Do Eyelashes Grow Back?

We don’t often think about our eyelashes unless there is something wrong with them. Maybe one curled down and is poking you in the eye. Or maybe there’s a bit of dandruff lurking in there that makes you look awkward. So you grab the offending lash, attempt to correct the situation, and then it happens.

Your eyelash falls out.

Some might tell you to make a wish. Others might laugh and wish you luck in having that eyelash grow back. Is there any truth to all of this? If something happens to your eyelashes, will they recover?

Do eyelashes grow back?

Here’s the good news: the answer is yes. For most people, their eyelashes will grow back. There are some exceptions to this rule, of course, so it is important to look at all the facts of your situation to see what may or may not happen.

Do Eyelashes Grow Back If Cut?

Yes. Your eyelashes will generally grow back if you happen to cut them. It will take anywhere from 8-16 weeks for them to grow back to a normal appearance if they were cut near the eyelid.

In practical terms, it may be up to 4 months before a full natural cycle of lash growth occurs. If you’re concerned about how your eyelashes look during this period of time, there are some cosmetic options that are available to you.

• You could use temporary false eyelashes to immediately establish a new look that is based on your personal preferences.
• You could utilize eyeliner and other eye makeup techniques to deemphasize the lack of eyelashes or the awkwardness of their current shape.
• You could visit with a salon professional to have semi-permanent eyelashes installed.

The problem with permanent eyelash extensions in this situation is that they may not have enough support to keep them in place. This would be especially true if the natural lashes were trimmed near the eyelid.

What about using Latisse to grow my eyelashes faster? Latisse is a prescription-only option that was originally intended to treat glaucoma. Although it may encourage eyelash growth and improve lash thickness, it is generally considered a cosmetic medical treatment. If your doctor will even prescribe it, there is a good chance that your health insurance cover won’t contribute anything to the cost of the eye drops.

The current cost of Latisse is about $150 for a 4-week supply.

Do Eyelashes Grow Back If Pulled Out?

Yes. As with eyelashes that are cut, the typical recovery period for eyelashes that are pulled out may be up to 16 weeks.

The danger in having eyelashes pulled out is that the eyelid may become infected where the trauma of losing the hair follicle occurs. Lashes will naturally fall out when they reach the right age and die. While they are alive, they are literally connected to your body. This is why pulling out a hair can hurt so much.

You may need to address swelling, redness, and even an infection of the eyelid as part of the restoration process. If more than one eyelash was pulled out, then conjunctivitis can become a problem as well.

In serious cases, antibiotic eye drops may be prescribed to treat the redness or an infection. It may take 2-3 weeks for the redness, itchiness, and pain from an infection to resolve. These issues will not affect eyelash growth.

Do Eyelashes Grow Back After Chemotherapy?

Hair can fall out during chemotherapy treatments for some patients. Since eyelashes are a type of hair, they can fall out just like the rest of the hair on the body. This condition may persist until the chemotherapy treatments are ended.

Most people who finish chemotherapy will find that they have eyelashes again after 6-8 weeks.

One of the interesting components of chemotherapy is that it can actually change the size and structure of the hair a person has. The lashes may become thinner and sparser than they were before. Sometimes the hair may turn darker or lighter as well.

There may even be changes to length.

Not everyone will lose their eyelashes with chemotherapy. Some patients report that their eyelashes grew thinner in appearance, but continued to stay in place. Others have said that they woke up one morning and they didn’t have any eyelashes at all.

When the chemo stops, the hair growth restarts. You can expect to have your eyelashes grow back after chemotherapy.

Do Eyelashes Grow Back After Lash Extensions?

Yes. Whether you are using the best false eyelashes that are designed to be temporary or you are using professional extensions, your eyelashes will grow back.

Most extensions are designed to either be worn above your lash line or be directly connected to your current eyelashes. This means the appearance of lash extensions often depends on the health of your natural lashes. Growth cycles in this instance tend to be 4-6 weeks for a complete restoration of natural length and shape.

Why is the recovery time lower for lash extensions than other forms of eyelash loss? It’s because fewer eyelashes are typically lost due to the wearing of these beauty products.

Do Eyelashes Grow Back If They Were Burned Off?

Yes. Eyelashes will generally grow back if they are burned or singed. The growth cycle is the same 8-16 weeks for a complete restoration of their look and shape.

The severity of the burn will typically dictate if and how fast eyelashes will grow back. If the skin of the eyelid was damaged during the burn event, there is the possibility that lashes in the area may not grow back. Healing from a burn typically creates scar tissues and these may interfere with the body’s ability to create an eyelash in that specific area.

This means for some individuals who did receive a severe eyelid burn, they may receive only a partial return of their eyelashes.

Because the results are dependent on the extent of the injury, only your medical provider can give you a specific potential outcome to expect.

If only the hair itself was burned, however, you can expect to have your eyelashes grow back.

How Long Does It Take for Eyelashes to Grow Back?

Eyelashes take up to 16 weeks to complete their growth cycle. The actual amount of time it takes for the lashes to grow depends on the individual metabolism of each person. Hair growth is a feature that is based on a growth cycle that is set by the internal mechanisms of each person and total length is also dictated by this mechanism.

As with any other type of hair, lashes will completely replace themselves over time. This means if they fall out, it was just time for that lash to go. Another one will replace it over time.

This means eyelashes will go through the three phases of life that every other hair follicle experiences.

• Antigen Phase. This is the primary growth phase for the eyelashes. It will typically last for up to 45 days. At any given time, about 4 out of every 10 lashes that a person has is currently in this phase.
• Catagen Phase. This is the transition phase for the eyelashes. During this phase, the eyelash will stop its growth. As a result, the follicle will actually begin to shrink. When an eyelash is removed at this phase, it may take longer for it to start growing again because the full phase must be completed.
• Telogen Phase. This is the resting phase and it may last for several weeks. No growth occurs. The hair just remains in place and will stay that way until it is ready to fall out. Once it falls out, a new lash will begin to grow in its place.
  

This is why eyelashes that are lost during extensions will generally grow back within 6-8 weeks. They fall out after completing the catagen phase, allowing the new lash to begin growing immediately.

It also explains why lash growth after an injury or trauma can be up to 16 weeks for complete restoration. The various cycles must be completed in their entirety. You may see new lashes begin to grow immediately, but they may be in the middle of their antigen phase at the time of hair loss and be unable to achieve the correct length.

How to Grow Eyelashes Back Fast

There are three things that you can do to grow your eyelashes back quickly.

• Get enough sleep every night.
• Eat a well-balanced diet every day.
• Stop playing with your eyes.

If your body is not getting enough sleep, then it will dedicate energy resources to making sure you stay awake. This takes growth resources away from the eyelash, preventing them from reaching their maximum length.

You also need proteins, carbs, and fatty acids to encourage hair growth. Many find that eating dishes from the Mediterranean Diet can provide them with better lash growth when compared to something like the Modern Western Diet.

For more ideas, you can invest a few minutes into this video to help your eyelashes grow back faster.

How you care for your eyelashes can also help them to grow back faster than usual. Eyelash conditioners are an easy way to help strengthen each hair follicle. Some recommend using lanolin for good results. Even a good mascara primer can help to encourage longer eyelashes.

If you do decide to use a product to encourage eyelash growth, it is important to make sure that none of that product gets into your eyes. Even if you don’t have an allergy to the product, the eye will treat oils and conditioners as a foreign object. Many will cause a burning sensation and cause swelling around the eye.

How to Grow Longer Eyelashes

Everyone tends to have their own personal method of growing longer eyelashes. You’ll find some crazy ideas on the Internet. One site talks of a personal recipe where they use a combination of coconut oil and lavender essential oil to create longer eyelashes.

If you have a fear of scorpions and want longer lashes, that might work.

For eyelashes to grow longer, they need to be healthier. This means providing them with the nutrients and vitamins they need on a core level. Think about using products like vitamin E, castor oil, or even olive oil.

Though castor oil can be a problem to obtain sometimes because of what the castor bean can create. You will also want to take care of any castor oil products to make sure they are not exposed to heat as this can cause it to burn.

Another option that may encourage eyelash growth is an eyelid massage. Some people have blood flow limitations at or near the eyelids that limits how much oxygen and internal nutrients can be distributed to each follicle. By massaging the eyelids 2-3 times per day, being careful not to actually rub the eyelashes themselves, the extra blood can stimulate growth.

Every person has a maximum genetic length for their lashes, so these techniques may not work for everything. If you’ve already achieved maximum length, adding castor oil, olive oil, or any other serum will not help.

Are False Eyelashes or Eyelash Extensions a Healthy Option?

In most situations, false eyelashes and eyelash extensions are a fast, easy, and healthy way to improve your look around the eyes. They can be combined with the best mascara for false lashes, eye makeup, and other products to create the one-of-a-kind look you’ve always wanted.

You can choose from a wide variety of temporary lashes or visit your salon and have a professional create your look for you. DIY methods of eyelash improvement are very affordable, sometimes less than $50 for the adhesive, lashes, and cleaners that you’ll need. In return, you can create your best-ever look over and over again.

Your natural lashes will always create an intriguing look. By using false eyelashes or eyelash extensions, you’ll just be enhancing what you already have.

And don’t worry. If something goes wrong, your eyelashes will grow back.