As you may know by now, following my mascara article – a sinus-surgery-gone-wrong left me with closed tear ducts, so I was always crying from my right eye. This resulted in constant rubbing, which led to approximately 0 eyelashes. However, I didn’t even think about doing research on how to grow my natural lashes out.
All these years later, and I’m face-palming myself for that. At 12, I was convinced that I had to tough it out until my eyelashes were long enough to use mascara. Even now, over one decade and two fixed tear ducts later, my natural lashes are sparse. I heavily rely on that jet-black power mascara to cover up the fact that my eye is…well, not a 10.
So, when I stumbled upon an article in Cosmopolitan about growing your eyelashes out, I knew I had to read up on more solutions. I ended up going down the rabbit hole that is Google, finding page after page of suggestions. And, dang, I found a lot. Wanting to know how you can grow your natural lashes? Read on!
What Causes Eyelash Damage?
In my case, it was surgery. But natural lashes can be sparse – or even nonexistent – for a variety of reasons. Hormones and stress can result in thin, short eyelashes, while sleeping in your makeup and wearing falsies on the regular can cause breakage. So, if you have or are doing any of the above, you’re probably close to the culprit.
Is There Anything I Can Do at Home?
If you’re trying to stay away from chemicals, you probably have some care products that can double as eyelash treatments in your medicine cabinet. Castor oil and coconut oil are popular at-home treatments for eyelashes. While their results aren’t proven, they can condition and nourish your natural lashes – meaning you’ll see less breakage and thinning.
These oils are especially important if you tend to wear heavy mascara or rub off eye makeup with a towel. Speaking of which: while waterproof mascara is fantastic for long days, it’s really hard, and therefore detrimental, to get off. Even if you have to do a few touch-ups throughout the day, it’s worth it to avoid waterproof mascaras.
Do Those Serums Work?
If you’re in the market for lash serums, hold off a second before you pay the big bucks. While many serums can help prevent breakage and may boost the appearance of your eyelashes, these ingredients aren’t clinically proven to work. Only one serum is FDA-approved: Latisse.
Latisse was originally an eye drop developed for treating glaucoma, but there was an added benefit: eyelash growth. How did they do it? Bimatoprost. While it reduces the high pressure in patients’ eyes (hence the glaucoma treatment), it also stimulates the growth of natural lashes.
One warning: the iris might darken from the treatment, so if you’d rather keep those emerald greens, stay away. And another added hurdle: it requires a prescription, so you’ll have to schedule an appointment with your doctor. (Though you should be doing that anyway!)
That being said, there’s no harm in trying OTC lash serums. They may not boost lashes like you’d hope, but they can absolutely give the appearance of fuller lashes. Check out our favorite serums and supplements below:
Impatient? These Can Give You Instant Results
Not wanting to wait for those lashes to grow in? Trust me, I get it. Luckily, there are a few ways to have eyebrow-high lashes without the months-long growth periods.
Lash perms are a great way to add oomph to your eyes. Similar to getting a perm for your hair, a chemical is used to curl your natural lashes, so there’s no extra fluttering from a different source. Beauticians won’t perform this on you if they determine your lashes are too short or damaged for the perm, but it’s worth going in for a consultation.
You can also get eyelash extensions. Basically, fibers such as synthetic, silk, or mink are attached to your natural lashes with glue-like adhesive, which gives the effect of full, dark, and long lashes. This requires a trip to the beautician – you don’t want to try this at home – so do your research. Keep in mind that they won’t help in the long run – these kinds of treatments can actually hinder fuller growth of your natural lashes.
Wanting to do this yourself? Lashify is a great tool. Handmade lashes adhere to the underside of your eyelashes, camouflaging beneath your natural lashes. Less stress = happier lashes. We wrote an article on Lashify previously, so make sure to check it out to learn more!
With so many great products on the market and over-the-counter remedies, you’re bound to find something that works for you. What are you doing for your natural lashes? Let us know in the comments!
Looking For More About Lashes? Check These Articles Out:
These 9 Magic Mascaras Will Give You Luscious Lashes For Days
How These Trendy At-Home Lash Extensions Made Me Quit The Salon
