Accidentally over-plucked your eyebrows? Lost some hair during a stressful period and can’t figure out how to grow it back? Or are you simply inspired by the full, bushy eyebrows that have been making a comeback in the last several years? Whatever the motivation, growing fuller eyebrows can seem like a mystery.
Part of the reason for this is that eyebrows grow back much more slowly than hair on the scalp because they have a much shorter anagen phase, in which active regrowth occurs. In addition, there are a wide variety of factors that may cause your eyebrows to thin, and it can be difficult to stimulate growth without knowing or addressing the root cause. Stress, over-plucking, aging, hormonal disorders, nutritional deficiencies and skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis can all contribute to hair loss and thinning brows. Some people also have brows that are naturally sparser than others.
The first step toward promoting brow growth is to figure out why your brows may be less full than you would like them to be. It is also advised to consult with a medical professional if you suspect that you could be experiencing hair loss from a nutritional deficiency or underlying skin or hormonal condition, or if you experience sudden eyebrow thinning.
There are also a number of changes you can make to your beauty and wellness routines to stimulate hair growth and boost the ability of your brows to grow. With a few simple changes, you can speed up the regrowth process for luscious, thick brows.
Tips for Promoting Eyebrow Growth
Eat a balanced, vitamin-rich diet
Protein and Vitamins A, B, C and D have all been linked to healthy hair growth. Not consuming enough vitamins and nutrients can cause hair to thin and fall out. To ensure you’re getting the hair-boosting nutrients you need, eat plenty of leafy greens and protein.
Note that there is no one-size-fits-all diet for everyone—according to Ayurveda, different doshas are best suited to different kinds of diets. To figure out what foods are most beneficial to your dosha, check out our blog post on eating and the doshas here.
Get more iron
As research has indicated, iron deficiency appears to be linked to hair loss and can often appear like male- and female-pattern baldness. In addition to eating a balanced diet, you can focus specifically on upping your intake of iron by consuming iron-rich foods like spinach, lean proteins, white beans and dried fruit.
Try a serum or oil
As we’ve written about before, serums[LINK] are lightweight, yet penetrating formulas that you apply before moisturizer to prime and nourish the skin. There are many serums specifically formulated to target brow growth. You might also want to try out a brow oil, which acts similarly to a serum. We have our own UMA Intensely Nourishing Brow Oil for this very purpose—formulated with hair-strengthening, growth-stimulating natural ingredients like cypriol, cedarwood and tea tree, this lightweight oil to hydrate the brows while stimulating the hair follicles for a lush, glowy appearance. Nutrient-rich castor oil is also commonly recommended for brow and lash growth.
Massage your brows at night
We often talk about self-massage for the scalp and body for improved circulation, relaxation and pain relief, but did you know you can massage your brows, too? As Jared Bailey tells Byrdie, “Good circulation is important to healthy hair growth…By gently massaging the brow area each night, you can help increase circulation to that area to promote hair growth." You can even combine this relaxing massage ritual with a brow oil for a luxurious overnight treatment.
Trim, don’t pluck
Especially if your eyebrows have thinned as a result of over-plucking, try to put the tweezers away for a while to give your hairs the rest and time they need to grow back. Instead, you can brush your brows and lightly trim them when they feel overgrown. It’s okay to pluck a few stray hairs here and there, but resist the urge to pluck more than you need to—no matter how tempted you may feel. You can fill in and sculpt the shape of your brows with brushes and pencils in the meantime.
With a little bit of patience and self-love, these tips can help you achieve the thick, lush brow look of your dreams.
