If your eyes are your windows to the world, then your eyelashes are the curtains that frame them. So, it's no surprise that when your eyelashes start to fall out, it can be a cause for concern and even distress.
The fantastic news is that, in most cases, eyelashes do grow back. They are one of the quickest-growing hairs on your body, with a typical growth cycle of around eight weeks.
However, some conditions can cause your eyelashes to fall out and not grow back. And, while rare, it is possible to lose all your lashes permanently.
This article will examine why eyelashes fall out and how much time it takes to grow your lashes back. We'll also give you some top tips on how to promote lash growth.
Eyelashes are made up of keratin, a protein which is also found in your hair and nails. Each lash grows from a small sac called a follicle, similar to a hair follicle on your head. If your follicles get damaged, you could lose your eyelashes forever.
Do eyelashes grow back? The growth cycle explained
Your lashes grow through a three-stage cycle:
- The anagen (growth) phase, during which the lash grows to its full length. This phase can last anywhere from 30 to 45 days.
- The catagen (resting) phase, when the lash stops growing and begins to detach from the follicle. This phase lasts around two weeks.
- The telogen (shedding) phase, when the lash falls out, and a new lash begins to grow in its place. This phase lasts around six to eight weeks.
Most people lose between one and five lashes per day. Losing lashes is normal and nothing to be concerned about.
However, if you're losing more than this, it might be a sign of an underlying health issue or condition.
At what age do eyelashes stop growing?
Eyelashes continue to grow throughout your life. However, they may become thinner and shorter as you age. More delicate lashes could be about the amount you have to start with and the length of the growth cycle.
You may also notice that your lashes are not as curly as they once were. Less curly lashes can be because the hair follicles weaken with age, which can cause your lashes to straighten out. This is why lots of people start to use an eyelash curler and eyelash extensions.
It's also true that your eyelashes may suffer when you're pregnant or going through menopause.
How do I make my eyelashes grow back faster?
If you're trying to grow back your natural eyelashes, there are a few tricks you can include to speed eyelash regrowth up:
- Eat a healthy diet: A well-balanced diet rich in nutrients like protein, biotin, and vitamins C and E is essential for healthy eyelash follicle growth. Foods containing essential nutrients like salmon, avocados, nuts, and seeds are all great for promoting lash growth.
- Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated is key to maintaining healthy hair follicles and promoting lash growth.
If you're concerned about eyelash loss and you've spoken to your doctor, if they can't help, try a nutritionist and a dermatologist. A dermatologist can rule out any underlying conditions and advise you on promoting lash growth.
Conditions that cause your eyelashes to fall out
Trichotillomania: This condition is where you have the urge to pull out your hair, including your eyelashes. It's often associated with anxiety or stress.
Alopecia: Alopecia is a general term for hair loss. There are different types of alopecia, including alopecia totalis (the loss of all scalp and body hair), alopecia areata (hair loss on any part of the body) and alopecia universalis (the loss of all hair on the body).
Chemotherapy: This cancer treatment can cause your hair, including eyelashes, to fall out.
Skin conditions: Skin conditions such as psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis can sometimes lead to hair loss, including eyelash loss.
Trauma: Physical and mental trauma to the eye area can damage the lash follicles and lead to lash loss.
In most cases, eyelashes will grow back within a few weeks with no need for treatment. However, if your eyelashes do not grow back, there are some more things you can do to promote growth.
Other things that could stop your lashes from growing back
You may be unlucky and have genes that mean your lashes do not grow back as well as you would like. There's not much you can do about weak eyelash genes (except blame your parents).
Smoking won't help; it's well-known that smoking is bad for you, but did you know it also inhibits hair growth?
So, if you want to give your lashes the best chance of growing back quickly and looking their best, it's time to stub out those cigarettes to boost your eyelash growth cycle.
Now you've considered all the prospective issues. Try an over-the-counter eyelash serum (more on that later) and pump up your eyelash hygiene.
Natural lash hygiene
It's essential to look after your natural lashes; good hygiene is a way to ensure they stay healthy. So just like regular hygiene, here are a few tips to keep those lashes glossy.
- Take your eye makeup off at night. This one is a no-brainer, but removing all traces of makeup is vital before you go to bed. Leaving makeup on overnight can clog the pores around your lash line and cause infections or inflammation.
- Gently cleanse your lashes every few days. Use a mild lash cleanser on a cotton pad to remove dirt, oil, or makeup from your lashes.
- Avoid rubbing or touching the eye area regularly, as this can damage the delicate lash follicles. Rinse thoroughly with warm water. If you must touch, then wash your hand thoroughly first.
- Exfoliate your lashes, it sounds odd, but just like the skin on your face, your eyelashes can benefit from exfoliation. Use a Lash brush or spoolie to brush away any dead skin cells or debris gently. Exfoliation help to promote lash growth.
- Avoid using harsh chemicals. When it comes to products, less is more, which also goes for your eyelashes. Avoid using waterproof mascara or any other harsh chemicals near your eyes. These can damage the delicate lash follicles and irritate them.
Lots of mascaras come with conditioner these days, and our favourites are:
- Rimmel Wonder Full Mascara 001
- Max Factor Lash Crown Mascara Black
- Ardell Beauty Double-Up Mascara
We've written loads about mascara. If you want all the inside info on the best mascaras for any situation, read more here.
If you struggle with sparse, short or weak lashes, the answer could be a powerful growth serum; you can't get any better than SWEED Pro eyelash growth serum.
Use a growth serum
People often ask do lash serums work and if so, how? The good news is that many serums have been proven to be effective for improving the eyelash growth cycle, which you can read more about in our blog link above.
With SWEED Pro Eyelash Growth Serum, your eyelashes will get longer, stronger, and healthier in just 4-6 weeks. SWEED serum prolongs each individual eyelash's growth period thanks to a potent combination of ingredients.
The serum contains fatty acids from pumpkin seed extract conditions and nourishes your eyelashes, giving them a plump and glossy appearance. The B7 vitamin biotin contributes to strong, healthy eyelashes, which can be easily applied to the lower and upper lash line to help stimulate lash growth.
The eyelashes' strength is improved by panthenol (Vitamin B5); they are nourished and moisturised by hyaluronic acid. Do we need to say more?
Not only that, you can use this serum to give your eyebrows a boost too.
Can you use fake eyelashes if your own eyelashes are weak?
Yes, you can wear false eyelashes while your own lashes are growing back. In fact, many people find that wearing falsies can help them feel more confident during this time.
However, choosing a high-quality false lash product and applying it carefully is essential to avoid damaging your natural lashes. If you have any concerns about how to do this, check out our helpful blog.
Our favourite fake eyelashes for emergencies are:
- Ardell Demi Wispies Multi Pack
- KISS Looks So Natural Lashes
- Eylure Naturals No. 020
- Ardell Naked Lashes 421 Multi Pack
- Doll Beauty Lashes - Chloe Elizabeth
We recommend getting lash extensions if you're looking for a more long-term solution to sparse lashes. Magnetic lashes such as the Kiss range provides a fast and easy solution to avoid damage to your natural eyelashes. Find out how to use Kiss magnetic lashes.
Lash extensions are attached with adhesive to your natural lashes and can last for several weeks. Careful application means you can look after your lashes and still look amazing.
They come in various lengths, thicknesses, and colours, so you can create any look you want. If you're considering getting lash extensions, check out the blog on individual extensions - do's, don'ts and recommendations.
Our favourite fake lash extensions that won't hurt your natural lashes are:
- Ardell Multipack Demi Wispies
- KISS Looks So Natural Lash Kit
- Eylure Volume No. 020 False Lashes
- Kiss Lash Couture 3D DIY Faux Lash Extensions
- Marvelash Extension Kit (requires a qualification certificate)
We hope you've found this blog article informative. Please feel free to leave a message on our Facebook (meta) page if you have any queries or want to say hi. We're always happy to help.
Use socials to get in touch. We love hearing from you: Join us on Instagram, Tweet us or join our TikTok page.
Use the hashtag #welovelashes on any of the socials - we can’t wait to hear from you.
