Do eyelashes grow back after extensions, and can they cause damage to your natural lashes? In this article, we answer these questions and more.
Eyelash extensions that are glued onto your natural lashes may cause some damage. However, your natural lashes typically grow back within a matter of months.
Why Get Eyelash Extensions
Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed with long sweeping lashes.
Nevertheless, these can be achieved with the help of eyelash extensions and a skilled lash technician.
Here are some reasons why you should get eyelash extensions:
1. They Give You Confidence
Eyelash extensions enhance the shape of your eyes.
They can have a dramatic effect leaving eyes looking bigger, brighter, and more youthful. In addition, they can make the color of your eyes pop.
If you like how you look, your confidence will soar.
2. Beautiful lashes with minimal effort
When you have eyelash extensions, for the most part, you can carry on as normal – even showering and swimming with them on.
Depending on the quality of the lash, they should look natural and feel weightless.
The only allowance to be made is within the first 48 hours where you have to take extra care.
3. You Gain Time
Having lash extensions means your eyes will already be framed and emphasized, so there’ll be no need to curl them or use mascara.
Being able to forgo this part of your make-up routine will save time and energy in the mornings- especially if you are prone to hitting that snooze button.
Lash extensions will also help you reclaim time at night as you’ll no longer have to remove eye makeup.
4. You Can Save Money
As eyelash extensions don’t require mascara, you’ll save money.
You’ll no longer have to put your hard-earned cash towards tubes and tubes of mascara or false eyelashes to accentuate your eyes.
Lash extensions will already be doing this job! In addition, no more eye makeup remover will lead to further savings.
And no more ‘panda eyes’ due to smudging on hot sweaty days or poor-quality mascara. Another little win surely?
5. They are Easy To Maintain
While the initial appointment to have the lashes attached to your natural lashes can be time-consuming, maintenance certainly isn’t.
Lash extensions can be beautifully maintained with ‘fills’ every few weeks during half-hour sessions.
Can Eyelash Extensions Damage Natural Lashes?
Eyelash extensions, or the glue used as part of the process, can potentially cause damage to your natural lashes. This is because the eyelash follicle can become damaged.
If natural lashes are damaged or lost as a result of extensions, they tend to grow back within a few months. This is also the case if you decide to cut your lashes for some reason.
If you are an avid user of lash extensions, it might be a good idea to think about taking a break from them every so often so that your natural lashes can have a break.
Longer lash extensions can also cause irritation or dry eyes so if you are experiencing discomfort, you should stop wearing lash extensions for a while.
Do Eyelashes Grow Back After Extensions?
While eyelashes might be very short or even gone completely after prolonged use of eyelash extensions, in most cases they grow back in a matter of months.
Your eyelashes, just like all your hair, go through a cycle as they grow.
They start in the anagen phase which is the growth period for each individual lash. This usually lasts around two weeks.
After that, they enter the transition phase, also known as the catagen phase. This is where the lash stops growing.
If the lash falls out during this phase, it won’t start growing back immediately as the follicle needs to complete the phase in the cycle.
This lasts approximately two to three weeks.
Then comes the Telogen phase or the resting phase. It last from four to six months. The hair ‘rests’ before it falls out and a new one starts to grow to replace it.
Your lashes are constantly moving through these three phases.
10 Ways To Help Eyelashes Grow Back After Extensions
There are ways you can help and support your lashes as they grow when you are done with your lash extensions:
1. Natural Mascara
Choose a natural mascara to give those peepers a lift. Look out for products with lash-enhancing ingredients to soothe your lashes as they are styled.
2. Eyeliner
Invest in a good quality eyeliner. Some eyeliners on the market can enhance the appearance of lash length and make them appear fuller.
As well as this, the formula can be lash conditioning, helping to restore your natural lashes back to full health.
3. Serum
You might want to try a lash serum. These are formulas that stimulate lash growth. Applied regularly, a lash serum can prolong the telogen phase of growth.
It helps rejuvenate and strengthen lashes that may have become damaged through the use of lash extensions.
4. Castor Oil
The application of castor oil to your lashes can help condition the strands of hair and thicken them. It also soothes any irritation caused by eye makeup.
In addition, castor oil contains ricinoleic acid which reduces the effects of certain proteins in our bodies associated with hair loss.
5. Healthy Diet
Try to ensure you are eating a diet rich in protein, biotin, Vitamin B3, Vitamin C and iron.
Protein
Eggs are rich in protein. If our bodies are lacking in protein, then our lashes can suffer.
Biotin
A diet rich in biotin which you can get from sweet potatoes, not only keeps lashes healthy and strong but boosts growth.
Vitamin B3
Vitamin B3 is also known as niacin and this is necessary for healthy lash growth.
If your lashes are prone to falling out, try getting some tuna in your diet which is an excellent source of Vitamin B3
Vitamin C
An important nutrient for the lashes, vitamin C protects hair follicles from inflammation. Broccoli, strawberries, and tomatoes are all excellent sources of vitamin C.
Iron
Red meat, spinach, and eggs are all rich in iron. Iron is vital for carrying oxygen around your body to carry out all bodily functions. This makes it essential for lash growth too.
6. Supplement
If you struggle to get all the required nutrients, think about taking a supplement to boost hair growth.
Ask your pharmacist to recommend one based on your requirements.
7. Hygiene Routine
Keep your eyelashes clean using a good quality eye makeup remover.
Always remove makeup at night. Otherwise, this can lead to lashes becoming dry and more easily lost or damaged.
8. Avoid Excess Pressure
If you use eyelash curlers, you may want to ease off for a while.
The action of curling can accidentally tug the lashes, damaging the hair follicles.
Also, try to be gentle when rubbing your eyes. Rubbing these delicate hairs too roughly can contribute to lashes falling out.
9. Bimatoprost
Speak to your doctor about bimatoprost solution.
This is a prescription medication which is applied topically.
It increases the number of hair follicles produced during the anagen phase of the eyelash growth cycle, which in turn boosts the length and thickness of lashes.
10. Take A Break
If you decide to go back to wearing lash extensions, ensure you have given your eyelashes a break. Continue to do this every so often.
Related questions
How Fast Do Eyelashes Grow?
Eyelashes usually take about two months to grow.
But this can be dependent on several factors such as hygiene habits, genetics, health conditions, and traumatic injuries. These can all impact lash growth.
What Can Stop Eyelash Hairs From Growing?
There are a few things that can stop eyelash hairs from growing:
Eye Makeup
Allergies to certain makeup products like mascara can prevent eyelashes from growing. That, or applying the product too roughly.
Underlying Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions can lead to eyelashes falling out and not growing back. This can be temporary or permanent. Conditions include:
- alopecia areata
- scleroderma
- hyperthyroidism
- hypothyroidism
- lupus
Blepharitis
Inflammation of the eyelids, known as blepharitis can cause extreme eyelash loss. This can be a result of allergy, infection, or trauma.
Chemotherapy
Eyelashes may fall out and not grow back for a while during chemotherapy as this treatment causes a temporary disruption to the hair growth cycle.
In the majority of cases, eyelashes will grow back after extensions.
With a little care and nourishment, you can enjoy natural healthy lashes again.