faces. See all eight shapes.
The common problems, a little shine and tails that wear first, are easy to fix with a dusting of brow powder. How to apply them, how long they last, and which shape suits your face: how to apply temporary eyebrow tattoos.
option 3
eyebrow wigs: real hair you can put on at home
false eyebrows made from human hair
Eyebrow wigs, also called false eyebrows, are small hairpieces worn over the brow area. Ours are made from real human hair on a thin, flexible gel strip. They're the only option you can put on at home that gives a true three-dimensional brow, because they're real hair. My mother, Carol, created our gel-backed eyebrow wigs after she lost her own brows to chemotherapy. You put them on with a gentle adhesive and take them off at night, and with daily wear a pair usually lasts two to four months, depending on care.
I lost all my brow hair to a genetic anomaly and tried many other brands, but this Cardani brand is by far the winner. They are made so well, natural, and durable. I’ve gotten a number of compliments on my brows. That is the test for me as a guy who wears them.
shop eyebrow wigseyebrow wigsThree shapes for women, worn with Secure Hold adhesive. There are eyebrow wigs for men too.
How to put them on, wear them and care for them: eyebrow wigs guide.
longer-term options
eyebrow extensions, microblading and transplants
salon and medical options, and who they suit
eyebrow extensions
Brow extensions are single synthetic hairs glued one by one onto your existing brow hairs, and sometimes onto the skin, at a salon. They fill in sparse or patchy brows and look natural, and a session takes under an hour. Hairs glued to brow hair usually last about two to three weeks, and those on skin less, so most people go back for touch-ups every couple of weeks. Prices vary by salon and by how many hairs you need; extensions cost less per visit than microblading, but the cost adds up because they need redoing every few weeks.3
If you have no eyebrows: some extension services attach hairs to existing brows; others can attach them directly to the skin. Ask the salon whether its method suits bare skin and what wear time to expect. For real hair you can put on at home, see eyebrow wigs.
microblading
Microblading is a form of semi-permanent tattooing. A technician uses a hand tool with fine needles to place pigment in thin, hair-like strokes in the top layers of the skin. It usually lasts one to three years, with a touch-up a few weeks after the first session, and costs considerably more than extensions. Pigment fades gradually and unevenly, rather than disappearing on a set schedule. Other cosmetic tattoo techniques include nano brows and powder brows. Like any tattoo, these carry a risk of infection and reactions,4 so choose a licensed technician, and if you have a medical condition, ask your doctor first.
eyebrow transplant
An eyebrow transplant moves hair follicles, usually from the back of the scalp, into the brow area. It is a surgical procedure done by a hair restoration doctor, and it needs healthy scalp hair to move. It is not an option while hair loss is active, such as during chemotherapy or a flare of alopecia, and it is the most expensive choice, often thousands of dollars. Transplanted hair keeps growing like scalp hair, so it needs regular trimming, and results take months to show. Talk with a dermatologist about whether it suits you; makeup, temporary tattoos and eyebrow wigs are far less expensive alternatives.
Eyebrow extensions vs microblading.
Extensions are temporary hairs added at a salon, usually to the brow hair you have; microblading is pigment placed in the skin. Extensions last a few weeks and work best where there is some brow hair. Microblading lasts years and does not need hair, but it breaks the skin and is harder to change if you don't like the shape.
choosing
which eyebrow replacement is right for you?
start with what matters most to you
- You want brows without drawing them: temporary eyebrow tattoos.
- You want real hair and texture: eyebrow wigs.
- You want the lowest cost and full control: brow makeup.
- You have hardly any eyebrows, or they have thinned with age: brow makeup to fill in what's there, or salon extensions if enough hair remains. See how eyebrows change as you age.
- You want something that lasts for years, and you're not in treatment: microblading, with your doctor's approval if you have a medical condition.
- You'd like a shape you can change: temporary eyebrow tattoos, which last a few days at a time.
Whichever you choose, placement and shape make the difference. Find the brow that suits your face in eyebrow shapes by face shape, and where your brows should start, peak and end in eyebrow mapping.
for women in treatment
no eyebrows after chemo or alopecia
what's safe, and what to wait on
- Makeup, temporary eyebrow tattoos and eyebrow wigs don't break the skin, and they're often an option during treatment. Skin can be more sensitive, so ask your care team about products for your skin, and try any new product or adhesive on a small patch first.5
- Microblading, extensions and transplants are better left until your treatment team says it's safe. Microblading breaks the skin, and tattooing carries a risk of infection.4
- Brows lost to chemotherapy usually grow back after treatment ends, though they may come back a little different at first.5
More for this time: eyebrows after chemo or alopecia.
Call us at 1-800-264-4287 and a person will talk the options through with you.
the products in this guide
for the options in this guide
Cardani brow powder
Soft color over pencil or tattoos, for depth.
shop →Eyebrow spoolie brush
For blending pencil and powder.
shop →Secure Hold adhesive
Latex-free glue for eyebrow wigs and false lashes.
shop →Eyebrow wigs for men
Real hair brows on a gel strip.
shop →Shop by type: brow makeup | temporary eyebrow tattoos | eyebrow wigs | all eyebrows
your questions about having no eyebrows
common questions
I have no eyebrows. What can I do?
You can draw them on with an eyebrow pencil and powder, wear temporary eyebrow tattoos that last two to three days, or wear eyebrow wigs made of real hair. For something longer lasting, there's microblading, and, if you have healthy scalp hair, an eyebrow transplant. The comparison table at the top of this page sets them side by side.
What is the best eyebrow replacement option?
It depends on what matters most to you. Temporary eyebrow tattoos go on without drawing, eyebrow wigs add real hair, and makeup costs the least and gives you full control. Microblading lasts for years but breaks the skin, and a transplant grows real hair long term but is surgery. None is best for everyone.
What is the best eyebrow makeup or pencil if you have no eyebrows?
Choose a waterproof, long-wearing pencil, so it lasts all day on bare skin, in a shade within about two shades of your hair or wig. A fine, twist-up pencil such as our Cardani Refine Brow makes hair-like strokes easier.
What are eyebrow extensions?
Eyebrow extensions are single synthetic hairs glued on at a salon to fill in sparse brows. Some services attach them to your existing brow hairs; others can attach them to the skin. If you have no brow hair, ask the salon whether its method suits you.
How long do eyebrow extensions last?
Hairs attached to brow hair usually last about two to three weeks, and those attached to skin less, so most salons recommend touch-ups every couple of weeks.
How much do eyebrow extensions cost?
It depends on the salon and how many hairs you need. Extensions cost less per visit than microblading, but because they need redoing every few weeks, the cost adds up over time.
Is there a permanent eyebrow solution?
An eyebrow transplant can give long-term, growing hair for suitable candidates, though it's surgery, it's costly, the hair needs trimming, and it needs healthy scalp hair to move. Cosmetic tattooing, such as microblading, creates the look of brows with pigment rather than hair; it lasts for years but fades. Talk with a dermatologist before either, especially if your hair loss is still active.
Is microblading better than eyebrow extensions?
They do different jobs. Extensions add temporary hair, usually to the brows you have, and last a few weeks. Microblading places pigment in the skin, lasts one to three years, and doesn't need brow hair, but it breaks the skin and is harder to change. If you're in treatment, ask your doctor before either.
Is microblading safe during chemotherapy?
Not without your oncologist's go-ahead. Microblading breaks the skin and carries the infection risk of any tattoo,4 and chemotherapy can lower the white blood cells your body uses to fight infection.6 An infection during treatment can delay your chemotherapy schedule. Check with your treatment team before any semi-permanent makeup, before or after treatment, and ask the artist for a patch test at least 24 hours ahead.5 Temporary eyebrow tattoos and brow makeup give you brows without a procedure that breaks the skin, but they can still cause irritation.4 Follow the product's testing instructions, and ask your treatment team for advice if your skin is sensitive or irritated.
When can I get microblading after chemotherapy?
When your oncologist says your body is ready. Your immune system needs time to recover before any procedure that breaks the skin, and your care team knows your blood counts, your medications, and your recovery.6 Skin sensitivity can also last after treatment, which may affect how the pigment heals. Get their clearance before you book.
What can I do if part of my eyebrow is missing?
Fill the gap with short, hair-like strokes of eyebrow pencil, then soften with a little brow powder so it blends into the hair around it. A missing patch of eyebrow is easier to hide than a whole brow, and makeup is usually the best tool, because it works around the hair you still have. More in how to draw on eyebrows.
My eyebrows are falling out or disappearing. What can I do?
Brows naturally thin with age, but sudden or patchy eyebrow loss can have medical causes, so if it's new or you don't know why it's happening, mention it to your doctor. While you find out, makeup, temporary tattoos or eyebrow wigs can give you your brows back.
What if I have no eyebrows or eyelashes?
Brows can be replaced with makeup, temporary eyebrow tattoos or eyebrow wigs, and lashes with false eyelashes. If you're in treatment, consider false lashes only when your eyes aren't sore or sensitive, and test the adhesive first.5 See how to apply false eyelashes.
What are eyebrows for, and why do we have them?
Eyebrows are the arches of short hair above each eye. They help keep sweat and rain out of the eyes, and they carry a great deal of our facial expression. They also matter to how we recognize faces: in one study, people found famous faces harder to recognize without the eyebrows than without the eyes. Without eyebrows, sweat runs more easily into the eyes, which is one reason people choose to replace them.
Will my eyebrows grow back after chemo?
Brows lost to chemotherapy usually grow back after treatment ends, though they can come back finer, lighter or a different tone at first. Until then, makeup, temporary tattoos and eyebrow wigs can fill the gap.
Need help choosing your brows?
Call us and a person will help you compare shapes, shades and how each option goes on.
keep learning
1 Sadr J, Jarudi I, Sinha P. The role of eyebrows in face recognition. Perception, 2003.
2 National Alopecia Areata Foundation. Eyebrows: tools and techniques.
3 Healthline. Eyebrow extensions: what to know.
4 U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Tattoos and permanent makeup: fact sheet.
5 Breast Cancer Now. Will I lose my eyelashes, eyebrows or body hair during chemotherapy?
6 National Cancer Institute. Infection and neutropenia during cancer treatment.
This guide is for informational purposes only. It does not replace advice from your physician. If you have questions about your specific situation, please consult your care team.
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