Brow & lash tint aftercare, the first 24 hours.

Why the first 24 hours matter

A tint is a semi-permanent dye that needs a little time to settle into the hair after you leave the chair.

In those first hours the colour is still stabilising. Heat opens the hair, water lifts pigment before it has bonded, and the oils in cleansers and makeup removers dissolve it. Soak a fresh tint and you wash out the depth you just paid for — which is why a tint that "didn't last" is almost always a tint that got wet too soon. Give it one quiet day and it sets properly.

Can I shower, wash my face, or swim?

Showering is fine straight away — just keep your face out of the direct hot spray, use lukewarm water, and don't scrub the brows or lashes. Let water run off rather than soaking the area.

Washing your face: for the first 24 hours, cleanse around the brows and pat dry. After that, use a gentle, oil-free cleanser and avoid rubbing. Swimming in chlorine or salt water, and sauna, steam room and hot yoga, are best avoided for 24 to 48 hours — heat and chemicals are the fastest way to fade a fresh tint.

How to make it last longer

The enemies of a tint are oil, friction and heat. To hold the colour:

• Avoid oil-based cleansers, cleansing balms and eye-makeup removers on the area — they lift pigment fastest.
• Don't rub your eyes or pick at the brows; pat the area dry after washing.
• Use a mineral SPF on the face — sun gradually bleaches tint, especially on brows.
• Go easy on exfoliating acids and retinol near the brows for the first few days.
• Brush brows into shape with a clean spoolie rather than wetting and smoothing them.

How long does it actually last?

A brow tint lasts roughly two to four weeks, fading gradually rather than washing off. A lash tint lasts four to six weeks, following your natural lash growth cycle — as old lashes shed and new untinted ones grow in, the line softens.

How long you personally get comes down to skin type (oily skin fades it faster), how often and how you cleanse, sun exposure, and your own hair-growth cycle. Most clients book a quick top-up every three to four weeks to keep it crisp.

The patch test — and when we won't tint

Every new client has a free patch test 24 to 48 hours before the first tint: a small dot of the dye behind the ear or on the inner arm to rule out a reaction. It is required, not optional, and it is the single most important part of safe tinting.

If you have an active eye infection, recent eye surgery, or a known reaction to tint, we'll wait or skip it. If you're pregnant, tell us and we'll talk it through — we still patch test either way. When in doubt, call us on 020 8109 7007 before you book.