5-piece cleansing oil gifts on orders $100+
hard formula eyebrow pencil
this unique eyebrow pencil has been beloved for over 25 years. this eyebrow pencil has an oil activa ... read more
best seller 
this unique eyebrow pencil has been beloved for over 25 years. this eyebrow pencil has an oil activated formula: color only shows with natural oil that is on the eyebrow. this unique formula consists of a mix of powder, wax, and small amounts of semi-solid oil, a winning combination that delivers the perfect hardness for ultimate precision with a powdery texture that works well with foundation upon application. the result is a natural and defined brow look. smudge-proof and long-lasting.
please note: hard formula does not come sharpened in the shape of a naginata samurai sword.
what is naginata?
enabling precision, the unique "naginata" samurai sword shape is part of shu uemura's heritage, creating natural, defined brows, for both fine lines and wider areas. the angled tip boasts versatility, craftsmanship, and a timeless functionality that navigates ever-changing brow trends through time. the edge is used to draw precise lines as thin as hair, the side surfaces are for shading naturally or boldly, and the point is for filling in the fine gaps in the brows for a beautiful finish. each pencil is carefully manufactured and is the epitome of Japanese craftsmanship.
draw eyebrow hairs one by one using the thinnest edge of the hard formula pencil.
artist tip:Choose color closest to hair color for natural look. A darker shade will generally project a strong, more assertive image while a lighter shade projects a soft, sweet image.
artist tip:Choose color closest to hair color for natural look. A darker shade will generally project a strong, more assertive image while a lighter shade projects a soft, sweet image.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Edie B from
Natural and easy
I have been looking for a good color and formula and Everything is too dark. I have fair cool skin and brown hair. I don't like alot of makeup. Seal brown is natural and easy to apply, i am not great at applying makeup and this is great!! Thank uou Shu!!
Date published: 2022-12-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Malibu Princess from
You cannot live without!
I have been a fan for over 15 years! This is a magic pencil! The color glides on effortlessly without any clumping and you have control over the color - apply with a lighter touch and the result is a lighter color. It's amazing. As perfect as the eyelash curler is, this is the bomb for eyebrows. Seriously!
Date published: 2022-12-15
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Annie Annie from
No pigment
Color is not as picture, too red for black hair. Pencil has no pigment, barely see on skin.
Date published: 2022-12-14
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kyla Fox from
Holy grail!
I highly recommend this product. The color seal brown is the most perfect cool light brown. I have used many, many brow pencils over the years and never found another color that doesn’t look to warm on the skin while being light enough to go with my blonde hair. The formula is perfection as well and it lasts forever!
Date published: 2022-12-05
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Lori P from
Not recommend
Too hard to draw on eyebrow, disappointing not recommend
Date published: 2022-11-24
Rated 1 out of
5
by
SFLI from
not suggest
The pencil is not the same shape as the picture. And color is not good, not easy to draw because color is too light. I wanted to return it, but couldn't
Date published: 2022-11-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Cate from
Best eyebrow pencil
The formula of Shu Uemura eyebrow pencil is the perfect consistency to sharpen to a fine point. Unlike other brands that are so soft they smear and smudge on, the Shu Uemura’s fine point draws on cleanly.
I am so tired of cheap quality eyebrow pencils that smear on leaving no definition. Shu Uemura is the only great eyebrow pencil on the market.
One poster that complained about not being able to draw a line on their eyelid; it’s an eyebrow pencil, not an eyeliner pencil. Another poster complained it was sharpened like a regular pencil not like the photo. Yes the photos is just advertisement; that pencil hand sharpened with a blade.
Date published: 2021-09-02
Rated 4 out of
5
by
amberanywhere from
Love the texture - hard to see color online
Love the texture, the hardness means I can apply fine precise lines. Love the length of the pencil, I can make more elegant movements. Love that this is a natural product, wood not plastic. The tip was sharpened like a regular pencil, not the long angle as in the photos. This was slightly disappointing, but will also make it easier to maintain.
I tried Oak - unfortunately the color was a lot warmer than I thought from the image. I think that having a larger portion of the image with color, and perhaps something like skin swatches similar to lipstick would help with online color choices.
In the future I will try a neutral color and a shade lighter than my natural eyebrow color. It seems that when I pick a similar shade to my natural eyebrows it feels much darker and more intense on application.
Date published: 2020-09-14
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Laurenh0069 from
Color Beware
Love love this pencil.. have it in three shades. I went blonde and decided to pick up tea beige. Loves, the picture is pretty accurate. Its straight up neon yellow not a cute tea beige. For my fellow blondies I would choose a different color.
Date published: 2020-01-09
Rated 3 out of
5
by
sybaritic1 from
not hand-sharpened as described
the point is just like any old eye/brow pencil. no hand-sharpening. pencil is ok.
Date published: 2019-10-08
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Danielle from
The color is natural perfection!
Shu Uemura eyebrow pencil suggestion!!!! Just received my first Shu Uemura eyebrow pencil in seal brown and I LOVE IT!
The color is literally a perfect seal brown: that sort of ashy taupey brown found in actual nature!
I have very light, sparse/patchy eyebrows that I have to fill in. I don't want to look overly made-up or fake. I prefer a more "natural" look and to accentuate/enhance what I have already. The problem with most everything else on the market is that the colors are so unnatural looking and leave a lot of goop in the process.
I could tell the color on the Shu Uemura Seal Brown pencil was perfect as soon as I saw it. When I first opened the cap and took a swipe on my forearm, I have to admit I was a bit worried because it seemed so hard. I wondered how on earth it was going to pencil in my brows, if it would require a lot of work. But that is what I think is the magic of it. It glides on, but not overly or underly so--just the right amount that doesn't leave any crumbs or glops or flakes. And if you want go for extra drama, you can layer it to increase the darkness.
What I hate about gels and retractables is that they dry up and harden eventually and you can't get the kind of point you do with a pencil. For me, pencils you have to actually sharpen are so much easier to work with. The point on this Shu Uemura didn't wear down and have to be sharpened after one use because it's not as soft as all the others on the market, which also means you also don't waste as much product. Plus, this pencil is LONG so it's going to last awhile. I am so freaking thrilled with this product!!!
Definitely stocking up on this. They had better not discontinue it (story of my LIFE)! That "out of stock" sign on their website has me worried. Hopefully, it's just a case of this being the most popular color.
Date published: 2019-08-03
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Seattle mom from
Umm...what's the hype??
First of all, I don't know why they advertise the samurai pencil shape as being the most optimal for eyebrow styling and don't give any instructions on how to do it. Why don't they sharpen it for us into that shape? Frankly, for this price, that's the least they could do. I wasted nearly a third of my pencil trying to sharpen into that shape! In addition, I don't see how it's better than other less expensive brands.
Date published: 2019-05-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Mrsneogoori from
My favorite!
Best eye brow pencil I’ve ever used so far.
Got lots of complements saying it looks so natural!
Just blends right in with ny natural brows.
Lasts pretty long as long as you don’t smudge it with with you hands.
Had to give one away to mom, cuz she fell in love with it too!
It will also last you a couple of years to use it all up!
Date published: 2019-04-12
Rated 1 out of
5
by
Rosexxg from
Very dry!!
I am very disappointed with the product. It is very very very dry. I had a really hard time apply it to my eye lids.
Date published: 2019-03-21
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kd17 from
So glad I tried it
I bought the hard 9 pencil online based on the reviews only...and even when I tried the first few strokes I was doubtful when barely any color came off (I had to try it on paper several times). So I just pressed harder on my brows an voila! Awkward at first but now I LOVE it!!! It’s sharp enough to make precise lines and still easy to color in. It also stays put all day long. I like this pencil waaaaaay better than Estée Lauder’s brow multitasker and brow now, better than Maybelline’s tattoo studio, and better than The Face Shop’s brow liners!
Date published: 2019-03-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
ConnieTX from
Easy to use and natural results
I bought this together with the brow palatte and love them both. They create natural looks. Sharpening the pencil in naginata" samurai sword shape does need some practice. The first time I did it I broke almost a fifth of the pencil lengthwise but the second time I did it perfectly. I am going to use my brow palette at home and have my pencil in my cosmetic bag to use when I am out. I think that’s a perfect combination!
Date published: 2019-03-03
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Ssongssongi from
I just love this product.
I love this product. The product could be used for really long time. I sharpened first time and I've been using it for 7months. I resharpened it about 2 weeks ago. I'm pretty sure it will take forever to finish up.
Date published: 2019-02-01
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Blondie777 from
Blondies
These pencils are excellent...even for blondes. They go on smooth and look very natural. I love them! I purchased the seal brown and stone gray. Together they make a beautiful brow.
Date published: 2019-01-23
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Judy8899 from
Hard Formula Eyebrow Pencil
This is my second Hard Formula eyebrow pencil. I keep an extra one for my travel bag. I love Shu Uemura brow products. My brows don’t look over drawn or have dark and light areas when using the Hard Formula. It applies smoothly and blends well with my brows.
Date published: 2018-12-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
KittyM from
Great and will get other shades
I have dark brown hair but graying. I bought stone grey and seal brown, turned out a bit dark for full brow use. Will try other lighter shade. Quality is very good and not too hard for me at all.
Date published: 2018-12-07
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Lauralou from
Great but wasn’t there supposed to be a sharpener
I love the hard formula and overall staying power. The dark grey/stone maybe not dark enough for my brunette hair with golden blonde highlights from summer. I really thought I would get a sharpener with his and didn’t. I’m sorry but will probably stick with Anastasia.
Date published: 2018-11-25
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Berta from
Professional makeup artist -Berta Camal
I’ve been using this hard pencil for years now! Still my absolute favorite hands down.
Date published: 2018-11-15
Rated 4 out of
5
by
JulieK from
Natural Eyebrows
I am Asian with black hair and black eyebrows. It is very hard to do natural brows - most on the market are way too pigmented or too brown for someone like me. The gray color is perfect. I like to try different products but reach for this often. You can’t go wrong, literally. Never had a bad eyebrow day with this. Apply after you have moisturized your face, makes the pencil more slippery.
Date published: 2018-11-10
Rated 5 out of
5
by
amberz from
Great
It‘s great. it can draw very natural eyebrows. Love it!
Date published: 2018-10-15
Rated 5 out of
5
by
kaline from
Perfect
Sharpenimg the pencil was a bit tricky but after that it is perfect. It gives me the right amount of product with each stroke without leaving smughes. Stone gray is perfect color.
Date published: 2018-10-14
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Mher from
Right color match
I've been a long time fan, especially their Hard 9 eye brow pencil. My first purchase of the Hard 9 in stone gray, lasted me 5 years. I use it fill and shade in the areas I need. Now that my hair is lighter, brown tones, I purchase my second Hard 9 formula in Seal Brown and it's a great match.
Date published: 2018-10-05
Rated 5 out of
5
by
DrAvril107 from
The Best!
The pencil is very easy to sharpen into the sword shape. The sword shape allows me to use the pencil with sharp precision to achieve any look I desire. Since the pencil is very pigmented, I can now groom my brows very quickly when in a hurry with the precision of the sword shape. All I an say is WOW!
Date published: 2018-09-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Candi7 from
Wonderful product!!
I found the hard lead eyebrow pencil online. Exactly what I’ve looked for. Very pleased with the quality and color. The best I’ve had.
Date published: 2018-09-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Squishy from
AMAZING
This pencil lasts for such a LONG time, due to the hard formula. Keeping it sharp isn't very difficult, is easy to use to create sharp, thin strokes as well as filling in the brows. Love the colors available, I have 4 different browns. Best eye brow pencil on the market!
Date published: 2018-08-17
Rated 5 out of
5
by
cheekyboop from
Wonderful Brow Pencil
I was originally skeptical but this turned out to be one of the best brow pencils I've used. I normally use Anastasia brow powder and fine pencil but the Shu Uemura Hard Pencil is a great addition to my brow arsenal. I bought the stone gray color and it's a perfect match for my brows. I had difficulties shaping the pencil into a sword shape initially -- I applied too much pressure and broke the tip twice! But once I managed to shave it slowly and a little more gently, it turned out great. Love this pencil!
Date published: 2018-05-26
