Both eyelashes and tears are integral to the overall health of your eyes. But does crying make your eyelashes longer?
No, crying does not make your eyelashes longer. However, tears are made up of a number of different minerals, some of which may have other benefits for your eyelashes.
Are Tears Good For Eyelashes?
Tears are neither good nor bad for eyelashes. Tears do have overall benefits for our eyes, however, crying, in general, has significant benefits for the health of our brains and bodies.
Every day, our eyes are exposed to many different particles and environmental hazards.
Eyelashes are designed to prevent these from getting in the eye, but they can sometimes happen. These can quickly become irritants if left alone.
You’ll cry what is called basal or reflex tears in response to debris getting in the eye.
These are stimulated in order to remove the irritant from the eye and serve a protective purpose.
These tears also contain lysozyme, an antimicrobial agent which helps your eyes to act against bacterial infection.
Tears also keep your eyes hydrated, provide oxygen to the cornea of the eye, and can improve the appearance of the retina by smoothing irregularities and removing debris.
Crying more broadly has many benefits. From relieving pain through the release of hormones like endorphins and oxytocin to activating the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). All these elements ensure that the body rests properly.
Also Read: Can you Cry With Lash Extensions?
Does Crying Make Your Eyelashes Longer?
No, crying does not make your eyelashes longer. Minerals in your years like potassium, sodium, and calcium might, however, support the healthy growth of your eyelashes.
Below, we detail four ways in which tears might be beneficial for eyelashes, even if they don’t make your eyelashes longer.
4 Reasons Why Tears Can Be Good For Eyelashes
1. Tears contain sodium
Everyone knows that tears are salty.
That’s because they contain sodium, a mineral that may have benefits for your eyelashes.
In fact, saltwater itself (which is essentially what tears are) may have the benefit of exfoliating the lashes.
This improves blood circulation to the hair follicle, which, in turn, may encourage healthy hair growth of your eyelashes.
2. Tears contain potassium
Potassium is another essential mineral for your body. When combined with sodium – as in the case of tears – it ensures that your body regulates its hydration levels.
Tears contain potassium and sodium, and as a result, they may help to keep the skin around your eyelashes, as well as your eyelashes themselves, better hydrated and less dry.
3. Tears contain calcium
Calcium is essential for the body.
Your muscles need it to effectively move and your nerves need it in order to carry messages to the brain. Calcium, therefore, supports the health of blood vessels and the transmission of hormones via those blood vessels.
Tears contain calcium, which might contribute to your body’s overall calcium intake.
It may also support the healthy growth of your eyelashes, as calcium supports the normal workings of the thyroid gland.
An overactive or underactive thyroid can lead to hair loss, so the calcium in your tears might contribute to supporting the normal growth of eyelashes.
4. Tears contain fatty oils
Tears contain fatty oils as well as various minerals. These help to keep both your eyes themselves lubricated and moisturized, but also your eyelashes.
This, in turn, ensures that your lashes don’t become brittle and vulnerable to breakage.
Does Crying Ruin Fake Eyelashes?
As described above, your tears contain salt and oils. Both of these are solvents and will disintegrate any eyelash glue.
Any eyelash extensions need that eyelash glue in order to attach to the eyelid or natural lashes.
Crying with eyelash extensions can therefore compromise them, and may cause these extensions to fall off quicker than they would otherwise.
If you do cry with eyelash extensions, take care to gently wipe the liquid of your tears away, so as to minimize the impact of the tears on the glue.
Similarly, try to avoid weeping in the hours following your lash appointment, as this is the critical moment when the glue really needs to take hold.
How To Make Your Eyelashes Look Longer: 4 Easy Ways
1. Growth serums and conditioners
You will find plenty of lash serums and conditioners on the market.
They’ll improve your eyelashes from the inside-out, and will nourish them with nutrients and vitamins.
Latisse is an alternative, too. It’s an FDA-approved ointment that your physician or dermatologist can prescribe.
You have to continue to use it in order to ensure your lashes stay looking long and luscious, and it can be expensive, but it’s a highly effective strategy for lengthening lashes.
2. Use regular masks
Your choice of eyelash mask is up to you, but favorites include coconut oil, Vaseline, olive oil, or castor oil.
Remember to use a clean mascara wand to apply and wash the mask off in the morning, and watch your eyelashes lengthen.
3. Wear mascara and eyeliner
So many mascaras now also have thickening and lengthening ingredients added to them.
You’re basically getting a two-in-one growth product and formula by which to cheat the appearance of longer lashes.
The tactical application of eyeliner can also help your lashes look longer in appearance.
Don’t forget eyelash curlers, too, as they’ll help to create the effect of volume.
4. False eyelashes
False eyelashes come in various different styles and substances.
If you’re confident with applying them, you can wear at-home falsies that glue to your eyelids. You can also head to a technician who will apply more natural-looking extensions to your natural lashes.