How to Grow Your Eyelashes: Expert Tips and Myths Debunked
Want longer, healthier lashes? The good news is lash growth isn’t rocket science—it just takes a little patience, the right care and some tried-and-true tools.
In this guide, you’ll find natural eyelash growth tips, must-have lash products, healthy lash habits, and a few myths we’re ready to bust. Once you have the lowdown, your lashes will be reaching for the stars!
Growing Eyelashes: How It Really Happens
Before we get into how to grow your eyelashes, let’s break down the 3 stages of the lash growth cycle so you’re in the know on the life your lashes live!
- Anagen (The Growth Phase): Lashes are actively growing and getting longer. This stage lasts about 4–8 weeks.
- Catagen (The Transition Phase): Growth stops and the follicle shrinks, leaving the lash at its full length.
- Telogen (The Resting & Shedding Phase): The lash rests until it naturally sheds to make way for a new lash.
Growing eyelashes is a team effort! Eyelash growth depends on more than just products. It’s influenced by your follicles, genetics, and overall health. Here’s how each factor plays a role
- Follicle Health: Your follicles are like tiny factories for lashes. Healthy follicles create strong, healthy hairs, while damaged, inflamed or blocked follicles can lead to weak lashes or even lash loss.
- Genetics: This is the biggest factor because your genes determine how long and thick your natural lashes are. Genetics can also affect the curl of your eyelashes including how long they stay in the growth phase.
- Overall Health & Wellness: Stress, poor diet, lack of sleep and hormonal imbalances can disrupt the lash growth cycle. Supporting your body with balanced nutrition, proper rest and stress management is key to keeping your lashes happy and healthy!
Expert-Approved Habits for Lash Growth
Lash experts agree that healthy habits are a must for growing eyelashes. Take note and add these tips into your routine:
- Hands Off: Refrain from rubbing your eyes or bad habits like pulling your lashes
- Cleanse Daily: Cleanse your lashes and remove makeup daily
- In need of a gentle cleanser? Check out our cleansing products made specifically for eyes and lashes!
- Prioritize Sleep: Aim for 7+ hours each night to support lash health.
- Choose quality mascara: Stick with high-quality formulas. If you wear extensions, the right mascara is essential for protecting your investment and keeping natural lashes healthy
- We suggest using our Amplify + Extend Mascara Duo.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water everyday
- Nourish your body: Fuel your body with a balanced diet of protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals that support lash growth.
Best Products and Treatments for Growing Eyelashes
Along with the practices and healthy habits mentioned above, other ways to give your lashes a flourishing boost is by using a growth serum AND choosing a lash enhancement service so your lashes can take a break from daily makeup and beauty routines. Here’s the 4-1-1 on both!
Growth Serums
When used as directed and consistently, a professional lash serum can nourish and condition the lash follicles so they appear thicker and longer in as little as two months.
The lash growth serum we always suggest is LiLash®. Sold at most Lash Lounge salons, this serum is ophthalmologist tested and physician formulated.
Related Topic (with more about LiLash®): Do Lash Serums Work?
Lash Enhancements
Contrary to what some might think, choosing a lash enhancement like a lash lift and tint or eyelash extensions can be beneficial to your natural lashes. Just think, when you’re not applying mounds of mascara or using lash enhancing tools like a lash curler, your lashes get a break from all that applying, clamping and removing of mascara each day. This is where a lash enhancement comes in.
- Lash Lift and Tint: These two combined services give your lashes a natural-looking curl and color. Both the curl and color can be customized to best complement your features and hair color.
- Lash Extensions: From choosing an application like classic to mimic the look of natural lashes, to going all out with mega volume, lash extensions often come with a variety of options.
At The Lash Lounge, we offer 4 applications (classic, hybrid, volume, mega volume*) as well as additional customizable options such as lash curl (C or D curl) and lash levels (level 1: full, level 2, fuller, level 3, fullest).
Learn more about the types of lash extensions and see which one speaks to you!
*Mega volume available at select salons only.
3 Eyelash Growth Myths Debunked
Now for the real deal about how to grow your eyelashes with 3 myths and facts revealed!
- MYTH: Brushing lashes regularly is hard on your lashes and can keep them from growing.
- FACT: Giving your lashes a gentle brush daily (with a clean lash wand) is recommended. This rids your lashes from dust, makeup debris and anything else that shouldn’t be nestled in your lash line.
- MYTH: Petroleum jelly makes lashes grow.
- FACT: While petroleum jelly can add shine to your lashes, it does not actually stimulate lash growth.
- Petroleum jelly should be kept away from your lashes if you have extensions since it’s an oil-based product that can weaken the adhesive keeping the extensions attached to your natural lashes.
- MYTH: Trimming your eyelashes will make them grow back longer and thicker.
- FACT: Giving your lashes a trim will not change their growth cycle or density and is a very risky thing to do. (Sharp objects near the eye? No, thank you!)
How To Get Longer Eyelashes
Successfully getting your lashes to grow IS possible! Simply follow the health and wellness lash tips above and give a lash serum or eyelash service a go!
If it’s a service like a lash lift, lash tint or eyelash extensions that’s part of your lash growth recipe, The Lash Lounge is here. Click below to locate a salon in your area and book a consultation. During your visit you will also have the opportunity to peruse and pick premium products to keep your lashes clean and care for
FAQ
How long does it take to grow eyelashes longer?
Eyelashes typically grow back in 4 to 8 weeks as part of their natural cycle.
Can I make my eyelashes grow with castor oil or Petroleum jelly products like Vaseline?
No. Castor oil, Vaseline and similar products do not stimulate new eyelash growth.
What lifestyle habits support eyelash growth?
Eyelash growth is supported by a balanced diet with protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. Other helpful habits include daily gentle cleansing, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep and avoiding rubbing or pulling your lashes.