When you’re trying to grow your hair, you’ll rely on your diet and nutrition in order to support that growth. It’s just the same for eyelashes. Ensuring that you have a healthy amount of omega 3 in your diet will support the structure and moisture of your natural lashes.
Omega 3 is good for eyelashes as it helps improve hair follicle health, blood circulation, and it also reduces hair breakage.
What Is Omega 3?
Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid (you may sometimes see this shortened to an EFA). Omega 3 is vital for healthy bodily functions and is one of the ‘good’ kinds of fats that your body needs.
These are typically divided into three different types – EPA, DHA, and ALA – and include other fatty acids like omega 6 and omega 9.
Your body doesn’t produce these fatty acids, so it’s essential that you either access them via ingestion – that is, in your diet – or topically, as substances applied directly to your skin or hair.
Benefits of Omega 3
Omega 3 is good for your eyelashes and hair, but it’s also vital for the overall functioning and wellbeing of your body in a number of ways.
These include:
- Supports the structure of your cells
- An important energy source
- Fundamental for brain health, as well as the overall functioning of your lungs, blood vessels, eye health, and immune system
- Critical for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers – in fact, omega 3 may be essential for the visual and neurological development of babies
- Can help to guard against illnesses and conditions including depression, breast cancer, asthma, ADHA, and inflammatory diseases
- May assist those who experience joint pain, stiffness, or arthritis
- Might help to protect against loss of memory in older populations, and may reduce the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
3 Reasons Omega 3 Is Good For Eyelashes
1. Essential to healthy hair follicles
There is evidence to suggest that omega 3 may be linked to improving the health of the hair follicles and helps to reduce hair follicle inflammation.
This might therefore contribute to hair growth. It is currently speculated that this is because omega 3 causes hair to enter and remain in its growth phase for longer than it would without omega 3.
2. Protects against breakage
As omega 3 has been linked to increased hair growth, it helps to strengthen strands and thereby guard against brittle, dehydrated hair.
It, therefore, minimizes the risk of hair breakage and can help to ensure overall thickness and density.
3. Provides nutrients
Omega 3 is a fatty acid, which means that it will add luster and shine to your hair and lashes, but it will also boost their overall nutrients and will nourish them from the outside.
Can Omega 3 Help Grow Eyelashes?
Research indicates there is some evidence that omega 3 can help with hair growth, which, in turn, will help to grow eyelashes. It may do so by supporting hair follicle health, improving blood circulation to the scalp, and minimizing hair breakage.
It’s worth noting that this evidence is relatively minimal, but the findings are promising.
It’s certainly the case that deprivation of essential fatty acids can result in problems with hair growth, pigmentation changes, and even hair loss.
How To Use Omega 3 For Eyelashes
Remember to always patch test before you apply anything to your eyelashes, and take care to avoid the contact of any substance with your eyes.
Here are two ways to use omega 3 for your eyelashes:
Diet and supplements
One of the best ways to use omega 3 to support your eyelashes is by ingesting it.
Foods that are high in omega 3 include fish like salmon, tuna, trout, herring, sardines, and mackerel.
Nuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, spinach, and soybeans are also high in omega 3.
Alternatively, you can take a supplement like fish oil which is high in omega 3.
Apply castor oil to your eyelashes
Castor oil is known for supporting the growth of hair, and it’s high in omega 3.
If you apply it directly to your eyelashes, you can help to support their healthy growth.
What’s more, castor oil contains vitamin E, which is also linked to hair growth and has antifungal properties.
If you don’t want to apply castor oil directly to your eyelashes, look for lash growth serums that use natural oils like castor or coconut.
These all contain omega 3 and are a natural way to topically apply omega 3 to your lashes.
You may also notice faster growth via this method than by ingesting omega 3.
Risks And Warnings Of Using Omega 3
Ingesting omega 3 in the form of fish oil can have side effects. These include:
- Stomach upset or nausea
- Indigestion and gas or bloating
- High blood sugar but low blood pressure
- Abdominal pain
- Acid reflux or belching, resulting in a fishy aftertaste in the mouth
Consuming omega 3 can also result in an increased risk of bleeding, so if you take medication that already increases your risk of bleeding, you should consult a physician before consuming omega 3.
If you have cardiovascular disease and high levels of triglycerides, then consuming omega 3 may cause atrial fibrillation, a faulty heart rhythm.