Natural Ways To Grow Fuller Eyebrows And Eyelashes
If every time you look into your bathroom mirror, you find yourself wishing that you had fuller eyebrows or longer eyelashes, you're going to be really happy that you read this. While you can take cosmetic approaches, like brow lamination, brow tinting, and eyelash extensions, there are also some all-natural ways that you can get your brows and lashes to the place you want them to be.
Habits like over-tweezing as well as age and nutrient deficiencies can play a direct role in losing oomph in your eyelashes and eyebrows (via Cleveland Clinic). Need help? Here are some things you can do to both nourish and replenish those ever-important hairs. That way, you can get a fuller look while keeping some extra money in your pocket in the process.
Aloe vera conditions your brows and strengthens your eyelashes
Aloe vera benefits your skin and hair in all kinds of ways. First, because it's a plant that's made up of mostly water, it can hydrate your skin and tresses, according to Allure. It also contains mucopolysaccharides that help keep your skin moisturized. Plus, its antiseptic properties help to prevent skin and scalp infections. Aloe vera also contains ingredients capable of strengthening your hair. As Hello Giggles explained, because aloe vera is such a great conditioner, it can help to regrow your brows and restore brittle eyelashes too. When your eyelashes are full of moisture, they are far less likely to break.
If you're not sure where to start, you can always purchase an aloe vera plant, break off one of the leaves, and apply it directly. Another option is to purchase one of the many varieties of aloe vera gels.
Vitamin E conditions eyelashes, encouraging healthy growth
Do you have a bottle of Vitamin E capsules or some Vitamin E oil laying around in your possession somewhere? If not, you definitely should because it's another great nutrient for your skin and hair. Not only can it provide your skin with a natural radiant glow, but it is also effective when it comes to treating acne and protecting your skin from UV damage too (via Healthline). Your hair will be a fan of this same vitamin because it will nourish your scalp, increase blood circulation to your hair follicles and it can even help to prevent hair loss (via Healthline).
Khloe Kardashian happens to be a huge fan of using vitamin E oil to keep her lashes moisturized. "Vitamin E acts as a conditioner to help your lashes grow strong and healthy," she wrote (via Health). "Use a clean spoolie or a cotton swab when applying, and you should see changes in a month or two." Vitamin E is an ingredient found in many lash and brow serums, and it's easy to see why.
Almond oil stimulates eyebrow hair growth
If you are bothered by acne, eczema, or stretch marks, you may already know about the power of almond oil. According to Verywell Health, the robust antioxidants it contains are great for treating skin conditions as well as protecting your skin from sun damage and smoothing the appearance of scars. As a bonus, it can strengthen and soften your hair. It's also pretty good at helping to heal scalp-related issues like scalp psoriasis (via Healthline).
Don't be afraid to try it out on your eyebrows, too. According to Well + Good, the fatty acids and Vitamin E in almond oil can stimulate brow hair growth and moisturize as well. "Almond oil has the same properties as castor oil in terms of moisturizing brow hair," brow expert Sabah Feroz confirmed to Byrdie. "My favorite product is BBB London Nourishing Brow and Lash Oil ... . Rosemary and almond oil stimulate hair growth, while lavender soothes and hydrates the skin. I use it every night and my lashes look longer and my brows look fuller."
Rosemary oil can help you achieve fuller eyebrows and longer lashes
Your skin will love rosemary oil because it contains antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties that help to heal and soothe skin, according to Byrdie. Additionally, your hair will be a huge fan of rosemary oil because it reduces scalp itching and it helps to stimulate hair growth. According to Well+Good, this is also why rosemary oil can help to make your eyebrows fuller and your lashes longer.
Sara Panton, CEO and co-founder of essential-oils brand Vitruvi, recommends applying some rosemary oil to your eyebrows every night for the best results. Oh, and if you add a few drops of lavender oil to your mascara tube, it will even keep your mascara around for a bit longer. Talk about a great hack, right? "Plus, every time you blink, you'll get a refreshing whiff of garden-scented air," Well+Good revealed. Not bad!
Castor oil can be helpful in small quantities
The anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties found in castor oil make it effective for speeding up the healing process of wounds, healing acne, or treating fungal infections (via WebMD). Now, while castor oil shouldn't be seen as a "miracle cure" for short lashes, MindBodyGreen asserts that the compound ricinoleic acid along with the other ingredients in castor oil can penetrate the strands of your lashes. This means they'll stay moisturized and will be less likely to break. So even if castor oil doesn't speed up hair growth, the fact that it reduces breakage is still a win.
The main thing to keep in mind here is that castor oil — especially Jamaican black castor oil — can be really thick. If you do decide to put it onto your eyelashes, taking the "less is more" approach is definitely the way to go.
Taking a break from tweezing will work wonders
Anyone who's interested in keeping their eyebrows as manicured as possible has definitely become close with their tweezers. While tweezing your brows every once in a is not typically problematic, you need to be careful to avoid plucking so much that you end up doing permanent damage to your eyebrows' hair follicles. When that happens, there's a good chance that those hairs will never grow back. In fact, Independent even goes so far as to put eyebrows on its "no-pluck list" for this very reason.
Of course, it's your face and you can certainly do to it whatever you want to do But if you know that you tweeze your eyebrows at least twice a week, you may want to take some time off and allow your eyebrow follicles some time to recover. And you may just find that you never want to go back. "Trimming or waxing is better" for your delicate brow hairs anyway, according to Dr. Gary Goldenberg, medical director of the Dermatology Faculty Practice at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (via Women's Health).
Biotin can speed up the growth of your eyebrows
Biotin, aka Vitamin B7, has a pretty solid reputation as it is essential for fetal development. It may also help regulate blood sugar levels in those with type 2 diabetes, according to Healthline, and it is beneficial to those who have multiple sclerosis (via Medical News Today). Another great thing about this particular nutrient is that it helps to create strong hair and nails.
Since it is so adept at strengthening hair and promoting hair growth, you should be intentional about making sure biotin is a part of your health regimen for the sake of the hair on your head and your eyebrows, according to Women's Health. That said, you should consult your health provider before taking vitamin B7 because it can be accompanied by unpleasant side effects including skin rashes, digestive issues, and even kidney problems depending on the dosage (via Verywell Health).
Brushing your eyebrows and eyelashes promotes hair growth
One of the main benefits that comes from brushing your hair is that it increases blood circulation to your scalp, according to Healthline. When that happens, more blood flows to your hair follicles, which can nourish them enough to cause your hair to flourish. This is also why dry brushing your skin is a good idea. Not only does it remove dead skin cells, but it also helps to stimulate your nervous system as well as increase blood circulation.
Along these same lines, brushing your eyelashes can nourish their hair follicles. Just make sure that you use a soft-bristled eyelash brush, brush in upward strokes, and apply a carrier oil like olive oil to keep them moisturized (via Byrdie).
By the way, if brushing the hair on your head and your eyelashes is helpful, it's only right to brush your eyebrows too. Actor Yara Shahidi told E! Online that she relies on a toothbrush to brush her brows since the bristles are soft. With the addition of brow gel, the toothbrush helps keep every hair in place, too. Very cool!
Eyelash serums can encourage lash development
"Serums are thin-viscosity topical products that contain concentrated amounts of active ingredients," Dr. Tsippora Shainhouse, board-certified dermatologist at SkinSafe Dermatology and Skin Care, told Healthline. The publication went on to explain that there are large active molecules in serums that are able to penetrate the skin, so that skin is able to receive optimal results.
Eyelash serums are similar to skin serums in the sense that biotin, castor oil, and hyaluronic acids are usually key ingredients — and all of these have been attributed to hair growth (via Self). Something to keep in mind with eyelash serums is while they can help to accelerate lash development, you don't want to get the product into your eyes, so they need to be applied with extreme care — and with an applicator.
Also, while there are plenty of eyelash serums on the market, it should go on record that the only one that's FDA-approved is the brand Latisse. So, if you're looking for something that is a sure thing, that is the bottle that you should pick up first. Consistent application of it could have you boldly batting a beautiful set of eyelashes in no time!