If you’ve ever overplucked or succumbed to the bleached brow trend, you know that growing brows isn’t easy. We’ve all been there – what started out as a bit of maintenance quickly turned into a huge mess. Or you finally took the plunge and bleached your brows after getting swung by Kim Kardashian and Lizzo, and instantly regretted it. Whatever the case, you now find yourself with sparse, brittle hair and need all the help you can get. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help bring your brows back to life. All it takes are some good practices and products.
Remember though: just as hair takes time to grow, don’t expect overnight results and let nature do the work. “Patience is key,” says Sania Vossage, brow expert and founder of Sania’s Brow Bar in New York City. “The growth journey can take up to a year,” she says.
The process will also depend on your body, says Jared Bailey, global brow specialist at Benefit Cosmetics. “The hair on your eyebrows is like the hair on your head: it grows in a cycle,” he says. “Depending on the health of the hair follicles in the eyebrows, it can take anywhere from 12 to 16 weeks to see the full potential,” he says.
Eyebrow hair loss: causes
There are many possible reasons why your eyebrows are thinning. The most common is excessive plucking, but there are some less obvious culprits.
“Brow hair, like hair on your head, changes thickness over time. This can happen for any number of reasons, from hormonal changes to diet and nutrition,” says Bailey. However, the most common cause of poor eyebrows in people over the years is incorrect plucking. You can damage the brow bone. The dermis that supports the hair follicles: After doing this, the eyebrows will have a hard time growing back over time.
Bailey and Sania recommend having the brows shaped by a professional. If he needs to pluck out hair, he knows that each hair is connected to tiny blood vessels that keep it healthy and allow it to grow back when the hair is removed. Once this bowl is broken, the hair never returns.
What can make it difficult to grow eyebrows?
Do you want to know something harmful that seems harmless? The act of applying skin care products to the eyebrows. “It’s important to avoid using oils or creams on the area. Moisturizers, sunscreens, foundation, and facial washes can clog hair follicles and not only prevent hair growth, but also cause hair loss. These creams they are great for the skin, but be sure to avoid them on your brows,” advises Sania.
Some cosmetic treatments can do more harm than good. “Brow pomade is too waxy and clogs the follicle again. Gels are often very sticky and the hairs can get caught in a mascara wand and fall out,” says Sania. Treatments like brow lamination or bleaching are also not highly recommended.
“To pluck properly, you have to pull the skin with one finger, then pinch the hair in the direction it’s growing,” says Bailey. “Usually this goes up or towards the temple rather than out. It can be tempting to grab several at a time, picking one at a time. This will help ensure you don’t make a mistake and end up tucking it in.”
What should be done to promote eyebrow growth?
There are some habits of allies. “Because each hair is connected to tiny vessels, stimulating blood flow to the brow area can help promote healthy hair growth,” says Bailey. “Gently massage the brow bone with your fingertips, gently using the tips, for 30 seconds on each,” she teaches.
If you want a more active approach, try adding topical products to your routine that include ingredients known to promote healthy growth, like keratin and soy proteins.
More than anything, let your body do the work. “Allow the brow hair follicles to breathe,” says Sania. “The more certain you are that this area is not clogged, the better your results will be with growth. Few argue.”
Finally, you may be tempted to tingle the area, but don’t touch it. He advises: “Avoid waxing at least every two to three weeks to give your hair time to regrow.”