For most people, eye lashes enhance the beauty of the eyes and are a sign of youth. Gorgeous long and dark eyelashes are every woman’s dream; after all, there is a reason why all of us use mascara.
Mascaras are a staple in every woman’s beauty routine but instead of faking them, why not make your dream lashes become a reality by following some easy steps?
You give your skin the TLC it deserves, ensuring that it is young and supple however, you neglect your eyelashes.
Each eye lash may take about three months to fall out and it typically takes two or more months for it to grow back completely. Note that your eyelashes do not thin out as you age as we are all born with a certain number of follicles which doesn’t change. Some of your lashes may fall, but the number of lashes throughout your life stays the same. Therefore, the fact that children’s lashes often look thicker and longer is just an optical illusion.
What causes eyelashes to fall off?
A major cause of eyelash loss is abuse. When we tug or rub our eyelashes or use excessive amounts of product, we begin to lose them and they stop growing as thick and long as they used to. Eyelashes can be damaged just like hair and they fall off once they complete their life cycle.
Wearing waterproof mascara or sleeping in them can damage your eyelashes, cause drying and allow them to fall off or break away much easier.
Rubbing your eyes is another cause. If your eyes feel uncomfortable or you experience any irritation, consider rinsing your eyes or seeing an optometrist, instead of continuously rubbing them. Handling your eyelids or eyelashes aggressively can cause breakage and fall as well.
Medical conditions such as alopecia may be a cause as well. Alopecia universalis is a condition which involves loss of hair from all over your body, including your scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes. Other causes may include chemotherapy and eyelid inflammation.
How to grow thicker and longer eyelashes
Fortunately, your eyelashes can be improved with simple tips that also aid in hair growth. Whether you choose to stick to your mascara or go completely natural, having a proper eyelash routine takes very less time and can lead to dramatic effects!
1. Use Castor Oil – Castor oil has been used for centuries as a natural laxative but did you know it is a popular hair growth remedy too? You can use the oil on your lashes, eyebrows or scalp to promote growth.
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Applying castor oil to your eyelashes every day before bedtime is sure to give you results. You can use a clean mascara brush to safely coat your hair shafts without creating a mess. Empty mascara tubes with wands always come in handy in such cases. If you have an empty mascara tube and wand, you can clean them.
here’s a tutorial on how to do it or you can purchase a clean one from Amazon.
It is important that you use a brand of castor oil that is safe to use around your oils. Many castor oils sold in the market are meant for industrial used and may cause irritation around the eye area. Choose hexane-free castor oil that is labeled “cold-processed” or “cold-pressed” as these tend to be pure and safe to use on the skin and scalp.
Castor oil is an inexpensive treatment for eyelash growth and it can be applied in any way you can possibly think of but the easiest is to store it in a clean and empty mascara bottle and apply it every night before going to bed. You can also use a Q-tip or just the tip of your pinky. Before applying, make sure you wash your face and get rid of any makeup. If you’re using a mascara wand, dip the wand in the castor oil and tap off any excess on a napkin. Carefully coat your lashes, making sure the oil does not enter your eyes.
Mixing castor oil with other eyelash enhancing ingredients:
Castor oil with olive oil – Prepare a mixture of equal quantities of castor oil and olive oil and apply the mixture on your eyelashes before going to bed. You can add the mixture to a container and use a fresh Q-tip each time before application – avoid using your fingers to prevent contamination! A better idea would be to store the mixture in a mascara tube as it makes everything super easy and convenient. Purchase a few tubes or clean some of your old mascara tubes and stick-on cute labels for each eye lash mixture.
You need to make sure you remove all makeup before application and wash your face with your regular cleanser the next morning. Avoid letting the oil mixture come in contact with your eyes and this could cause irritation. If the mixture does get into your eye, do not rub as this could break or pull out your lashes. Rinse your eyes with water several times making sure the oil residue completely washes out and you are irritation-free.
Castor oil and lavender oil – Lavender oil is amazing for hair growth and it helps get rid of those nasty free radicals that impair growth and cause hair fall. For every teaspoon of castor oil, mix in 4 drops of lavender essential oil to create an amazing eyelash enhancer. Coconut oil can be used as an alternative for castor oil and proportions for the mixture remain the same.
Coconut oil is anti-fungal, anti-microbial and antibacterial and it is incredibly soothing and packed with nutrients. You can apply it to your entire eyelid and use it as a natural eye cream to keep fine lines and pigmentation at bay!
Burdock oil and Vitamin E mask – Mix one teaspoon of burdock oil with two drops of vitamin E and that’s about it. Apply to your lashes before going to sleep.
Aloe vera eyelash mask – This one involves more ingredients than the previous masks.
You’ll need one teaspoon each of burdock oil, castor oil and aloe vera gel. Add two drops of vitamin E and A oils to the mixture as well to increase its efficiency.
Make sure you avoid contact of any of these oils with your eyes and this may cause irritation and tearing.
Wipe away excess oil using a cotton ball. Remember to dab – never rub! Dab a super tiny amount of coconut oil to the skin around your eyes before going to sleep.
Coconut oil is extremely nourishing and hydrating and I always wake up with fresh, bright eyes the next day after use.
For other ways to grow your eyelashes longer naturally be sure to check this post out.
2. Give them some TLC – While taking a shower, it is important that you avoid letting water run directly on your eyes as this may cause eyelashes to fall. Furthermore, never rub your eyes vigorously, especially while you’re removing makeup. Simply soak a cotton pad in makeup remove and dab it on your eyes – don’t rub or scrub. The makeup will come right off! Or watch this video tutorial to learn how to effectively and safely remove all your eye makeup. Another important note, never use exfoliator on your eyelids or on your under eyes as the eye region has super thin skin and is extremely sensitive.
Here is a wonderful list of popular eye makeup removers. You can consider trying the The Body Shop Chamomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover because it’s non-irritating, gentle and not greasy at all.
If you don’t have makeup remover, you can use a cheap clean one such as olive oil or coconut oil (check this video out for a demonstration).
The rules you apply to keep your scalp and hair healthy, apply to your eye lashes too and what better way can you give your eyelashes a good TLC than through a massage? Gently massage your eyelids, concentrating mostly on the lash area in a circular motion. This will not only enhance eye lash growth but also feel great and relax your mind.
Massaging your scalp and eyelids gently will stimulate blood flow to your hair follicles, helping in growing healthier and thicker eye lashes.
3. Brush your eyelashes – Use an eyelash brush to groom your eyelashes at least twice a day. When you brush your hair, your hair oils are evenly distributed along your hair shafts, enhancing growth of healthy eyelashes. Make sure you brush your eyelashes after removing eye makeup, preferably in the morning before putting on makeup and in the night before going to bed. Brush your eyelashes, apply your lash oil and you’re done! Check this tutorial out by eHow Beauty on how to effectively comb your eyelashes to promote growth of healthy lashes.
Here is an example of a professional eyelash comb by Sephora that you can use to brush your eyelashes. Eyelash combs can be found anywhere so be sure to check your nearest beauty store out first!
You can also use an eyelash comb to brush your lashes after applying mascara. This will get rid of those annoying clumps and give you a nice and even finish. Eye lash combs are also designed to give your lashes that extra lift, just be sure not to over-comb your lashes, as this may cause your eyelashes to shed – the same rule applies to your scalp hair!
4. Remove falsies carefully – Falsies are almost every woman’s best friend as they can transform a look from cutesy to super sexy. False lashes can be super fun and they are available in many styles, lengths and even colors. Here is a quick guide by Beauty Eye on everything you need to know about false lashes and how you can apply them. Here is another lash guide by Michelle Phan on how to choose eye lashes for your eye shape.
Unfortunately, as amazing as fake eyelashes can look, they can also rip off your natural eyelashes or cause them to break mid-way while you remove your falsies. The lash glue is sticky so your real lashes may stick to them too and get pulled off.
Waterproof mascara can cause the same issue as it’s tough to remove therefore, your best would be to apply a first coat of regular mascara and then the second coat with waterproof.
This will keep your mascara waterproof, reduce damage and make your eyelashes look thicker and longer.
Make sure you remove your fake lashes and mascara gently using a good makeup remover or natural oil.
Simply soak a cotton swab with makeup remover or oil and press it on your upper eyelid for a few seconds. The fake lashes should come right now or at least, there won’t be any tugging or forced pulling.
5. Your diet matters too! – We can’t stress enough on how important diet is for well, everything! Ensuring that you obtain vital nutrients from nutrient-dense foods is essential in improving not only your eyelash health, but also your hair, skin and overall body health too.
You already know that diet plays a key role in improving your hair, skin and nail health – if you don’t, we have a wide range of topics in this area on our blog so be sure to check them out! If your diet lacks any nutrient that your hair and skin needs, chances are that you are not providing your eyelashes with proper nourishment too.
If you are shedding eyelashes at an abnormal rate, evaluate your diet. Are you having enough protein, vitamins A, B, C and E, zinc, iron, magnesium and other nutrients vital for your body’s growth performance? Are you hydrating yourself enough? Your blood consists of mostly water and it is a medium through which nutrients and oxygen are transferred to all parts of your body, including your hair follicles. Make sure you’re drinking the standard 8 glasses of water per day or more depending on your level of physical activity and the climate. Do not wait till you are thirsty. Being thirsty means your body is already dehydrated and needs fluids as soon as possible.
Make sure you carry a water bottle with you at all times. Not a huge fan of water? Try lemon infused water or add healthy flavoring ingredients such as grapefruit slices, strawberries, oranges, mint, ginger or cinnamon to your water to hydrate your body and a great nutrient punch! Need some ideas? Check this video out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f14mdmZY_rA
In addition, it is also extremely important that you have enough protein in your diet. Your hair is primarily made of protein (keratin), therefore, to improve hair and eyelash growth, you need to have more of it. Animal meat is a great source of protein so say yes to chicken, turkey, fish, lean beef and oysters. Vegans, fret not, as there are numerous vegetarian sources of protein out there too such as quinoa which contains all essential proteins, oats, nuts and seeds, brown rice, lentils and legumes and soy products. Other sources of protein include dairy products such as cottage cheese, which is rich in the protein casein and milk.
Vitamins A, B, C and E are also required for hair and eyelash growth. Vitamin A can be found in bright yellow and orange veggies such as carrots, quash, pumpkin, sweet potato and bell peppers!
Next is vitamin B, which is vital for hair growth as it stimulates hair follicles to grow healthy and fluffy hair we all dream of! The best sources include eggs (with yolks!), whole grains such as oats, brown rice and quinoa, soy products, nuts and seeds and leafy greens.
Vitamin C is a no-brainer.
You can find it in almost all fruits and vegetables.
Lemons, oranges, berries, strawberries, guava, papaya, melon, sweet potato, kiwi, leafy greens and cabbages have plenty of vitamin C so make sure you don’t miss them out!
Iron and magnesium are also key minerals that enhance eyelash growth an can be found in lean red meat, leafy greens, eggs, fish, lentils, dairy and nuts and seeds. Note that oysters and nuts and seeds are also rich in zinc and selenium – another two potent minerals required for healthy hair growth.
6. Reduce intake of foods that aren’t good for you – These include sugar, alcohol and foods containing caffeine. Sugar is one of the worst “foods” for hair and skin health as it promotes premature aging. We all love our cakes and treats but portion control is key. Try to follow the 80-20 rule in your life, making it 80 percent healthy and 20 percent in indulging in and truly enjoying unhealthy food items because they taste so great!
Avoid having sugary desserts every day and replace your typical dessert with clean and healthy ones such as healthy banana or berry ice cream or yogurt with honey, banana and berries.
Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and is amazing for hair and skin health.
Antioxidants help combat free radicals in our body which lead to premature aging and numerous diseases. Focus on having real foods most of the time instead of synthetic or man-made products such as sugar, candy and alcohol. Here’s an a great article on Huffington post about the most common health crimes that are taking a toll on your hair and skin health. The same goes for alcohol, especially beer, as it is almost an equivalent of liquefied bread in a bottle!
7. When choosing a commercial eye care and eyelash treatment – Choose products that consist of moisturizing ingredients that help retain moisture and reduce drying. Ingredients that do so include glycerin, glyceryl stearate, sodium lactate, sodium PCA and propylene glycol.
Fatty alcohols also condition your hair so alcohols that typically start with c or s should be given a big thumbs up. Some examples include cetearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol.
Avoid eye care an eyelash treatments that have fragrances as they can cause dryness and damage. Products that smell nice may be satisfying but they are also not good for your skin and hair in the long run so the more the smell, the worse it is for you.
While some alcohols such as the ones mentioned above are good for your hair and skin, others aren’t as they dry out your hair and eyelashes and cause damage. Avoid alcohols that have “prop” anywhere in their name, such as propanol, isopropyl alcohol, propyl alcohol and SD alcohol 40.
Prescription eyelash enhancers
Bimatoprost, commercially sold under the brand name, Latisse is a prescription eyelash enhancer which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enhance eyelash growth in people experiencing impaired lash growth.
You can find the medication in the brand name, Lumigan as well. Lumigan is a prescription eye drops medication which is used to treat glaucoma. However, lumigan causes an unexpected side effect, eyelash growth. This led medical experts to create a formula designed for eyelash growth which is now commercially sold as Latisse.
Many users have reported positive results with this medication. Applying Latisse along your lash line regularly encourages growth of thicker and longer eyelashes that are more pigmented and healthy. Avoid using Latisse on your lower eyelid.
Experts encourage users to use Latisse every day for at least two months for best results. Unfortunately, stopping use may cause eyelashes to return to their normal growth rate and appearance.
In a study consisting of participants with alopecia, results showed that Latisse stimulated moderate growth of eyelashes in more than 40 percent of the people.
However, in another small study, Latisse was found to be an ineffective lash growth treatment.
Research is still inconclusive regarding the effectiveness of the medication however; many have reported positive results with it.
Note that everybody is different and what works for one person may not work for you. Talk to your doctor about the lash growth treatments you can use and any potential side effects that may result from them.
Some potential side effects of using Latisse include itchy and red eyes, darkened eyelids, dry eyes, hair growth around your eyelids if the medication touches other regions of your face and darkened pigmentation in your iris, the colored region of your eye. Changes in skin color due to Latisse use may be temporary but pigmentation in the iris is most likely going to be permanent, so consult your doctor first before considering any treatment.
Fake it till you make it!
Let’s face it, not all of us can afford Latisse, which costs around $150 apiece and you’ll need to buy one every month. Eyelash extensions are another choice but they cost around $300 to 500 depending on the salon you visit but they aren’t a permanent solution and come off within a month.
Therefore, if you don’t want to spend some serious dough, your best bet would be to make the least investment on your lashes. Go natural, follow the treatment steps given earlier in this article and try a few makeup tricks to make your lashes look thick, fluffy and flawless!
Here’s a step by step guide on how you can get eyelashes everybody will fall in love with using makeup:
Curl them – Avoid curling your eyelashes excessively as this may lead to breakage but doing it once in a while will not do much harm. Curling your eyelashes is the first step for prepping your eyelashes as this can open up your eyes and can really make them pop! Clamp your eyelash curlers and the base of your lashes and hold them for a few seconds. Then flip them upwards and hold for another few seconds. This will give your lashes a dramatic lifted look. Follow this tutorial for a lifted eyelash look.
To increase the efficiency of your curler, heat it using a blow dryer. Simply hold a blow dryer next to your eyelash curler and once it’s hot, use it on your lashes as you normally would. Make sure it’s not too hot as you could burn yourself. You can also use a hot spoon to curl your lashes if you don’t have an eyelash curler. Place a spoon in a cup of hot water and place the rounded part of the spoon under your lashes. Lift up and hold for a few seconds and keep repeating these steps until you reach your desired results.
Use more than one mascara to thicken and lengthen – Instead of applying countless coats of your waterproof mascara that creates a clumpy, tired and aged look, use multiple mascaras to lift, lengthen and volumize your lashes.
First, coat your eyelashes with regular, non-waterproof mascara. Top this with a waterproof mascara of your choice and make sure you wiggle the wand at the base of your eye lashes to increase volume and lift your lashes even more.
Comb your lashes using your handy lash comb to remove any clumps and reside and apply a third coat with mascara containing lash fibers while your first two coats are still wet. Lash fibers will help thicken and lengthen your eyelashes but this is definitely an optional step if you’re satisfied with the results you get from regular mascara and waterproof mascara.
Again, remove any clumps by combing through your lashes using a lash comb. You can also use a clean toothbrush if you don’t have a lash comb!
Apply regular and waterproof mascara on your lower lashes to finish the look. To give your lashes a more natural look, hold the wand vertically to apply your mascara.
Another trick many people recommend is using baby powder to thicken lashes between mascara coats but this often doesn’t make a huge difference and can be messy. Moreover, baby powders are often scented and can cause irritation in the eye area, especially if it enters your eyes.
Apply false lashes – As we mentioned before, you need to do this carefully to ensure you don’t pull out your natural lashes. False lashes can change your entire look so make sure you choose ones that suit your eye shape and the occasion. Thick, dramatic eyelashes look great but they’re usually most suitable for parties and girls’ night outs.
If your aim to lengthen your lashes and add volume, choose falsies that are only slightly longer than your natural lashes. Avoid using super long lashes as they can be too distracting. Note that you can trim fake lashes and cut them into segments to make application easier.
You don’t have to use full falsies. Simply applying half a strip to the outer corner of your lashes will create a sexy elongated, cat eye look.
To apply false lashes, first line them with eyelash glue and let them get tacky. Carefully apply them over your upper eyelids using your fingers or a pair of tweezers. Here’s a tutorial on how you can apply fake lashes and get better at it. Enjoy!
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