Fuller Brows + Lusher Lashes: Experts’ Easy Tricks
We love how lush brows and long lashes help frame and brighten our eyes, drawing attention to them and making them pop. However, as we age, the hair on our head, brows or lashes becomes thinner, shorter and grayer. Add to that all the plucking we did in the '90s for that thin brow look and use of waterproof mascaras that caused lashes to fall out and never quite grew back. Thankfully, nowadays there are a host of serums and oils to grow those hairs back, as well as easy DIY hacks to make them look darker and thicker. Here, how to grow eyelashes and thicken brows according to the pros.
How to grow eyelashes
Between natural oils and affordable serums, there are myriad ways to grow eyelashes. The good news? Many of these work to help regrow eyebrows as well!
Try castor oil
Our skin produces fewer natural oils as we get older, causing lashes to become weak and dehydrated, so they’re prone to breaking and shedding — natural oils are a great place to start when learning how to grow eyelashes. What can help: castor oil. According to Lindsay Holdorf, resident esthetician for Dermstore, castor oil is "a longstanding favorite for hair growth, primarily because it's rich in ricinoleic acid, a type of fatty acid that promotes hair growth. It's also believed to help moisturize and create a healthier environment for hair follicles, leading to thicker and stronger hair."
To do: Simply coat a clean spoolie with castor oil and sweep onto lashes before bed nightly. (Click through to learn more about how castor oil can regrow hair.)
Use this lash serum
Serums promising to regrow lashes abound, but at over $100 a pop, it can feel restrictive. Luckily, more and more brands are bringing affordable serums to the market. The key to finding the best ones? Check the ingredients list. "I'm partial to serums that blend efficacy with natural ingredients," claims Holdorf. "Together, these ingredients create a potent mix for revitalizing and sustaining healthy lashes and brows."
Ingredients to look for when choosing an eyelash serum according to Holdorf: peptides, biotin, vitamins E and B5, natural oils and extracts and hyaluronic acid.
Ingredients you should be wary of when it comes to eyelash (and brow) serums: "Choosing a lash serum with a gentle, effective formula is essential for nurturing longer, healthier lashes without risking irritation or other unwanted side effects," advises Holdorf. "Key ingredients to steer clear of include prostaglandins or prostaglandin analogs, which, despite their growth-promoting properties, can cause unwanted side effects like iris color change and eyelid skin darkening. Alcohol, which can be overly drying, leading to brittleness and breakage, should also be avoided. Additionally, be wary of parabens and sulfates, which are potential irritants and can disrupt the natural growth cycle of lashes and brows."
That being said, some good ones to look for that are prostaglandin-free, so you don't need to worry about those unwanted side effects:.:
The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Lash and Brow Serum is a great affordable buy, costing less than $15. Plus, it works on both lashes and brows, so you're getting double-duty magic.
Kosas GrowPotion Fluffy Brow + Lash Boosting Serum is made with a peptide trio, vegan keratin and vitamin B5.
Lash Spell's Enhancing Eyelash Serum, made with polypeptides, proteins, vitamins and conditioners, creates a gentle serum that works in just four weeks.
Benefit Cosmetics Whoop Lash-Lash Enhancing Serum is a great choice due to its biotin, rice protein and hibiscus flower and safflower extracts.
Related: Lash Lift Before and Afters: See How It Makes Eyelashes Look Thicker and Fuller — No Mascara Needed
Enlist a jelly
Holdorf is also an advocate of good ol' petroleum jelly. "Products like Aquaphor and Vaseline are excellent options due to their ability to lock in moisture, which can help strengthen and condition hair follicles naturally. These petroleum-based emollients are especially beneficial for keeping the area well-hydrated, potentially leading to a fuller look," she says.
Related: Aquaphor on Eyelashes Transforms Them From Thin to Lush In Seconds
Swipe on a tubing mascara
Maybe you don't have the time or patience to learn how to grow eyelashes and instead want a quick fix. Mascara can help, but rather than coating lashes with thick layers of dark color which can clump or flake, try a tubing mascara. The formula is made of flexible polymers that wrap around each individual lash to build natural-looking length and volume, says makeup and brow artist Dani Kimiko Vincent. “Plus, since tubing mascaras simply slip off with warm water without any harsh rubbing, they’re gentler on delicate lashes than other mascaras.” One we like: Essence Bye Bye Panda Eyes! Tubing Mascara.
(Click through to learn more about tubing mascara.)
How to grow eyebrows
Many of the items mentioned above can be applied to brows as well, but here are some additional brow-thickening tricks.
Prefer natural ingredients?
Natural oils have long been loved for their beauty benefits in skincare, makeup and haircare, so it's no surprise they can help with the growth of brows and lashes too. Ones that work best:
Palmetto oil: Phytosterols in the oil have been shown to improve hair density by 33% in three months, thickening brow hairs to “fill in” bald spots. Apply a saw palmetto oil, like Nature’s Answer Saw Palmetto Extract onto brows twice a day.
Coconut oil: One of nature's finest ingredients when it comes to your beauty needs, coconut oil can hydrate dry skin, be used as a hair mask and, you guessed it, encourage brow and lash growth! "Known for its moisturizing benefits, (coconut oil) can help lashes and brows to stay hydrated, reducing breakage and promoting healthier growth," says Holdorf. "It's rich in fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that nourish hair follicles."
Vitamin E: Antioxidants, such as vitamin E, can do wonders for hair and skin. Vitamin E "is an antioxidant that's believed to support healthy skin and hair follicles, potentially leading to better growth of lashes and brows," explains Holdorf. "It can help repair and build tissue, which means it could encourage hair growth." To do: Dip a clean spoolie into vitamin E oil, and swipe onto brows before bed.
Aloe Vera: Aloe isn't just good for cooling burns. Tara Bogna, founder of Lash Spell, claims, "Aloe vera is also a natural remedy that contains enzymes to help promote lash growth." To do: Coat a clean spoolie in aloe vera gel and brush through brows before bed.
Prefer a brow serum?
"RapidBrow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum utilizes a Hexatein 2 Complex, with sweet almond extract and biotin, to improve the appearance of eyebrow density," recommends Holdorf. Another one of Holdorf's favorite brow serums is the Grande Cosmetics GrandeBROW Brow Enhancing Serum: "[It] complements the GrandeLASH serum, designed to fill in sparse brows for a more defined look using a blend of vitamins, antioxidants and amino acids. Bogna's favorite is her Brow Spell Serum, made with hair-growing biotin, keratin, peptides, allantoin and apple extract. "As a woman who over-tweezed my brows in the early 2000s, Brow Spell has been a game-changer for me," she says. "I apply Brow Spell twice a day. Its spoolie applicator doubles as a styling tool in the morning and keeps my brows looking full."
Prefer a quick fix?
Fill in sparse brows using a kit that comes with stencils and a stamp-on tinted “filler.” Just hold the stencil over the brow, then stamp on the hair-matching color. One we like: Madluvv Brow Stamp Kit.
To cover gray brows
As if less hair isn't frustrating enough, when the ones you have start turning gray they can really age you. Here, quick fixes for graying brows.
Try an eyebrow tint
Just like you would head to the salon to touch up those grays at your roots or pick up some box dye from the drugstore, you can also color your brows — and it's easier than you may think.
One way to do it? Grab a box of men's beard dye in your preferred shade and dye those brow hairs right from your bathroom. This Just for Men Beard Dye comes with a developer and color that you simply mix equal parts of in the included plastic tray. Once mixed, apply to brows evenly with the brush or a spoolie and leave on for 3-5 minutes. Tip: To avoid staining your skin, apply a petroleum jelly as a barrier, like Aquaphor or Vaseline.
For more hair growth tips, click through these stories:
How to Do a Hot Oil Treatment At-Home for Hair That Looks Thicker + Shinier Instantly
These TikTok-Approved Hair Masks Are the Secret to Lush, Shiny Strands
