How to Make Your Eyelashes Grow Back Faster: Expert Tips & Myths Debunked
Original published date: Oct 03, 2022
Major Update Date: Jul 10, 2026
The Quick Answer: How to Grow Eyelashes Faster? Eyelashes typically take 6 to 8 weeks to grow back. To speed up the process and ensure healthy growth, apply a peptide or biotin-based eyelash serum nightly, remove makeup gently using micellar water, avoid waterproof mascara, and nourish your lash follicles with natural oils like castor or coconut oil.
It’s a frustrating moment: You look in the mirror and notice your once lush, fluttery eyelashes are looking sparse, short, or damaged. Whether it's from heavy makeup use, a harsh removal process, or just natural aging, thinning eyelashes can be a major blow to your confidence.
But don't panic. Eyelashes do grow back.
At The Glam House in Denver, our lash experts spend every day helping clients achieve their dream lashes. Here is exactly how your lashes grow, what causes them to fall out, and the science-backed steps you can take to make them grow back faster and stronger.
The Science: Your Eyelash Growth Cycle
Understanding the natural lifecycle of your eyelashes is the first step toward nurturing them back to health. Just like the hair on your scalp, every single eyelash goes through a continuous cycle that includes three key phases:
Anagen Phase (Growth): Your lashes are actively growing from the follicles along your lash line. This phase lasts between 30 and 45 days.
Catagen Phase (Transition): Growth stops, and the hair follicle shrinks. This transitional stage lasts about two to three weeks and secures the lash at its full length.
Telogen Phase (Resting): A resting period that can last up to 100 days. The lash simply sits there until it naturally sheds to make way for a brand-new lash.
Expert Insight: Because each lash is in a different phase of this cycle, it is completely normal to lose 1 to 5 natural lashes every single day!
The Science of Your Eyelash Growth Cycle
Select a phase below to observe how follicles evolve through each stage of natural lash renewal.
Expert Insight
Because each individual eyelash is constantly in a different stage of this continuous cycle, it is completely normal and healthy to lose between 1 to 5 natural lashes every single day!
Why Are My Eyelashes Falling Out?
If you are losing more than a few lashes a day, several external and internal factors might be influencing your lash health:
Harsh Makeup Habits: Frequent use of heavy, waterproof mascara is a primary culprit. Because waterproof formulas are incredibly stubborn, the vigorous scrubbing required to remove them often pulls out lashes prematurely.
Improper Lash Extensions: If you've had extensions applied by an uncertified technician using poor isolation techniques or too much adhesive, it can damage the natural follicle. (This is why seeing licensed professionals is critical!)
Aging & Genetics: As we age, hair growth naturally slows down and hair thins out. Your genetics also dictate the baseline length and thickness of your lashes.
Health Conditions: Nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and skin conditions can all cause sudden lash loss. In fact, according to the Cleveland Clinic, severe eyelash loss (medically known as madarosis) can be triggered by autoimmune diseases like alopecia areata or thyroid dysfunction. If your lash loss is sudden and severe, consult a healthcare professional.
4 Ways to Make Your Eyelashes Grow Back Faster
If you want fuller, more vibrant lashes, you need a routine that combines gentle care with targeted nourishment.
1. Invest in a Quality Eyelash Serum
One of the most effective things you can do is use a dedicated eyelash serum. Look for over-the-counter serums containing peptides (which help repair damaged hair bonds) and biotin (which supports natural keratin production).
How to use: Apply the serum directly to the root of your upper lash line (like liquid eyeliner) on clean, dry skin every night before bed. Consistency is the secret—you'll typically see results in 4 to 8 weeks.
2. Nourish with Natural Oils
If you prefer a holistic route, natural oils like castor oil, coconut oil, or olive oil can heavily condition your lashes, preventing premature breakage. While oils don't necessarily speed up the growth phase itself, they keep the lashes you do have deeply moisturized so they don't snap off early. Apply a tiny amount with a clean spoolie brush before bed.
3. Change How You Remove Makeup
Vigorous rubbing is the enemy of lash growth. To protect your follicles:
Switch to a gentle, oil-based cleanser or micellar water.
Soak a cotton pad in the remover and press it gently against your closed eye for 10–15 seconds to melt the mascara.
Slowly wipe downward following the natural direction of the lash. Never scrub side-to-side.
4. Professional Treatments (Latisse)
For extreme cases, Latisse is an FDA-approved, prescription-only treatment clinically proven to make lashes grow longer, thicker, and darker by extending the Anagen (growth) phase. Because it is a medical treatment, it must be prescribed by a doctor and can carry side effects, such as dry eyes or localized skin darkening.
Eyelash Growth Myths: Busted
Don't let bad advice ruin your lash journey. Let's clear up a few common misconceptions:
MYTH: Trimming your eyelashes makes them grow back longer.FACT: Absolutely not. Trimming your lashes will not alter your genetics or follicle cycle—it will just leave you with blunt, short lashes until they naturally shed months later. Keep scissors away from your eyes!
MYTH: Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly) stimulates new growth.FACT: Petroleum jelly is an occlusive. It seals in moisture and makes lashes look glossy and thick, but it does absolutely nothing to stimulate the follicle to grow new hair.
MYTH: Eyelash extensions ruin your natural lashes.FACT: Poorly applied extensions ruin lashes. When applied correctly by certified specialists, extensions do not harm your natural growth cycle. In fact, getting extensions means you'll stop using mascara and eyelash curlers entirely, giving your natural lashes a much-needed break from daily mechanical damage.
When it comes to restoring your lash line, consistency and patience are your best tools. We asked our Master Lash Artist for her top advice on dealing with lash loss:
Ditch the mechanical eyelash curlers, stop picking at your lash line, and commit to a nightly peptide serum. If you're choosing to get eyelash extensions while you wait for your natural lashes to recover, always communicate your lash health goals with your stylist. A certified artist will specifically select a lightweight, damage-free extension style that allows your natural follicles to rest and regenerate underneath."
— LAISHA Lead Lash Specialist
What to Do While You Wait
Waiting for your lashes to grow back requires patience. If you want instant volume and length without damaging your natural growth cycle, book an appointment for the best lash extension experience in Denver at our salon.
Our stylists use specially formulated, gentle adhesives and isolate every single natural lash to ensure your extensions never pull, pinch, or cause damage. You get to wake up with flawless, head-turning lashes immediately, while your natural lashes safely restore themselves underneath.
Frequently Asked Questions
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If a lash is pulled out by the root, it typically takes 6 to 8 weeks to grow back to its normal length, though a full replacement of your entire lash line can take up to 100 days.
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A consistent routine combining daily peptide/biotin serums, a diet rich in proteins and vitamins, and incredibly gentle makeup removal is the best formula for stimulating growth and preventing breakage.
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To maximize thickness, apply castor oil nightly to condition the hairs, avoid waterproof eye makeup, and take regular breaks from heavy cosmetics to let your follicles breathe.
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