How Long Does it Take Eyelashes to Grow Back On Their Own?

How long does it take eyelashes to grow back? It usually takes two months for eyelashes to grow back. But it can take as long as four months before you get the same length as before.

Most people start seeing an improvement after three weeks once they eliminate the root cause behind their eyelashes falling out.

Stress, whether physical or emotional, can cause our eyelashes to fall out. This is not just a rumor, I have suffered from this. My eyelashes started to fall out and I didn’t know why.

If you’ve got sparse lashes, you might be asking how long it takes for eyelashes to grow back. It’s also a question we might ask ourselves if we cut or trimmer our eyelashes. Dealing with sparse eyelashes or lashes that fall out can be stressful. 

Read on to learn more about common causes of eyelashes falling out, how to address the issue, and how soon we can expect to get our eyelashes back.

What causes eyelash loss?

Stress is a common cause of eyelash loss. If you’re experiencing high levels of stress or anxiety, one of the physical symptoms you might observe is sparse eyelashes.

Stress

Physical stress can damage your eyelashes and cause them to fall out. If you use makeup with harsh chemicals or rub your eyelids too vigorously when removing makeup, you could cause damage to your eyelashes.

Some people even pull out their own lashes due to stress.

Lash extensions

If you get lash extensions on the regular and find you are losing natural lashes, the adhesive might be too harsh.

Certain types of lash extension glues may cause inflammation and damage to your eyelashes. For more on glue, check out “The Best Lash Extension Glue.”

Makeup or skincare

If you just started using a new makeup or skincare product, you might be allergic to one of the ingredients.

Be sure to read the ingredient deck on your products and look out for any banned ingredients.

Infection

Skin infections can also cause your eyelashes to fall out. A bacterial or fungal infection in the eyes or on the skin can cause eyelash loss.

Vitamins

Vitamin deficiency can also cause hair loss, including eyelash loss. If you’re noticing hair loss on your scalp, you might need to make a few changes to your diet.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is another common culprit. There are oil glands near the eyelashes that can become clogged or cause swelling and inflammation as well as eyelash loss.

There are other medical conditions that can cause eyelash loss, such as alopecia, hyperthyroidism, or lupus.

If you’ve ruled out makeup and skincare products, you should schedule an appointment with a doctor or dermatologist to figure out what is causing your eyelashes to fall out.

Natural growth cycle of lashes

Do eyelashes grow back? The answer is yes, but it’s a lengthy process. Eyelashes grow more slowly compared to other hair.

It’s important to understand the natural growth cycle of eyelashes if you’re waiting for your eyelashes to grow back:

• Anagen Phase: the first stage of this cycle is the anagen phase. It’s a growth phase where an eyelash can gain 0.12mm to 0.14mm in a day. Your lashes need access to nutrients and vitamins to grow during this phase. The anagen phase typically lasts four to ten weeks.
• Catagen Phase: the next stage is the catagen phase. It’s a transition phase where the eyelash stops growing. It lasts two to three weeks.
• Telogen Phase: the last phase is the telogen phase. It can last anywhere from four to eight weeks. There is no new growth, but the eyelash remains attached to the follicle.

At the end of the telogen phase, the eyelash will fall out and a new growth cycle will begin. 

If you lose eyelashes during the anagen or catagen phase, it will take longer for the lashes to grow back since the hair follicle will have to go through these phases before entering the anagen phase again.

This video is an excellent resource for learning more about the eyelash growth cycle.

Do eyelashes grow back if cut?

The answer is yes. Your lashes will grow back if you cut or burn them.

But if you interrupted the natural growth cycle of your eyelashes, it might take longer for them to grow back.

Keep in mind that it might take longer for your eyelashes to grow back if there is damage or inflammation to the hair follicle since the area will have to heal before the natural eyelash growth cycle can resume.

How long does it take for lashes to grow back?

If you have healthy hair follicles and you lost eyelashes at the end of the telogen phase, your lashes could grow back in as little as four to eight weeks.

It will take longer if you have a skin infection, damage to your hair follicles, or an allergic reaction.

Natural remedies like aloe vera, oatmeal, or coconut oil can help soothe the inflammation so your hair follicles will heal faster. Fruits and veggies rich in Vitamin A and C can also make a difference.

How much will lashes grow in a week?

It depends on what growth stage your lashes are in.

How fast do eyelashes grow?

It usually takes a few months to see results. You won’t see any growth in the catagen and telogen phases.

If you’re in the anagen or growth phase of the cycle, you should get approximately 1/3” growth each week.

Eyelash growth rate can vary greatly from person to person.

Eyelashes growth tends to slow down as you get older, but other factors such as skin health or nutrition can also affect it.

How can I get my eyelashes to grow back after pulling them out?

Trichotillomania is a condition that causes people to compulsively pull their own hair out. Some people keep picking at their hair or eyebrows, but others will also pull out their eyebrows.

The good news is that your eyelashes will grow back after you’ve pulled them out.

How long does it take eyelashes to grow back after you pull them out?

You should see an improvement within the first month and start seeing growth within two months, but it can take longer depending on the growth cycle your hair follicles are currently in.

It’s important to treat the underlying causes of trichotillomania. Your eyelashes won’t grow back if you keep picking at your hair follicles.

Stress is a common cause of trichotillomania, but researchers also believe that there is a link between this condition and OCD. There are treatment options to explore, including behavioral therapy and medication.

How to make lashes grow back faster

There are a few things you can do to create a healthy environment and help your eyelashes grow back faster.

Treat underlying inflammation

If you have inflammation or swelling, you should address this issue. Avoiding makeup, skincare products, and soap with fragrances can make a difference. You can also soothe the skin with aloe vera or coconut oil.

Avoid irritants

Stay away from products that could irritate your skin. You should avoid wearing makeup and take a break from lash extensions for a while since the adhesive can cause inflammation.

Don’t touch your lashes

Avoid rubbing or touching your eyes as much as possible. Wash your face gently with a neutral pH soap to get rid of bacteria and use a clean towel to pat your face dry.

Use castor oil or coconut oil

You can nourish your hair follicles with almond oil, coconut oil, or castor oil for eyelash growth and added conditioning. These natural remedies should also strengthen the lashes you have left so they don’t fall out.

Vaseline, while useful for keeping hair dye off your skin, should not be used for eyelash growth. 😉

Eat a healthy diet

Your diet can help your eyelashes grow back faster. Make sure you get enough iron since an iron deficiency can cause hair loss. Foods rich in Vitamin A and C should also make a difference.

Try a lash serum

You can also use an eyelash growth serum to get faster results. Review the ingredients carefully to avoid products that could irritate your hair follicles and prioritize using an FDA-approved serum.

You can learn more about eyelash serums and which ingredients to avoid in this useful video.

Takeaways on how long for eyelashes to grow back

It takes a minimum of two months for your eyelashes to grow back. But it can take longer if you need to address an underlying issue that was causing your lashes to fall out.

It will also take longer to get your lashes back if your hair follicles are currently in the phases that follow the growth cycle since you will have to wait for a new cycle to start before you see any growth.

If you’re losing your eyelashes, you need to ask yourself what could be causing this issue. You might need to make changes to your diet, stop using some makeup or skincare products, or see a doctor or dermatologist.

Once you’ve figured out and eliminated the root cause behind your eyelash loss, you can focus on growing your lashes back.

The most important thing is to be patient since it takes time for eyelashes to grow back, but there are a few things you can do to stimulate growth, including keeping the area clean, preventing irritation, eating a healthy diet, or using an eyelash growth serum.

You should see an improvement within a few weeks after eliminating the root cause behind your eyelash loss, but it could take two months or more for your lashes to grow back.

Because growing back your eyelashes takes so long, take action now to figure out what is causing your eyelash loss.