No one wants sparse brows. Whether you’re going for big, bold brows or a thinner, pencil-style look, sparse and disconnected eyebrows can spoil your look and make it look less sleek and natural.
But if you do have sparse brows, then not all hope is lost! With the right products, you can plug gaps (however big) with natural-looking fillers that take your eyebrow game to a whole new level.
If you’re new to eyebrow filling, this is the guide for you. We’ll dive into how to pick the best products for sparse brows and have a look at how to fill in sparse brows for the most natural finish/
How to fill in sparse brows: Key takeaways
- Sparse brows can be caused by genetics, ageing, over-plucking, or hormonal changes — so if your brows have thinned out, chances are it's just science (not your fault, we promise).
- For soft, hair-like strokes that fool everyone, NYX's Powder Louder Brow Pencil brings buildable fibres and up to 12 hours of volume to the table.
- Precision lovers, meet your match: NYX's Micro Brow Pencil has a micro-tip built for sculpting sparse brows into something seriously polished.
- For a soft-focus, effortless finish, try brow pens like NYX's Fluff & Snatch! Brow Powder Pen, which melts seamlessly into brows for weightless, everyday volume.
- Chasing lift and long-lasting hold? NYX's Lift & Snatch! Brow Tint Pen delivers up to 16 hours of smudge-proof wear with natural-looking, hair-like lines.
- Small gaps need a different fix; brow gels like The Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler and Crazy Lift hold hairs in place for a fuller, laminated look that lasts all day.
Why do eyebrows become sparse?
If you find your eyebrows are thin or thinning, then there are plenty of natural reasons why it could’ve happened. A few common reasons why people’s eyebrows thin and become sparse include:
- Genetics - If your mum or dad’s eyebrows are thin, and yours are too, chances are it’s just genetics!
- Ageing - Hair can thin out all over the body as we age, including your eyebrow hair!
- Over-plucking - If you’ve been a religious eyebrow plucker for years and years, it could’ve damaged hair follicles and led to the thinness you’re experiencing now.
- Hormonal changes - changes in hormone levels, especially during periods like menopause, can impact hair growth all over the body, including eyebrows.
Best eyebrow pencils for sparse brows
Eyebrow pencils are a classic tool, perfect for filling in gaps and sparse areas with natural-looking colour. The best eyebrow pencils for thin brows have soft and waxy textures that help you create hair-like strokes that only you know are there. Here’s a few of NYX’s best eyebrow pencils for thin brows:
Powder Louder Brow Pencil
One of our favourites, the Powder Louder Brow Pencil is a super-soft brow pencil with buildable thickening fibres, perfect for mimicking the look of natural hairs. With up to 12 hours of volume wear, it’s great for an all-day look and is available in 9 shades so you can find your perfect match.
Micro Brow Pencil
If precision is your thing, then our Micro Brow Pencil is the best eyebrow pencil for sparse eyebrows for you!
Sparse brows can become precise and sculpted too, with our Micro Brow Pencil, designed with a micro-precise tip that offers buildable coverage over hair and eyebrow gaps. Available in 12 shades, you can find your perfect match and build natural-looking brows for any occasion.
Fill & Fluff Eyebrow Pomade Pencil
Build, blend, and shade all in one with our Fill & Fluff Eyebrow Pomade Pencil.
One of our best products for sparse eyebrows, it features a retractable, teardrop-shaped pencil bullet for natural shading and a micro-paddle brush for blending. With a waxy and textured finish, it’s perfect for adding volume and depth to your brows.
Best eyebrow fillers for sparse brows
Eyebrow pens and fillers are another great option for filling in sparse brows. With a soft and diffused finish, they’re ideal for natural-looking, everyday brows. Here’s a few of NYX’s eyebrow pens that are perfect for sparse brows:
Fluff & Snatch! Brow Powder Pen
One of the best eyebrow fillers for sparse brows we have, our Fluff & Snatch! Brow Powder Pen is a cream-to-powder pen with a soft-focus finish and unique texture that melts into your brows. Perfect for weightless volume and seamless integration into the natural brow, Fluff & Snatch is a great go-to for everyday brows.
Lift & Snatch! Brow Tint Pen
If volume and lift are what you’re after, then NYX’s Lift & Snatch! Brow Tint Pen is perfect for you. One of our best eyebrow fillers for sparse brows, Lift & Snatch is a flexible micro pen that allows you to create thin and thick lines that look just like your natural brows!
With up to 16 hours of wear and a smudge- and transfer-resistant finish, it’s a perfect pen for long-lasting natural-looking brows.
Best eyebrow gel for sparse brows
If the gaps in your brows are small and spotty, rather than larger and less common, then you might need a brow gel. The best eyebrow gels for sparse brows use strong formulas to hold eyebrow hairs in place and create a full, voluminous look. Here are a few of our favourites:
The Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler
Flake-resistant, transparent, and non-sticky, our Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler is perfect for holding your hair in place and creating a natural-looking, full look.
If you have larger gaps, then try using brow glue as well as a brow pen or pencil for an ultra-long-lasting filled-in look that gives your new brows the hold they deserve.
The Brow Glue Crazy Lift
If you’re after the best eyebrow gels for sparse brows, then it might just be our Brow Glue Crazy Lift. A laminating, strong-hold gel that lifts brows like crazy, our Crazy Lift Glue is flake-proof and sweat-resistant, making it ideal for all-day wear.
How to fill in sparse brows
Now you know what the best products for sparse eyebrows are; let’s look at how to actually use them!
Depending on the product you go for, there are plenty of ways to fill in gaps in your eyebrows. Here’s a quick rundown of how to use one of our brow pencils and glues to fill in larger eyebrow gaps:
- First, pick your brow product. For this tutorial, we’ll be using NYX’s Powder Louder Brow Pencil.
- Next, give your eyebrows a quick cleanse with NYX’s The Face Unglue Makeup Remover Cleansing Balm. Cleansing helps to remove any old makeup or debris that might’ve built up in your brows and might stop your pencil from adhering properly.
- After cleansing, make sure your brow pencil is nice and sharp, then you’re ready to go.
- Start by making short, tiny strokes at the front of the brow that go directly up, just like the natural hairs here.
- Keep drawing these mini hairs until you reach the arch, where hair direction changes a bit.
- At the arch, draw tiny sideways hairs to mimic how hairs grow at that point, filling out any gaps in the same way.
- Finish by setting your look with a coat of NYX’s Brow Glue Crazy Lift, which also adds volume and texture for a beautiful, natural finish.
Keep your brows full and on fleek with NYX
Whether it’s tiny gaps or bigger patches, NYX has all the tools you need to fill in your eyebrows with style. Discover pens, pencils, and glues that are perfect for eyebrow filling and styling, and leave your brows with added volume, texture, and depth.
Discover NYX’s Eyebrow Filling Tools
