Can I use eyeshadow to mask my thinning hair? | Makeup

The hack
Using eyeshadow to disguise thinning hair, or define your hairline.

The test
This is an issue I’m all too familiar with. My hair has been getting finer ever since I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome as a teenager, and it’s probably the thing I’m most self-conscious about. I already use Colour Wow Root Cover Up (£29.50) to hide the parts of my scalp I feel are most visible, so could this hack be a cheaper alternative?

I followed what @elliemakeupartist did on TikTok and took a black shadow (pick a shade that matches your hair) and used an eyeshadow smudge brush to blend it into my hairline, followed by a bigger blending brush and a spoolie to make sure that it was well blended.

The result was definitely more stark than my usual root cover-up, which is an off-black shade, and I realised there’s a pretty big difference in staying power too. Every time I touched my hair the shadow transferred to my fingers and then to my face – “chimney sweep chic” was not the look I was going for.

The verdict
If it’s something you would only do occasionally, go for it. But if you have hair loss and want a good cover-up solution, Colour Wow is a winner. (It’s also brilliant for stay-put brows … just saying.)