AD FEATURE: How to Regrow Long Lashes Back
Main image – Marina Vitale on Unsplash
Watching your lashes get thinner or shorter over time isn’t much fun, and the change can sneak up on you. Many women start to notice lash loss after years of using waterproof mascara, wearing constant lash extensions, or tugging off makeup too harshly. Sometimes, certain health issues or nutrient deficiencies can also make lashes weaker and slower to grow back.
But the good news is that if you take care of your lash follicles and give them space, they can bounce back. The right daily habits, solid nutrition, and products picked carefully can help lashes look fuller and stronger – though it does take a few weeks before you really see a difference. Here’s an up-close look at how lashes grow, what usually causes them to break down, and the small routines that really make a difference.
How lashes grow (and why they sometimes don’t)
Your eyelashes grow in a cycle with three main stages: anagen, catagen, and telogen. The anagen phase is where each lash actually grows from the follicle, and it only lasts a few weeks – which is why lashes never get as long as head hair. Once that’s done, growth slows as the follicle starts shrinking during the catagen phase. Then comes the telogen phase: the lash takes a break, falls out, and clears the way for new growth.
The whole cycle can run four to eleven months. After a lash sheds, it usually takes six to eight weeks to see it coming back in, but full recovery depends on how healthy the follicle is. Lashes damaged by rough beauty routines usually do better with extra care, but if there’s ongoing irritation or a health issue, it might take much longer to see regrowth. Knowing this helps you set realistic expectations – lashes aren’t going to look fuller overnight.
What makes lashes fall out?
Everyday routines often do more damage than most people realise. Rubbing your eyes, scraping off stubborn mascara, or yanking off false lashes all put stress on the follicles and can snap lashes right off. Extensions aren’t always gentle either – the glue and extra weight pull on your natural lashes daily.
Waterproof mascara creates extra trouble, since it requires stronger removers and active rubbing. Sleeping with eye makeup still on just dries out lashes and makes breakage more likely in the long term. Using curling irons on dry, brittle lashes can cause even more breakage.
In some situations, it’s not about makeup. Health conditions like thyroid problems, alopecia areata, eye infections like blepharitis, low iron, chronic stress, or chemotherapy may all mess with normal lash growth. If lashes start falling out in clumps – or you notice redness, swelling, or irritation around your eyes – it’s recommended to see a dermatologist or ophthalmologist.
Simple but effective ways to care for lashes at home
Natural oils are popular for a reason: they help moisturise lashes and can keep them from drying out. Castor oil is a classic – its main ingredient, ricinoleic acid, might help support healthier follicles.
Vitamin E oil is often used with castor oil, partly because of its antioxidant properties. It’s good at protecting lashes from drying out and becoming stressed. Coconut oil is another easy win – it can help keep protein locked in the hair, so lashes don’t snap off as easily. To be clear, these oils won’t magically speed up growth, but they help keep your lashes from drying out and breaking.
Some people also try dabbing green tea (once cool) around the lash line – the tea’s catechins, like EGCG, have been studied for effects on follicles. Aloe vera gel is sometimes used to help calm the skin and to lightly condition the lashes.
With any of these, patience counts. It usually takes at least four to eight weeks of sticking to the routine before any real change shows up. Piling on too many products often just irritates the eyes. Keep things simple and consistent – don’t bounce between new oils every week – and you’ll have the best shot at seeing results.
Lash serums as a powerful add-on
Adding a professional serum for long lashes into your routine can help reinforce lashes and cut down on breakage. Most formulas you’ll find at the store use components like peptides, panthenol, biotin, amino acids, or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to condition your lashes so they bend rather than break with everyday wear and tear.
Peptide-based serums often get top marks because they support healthier-looking lashes without messing with your hormones. Biotin-based ones help strengthen existing lashes, though you probably won’t see dramatic new growth. For best results, apply serum once each night on clean skin, and always follow the label instructions.
What you eat really matters
Lashes are hair, so they need steady nutrition to stay strong. Biotin (vitamin B7) is known to help with keratin, which supports hair strength – not just on your head. You’ll find biotin naturally in eggs, almonds, walnuts, and sweet potatoes, all of which can help reinforce lashes over time.
Low iron is another culprit behind all types of shedding, including lashes, since it affects how much oxygen gets to the follicles. Eating spinach, lentils, pumpkin seeds, iron-fortified cereals, or lean red meat might help if you’re low. Omega-3s – found in salmon, sardines, flaxseed, and walnuts – also support healthy follicles and skin around the eyes.
Vitamins A, C, D, and E all play a role in keeping skin and connective tissue healthy, and you need enough water to keep lashes from getting dry and fragile. Supplements do help some people, but they’re no substitute for real food – and if you’re thinking of adding any, it’s smart to check with your doctor, especially if you already have health concerns.
When it’s time to talk to an expert
If your lashes keep falling out or start shedding quickly, especially with symptoms like redness, swelling, or itching, it could be a sign of an underlying issue. Problems like blepharitis, thyroid issues, alopecia areata, or trichotillomania affect lash growth and usually need treatment. A dermatologist or eye doctor can figure out the root issue – and if needed, prescribe medications or special cleansers tailored to your case.
The takeaway
Getting longer, fuller lashes is usually about slow, steady habits – not shortcuts. Gentle cleaning, good food, the right treatments, and consistency all help your lashes come back stronger over time. Small changes (kept up daily) almost always make a visible difference – it just takes some patience and faith in the process.
