10 Natural Remedies To Make Your Eyelashes Longer

We all have gone online, finding the best ways to get thicker and longer eyelashes. Most of the time, we end up finding nothing useful, but not this time. Thick eyelashes give a magical lash lift to eye makeup besides shielding your eyes from sand, dust, and debris. However, they sometimes tend to fall out and get thin due to various factors, including aging and medical conditions such as hypotrichosisⁱ  An uncommon ailment characterized by little to no hair development on the head or body areas that experience average hair growth. (1) . In this article, we have developed some natural ways to remedy your lashes and make them longer and thicker.

Note: Some home remedies listed below are not backed by scientific evidence to prove their effectiveness in achieving longer eyelashes.

Natural Home Remedies That May Give You Longer Eyelashes

1. Castor Oil

Consider using castor oil for eyelashes and see them grow long and strong. You can use castor oil for eyebrow growth as well. Ricinoleic acid is the major component of castor oil and makes up about 90% of it (1). This acid has shown potential in helping with hair loss (2). Thus, it may also be an alternative option for maintaining the thickness of your lashes.

However, a clinical case shows that the high viscosity of castor oil may result in hair matting and extreme dryness (3). Hence, consult your dermatologist before you try this remedy.

What To Do: You will need 1 teaspoon of cold-pressed castor oil and a few cotton swabs. Before applying castor oil, cleanse your eyelashes thoroughly with water and pat them dry with a mild cleanser. Dip the cotton swab in cold-pressed castor oil and apply it along your upper and lower lash lines. Avoid getting the oil into your eyes. Keep the oil on overnight and wash it off the next morning.

Jennifer Myers, a YouTuber, shared her experience about using castor oil every night for six years constantly to boost eyelash growth and health. She says, “It did take about 16 weeks to see any visible results on my eyelashes but they are in great condition now (i).” She adds that she gently massages the oil on the lashes and avoids eye makeup to keep them long and voluminous.

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is used for hair care due to its penetrating effect, which helps prevent loss of hair proteins

(4). Hence, it may also be used to treat thinning and damaged eyelashes and aid their regrowth.

However, be careful while using coconut oil as it may leave an oily film on your lashes that weighs them down (5).

What To Do: You will need 1 teaspoon of cold-pressed coconut oil and a bunch of cotton swabs. Before applying the oil, cleanse your lashes with mild soap and water before patting them dry. Dip a cotton swab in coconut oil and apply it along your upper and lower lash lines. Avoid getting the oil into your eyes. Leave the oil on overnight. Rinse it off the following morning.

3. Vitamin E

Asako Ito

, Certified Eyelash Technician and Co-Founder of Divine Lashes, says, “Vitamin E is known for its ability to condition and nourish hair follicles. Vitamin E oil can be applied directly to the lash line or combined with other oils and ingredients to make a DIY eyelash serum.”

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce the oxidative damage causing an increase in hair loss. It also contains tocotrienol compounds that may help increase the number of hair strands (6). Hence, it may contribute to longer eyelashes.

What To Do: Vitamin E can be applied topically to your lashes. It is even safe to ingest as an oral supplement. But before taking the supplements, talk to your doctor for the correct dosage.

4. Green Tea

Green tea is a rich source of a polyphenol called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which can help promote hair growth (7). Hence, it may also help in aiding the growth of your lashes.

What To Do: You will need 1 teaspoon of green tea leaves (or 1 tea bag) and 1 cup of hot water. Mix the two ingredients and steep for 5-10 minutes. Strain the liquid and drink it warm. You can also cool the tea and apply it topically to your upper and lower lash lines using a cotton swab. Drink the tea twice a day and use it topically once daily.

5. Massage

Massaging helps improve circulation. Massaging your scalp regularly, be it with or without oil, can improve hair length and thickness (8). Massaging your eyelids gently may help you get similar results.

6. Lemon Peel Oil

In a study published in Parasitology Research, it was found that lemon oil could help in the treatment of eyelash mites and promote faster hair growth. However, this study was conducted on rabbits (9). More studies are needed to establish the same effects on humans.

What To Do: You will need the peel of 1-2 lemons, coconut or olive oil, and cotton swabs. Place the lemon peels in a small jar and add a few tablespoons of olive or coconut oil to it. Press the peels against the jar using a spoon to obtain the oils from the peels. Allow the mixture to sit overnight. Dip a cotton swab in the mixture and apply it to your upper and lower lash lines, avoiding your eyes. Leave it on for a couple of hours and rinse it off. You may do this 1-2 times daily or leave the mixture overnight.

7. Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly)

Vaseline (petroleum jelly) can moisturize your eyelids and help in getting rid of eyelash mites, preventing further damage to the lashes (10). However, there are no studies on its ability to aid eyelash growth.

What To Do: Take some petroleum jelly (as required) on a cotton swab and apply it to the upper and lower eyelids. Make sure you avoid getting it into your eyes. Leave it on overnight and rinse it off the next morning.

8. Shea Butter

Shea butter is rich in vitamin C and is packed with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties (11). Vitamin C prevents free radical damage and boosts collagen. Hence, shea butter may help you maintain the thickness of your lashes and boost their growth.

What To Do: Take a little amount of shea butter and rub it between your fingers until it melts. Apply it to the upper and lower eyelashes. Leave it on overnight.

9. Olive Oil

Olive oil for your eyelashes offers another great option to promote lash health and length. Olive oil contains a phenolic compound called oleuropein (13). In a rat study, oleuropein was found to increase hair growth (14). Hence, it may contribute to longer eyelashes.

What To Do: You will need 3-4 drops of olive oil and 1-2 cotton swabs. Pour a few drops of olive oil on the cotton ball and apply it to your upper and lower lashes. Using a lash brush, gently massage your lashes. Try lash combing them too, then leave the oil on for 5-10 minutes. Rinse it off with lukewarm water.

10. Biotin Supplement

Biotin

deficiency can cause loss of hair on the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Ingesting biotin supplements may help improve this condition (15). Consult a healthcare provider for the correct dosage of biotin supplements.

A combination of these remedies may help in managing your thinning eyelashes. However, you also need to consider making a few lifestyle changes to prevent further damage and thinning of your eyelashes.

How To Prevent Eyelashes From Thinning

• Follow a healthy and well-balanced diet that includes nutrients like iron, zinc, vitamins, fatty acids, biotin, and proteins (16).
• Cleanse your eyelashes and eyelids daily using a mild cleanser or eyelid shampoo (17).
• Avoid using low-quality eye makeup products.
• Avoid any eye makeup that causes irritation.
• Before applying any makeup to your face, especially around the eyes, apply a lash primer. It contains keratin that coats your lashes and keeps them healthy and protected.
• Remove makeup before going to bed.
• Stop using eye-lash curlers.
• Avoid getting lash perms.
• Limit the use of eyelash extensions.

Quick Tip

Prepare a natural mascara with aloe vera gel, coconut oil, grated beeswax, and charcoal. Put all these ingredients in a saucepan and heat them well. Pour this into a mascara container and use it in the place of store-bought mascara.

What Causes The Eyelashes To Thin And Shorten?

According to Asako Ito, “There are several causes of thinning eyelashes, but a universal one is aging. Eyelashes will naturally thin with age, just like the rest of your hair. Other causes include genetics, poor nutrition, and certain medications.”

Your eyelashes could be falling out due to several factors, such as:

• Advancing age – This is the most common cause of lash fall, affecting both men and women as they age.
• Menopause – Since estrogen plays an important role in the production of collagen for maintaining healthy skin and hair, a reduction in its levels during menopause might result in thin lashes.
• Hormonal imbalances – An imbalance of thyroid hormone can result in damaged skin and hair loss.
• Handling your lashes roughly – Scrubbing your eyelashes vigorously while removing eye makeup.
• Allergic reaction – Particularly to eye makeup products
• Use of eyelash extensions – The glues used to attach the false lashes contain chemicals that may be irritating or harmful. Due to this chemical reaction, you may experience redness, burning, or eyelid inflammation, which may result in eyelash fall.
• Stress
• Chemotherapy – drugs used to treat cancer often cause thinning of hair and lashes.
• Certain medical conditions – Like blepharitisⁱ  The inner eyelid's small oil glands are clogged, leading to an inflammation that irritates eyelashes and tears formation. , an overactive/underactive thyroid, psoriasisⁱ  A non-contagious autoimmune disorder in which skin cells accumulate and develop into scales and dry, itchy areas. , alopecia areata, eczemaⁱ  A persistent condition that flares up sporadically, leaving you with dry, itchy skin and weakened skin barrier function. , or trichotillomaniaⁱ  A condition marked by persistent, uncontrollable desires to pluck body hair from the scalp, eyebrows, or other body parts.
• Poor beauty hygiene – Like leaving the eye makeup on overnight can cause thinning of lashes.

If you exhibit any other symptoms along with the thinning of lashes, it is highly recommended that you consult a doctor to rule out the possibility of an underlying medical condition.

Did You Know?

Wearing ill-fitting spectacles may cause constant irritation and loss of lashes. Hence, it is advised to always choose spectacles that suit perfectly to keep lashes from falling.

Are Eyelash Serums Safe?

With the growing demand for thick and voluminous eyelashes, many cosmetic brands have started selling eyelash growth serums. In 2008, bimatoprost ophthalmic solution 0.03% was approved as a safe and effective treatment for enhancing eyelash growth (18).

Some cosmetic brands and drugmakers created eyelash growth serums using this as an active ingredient. While these serums provide quite a few benefits, they come with side effects, like red or itchy eyes, eyelid swelling, and irritation. To avoid these issues, check with your doctor before using the serum.

Having read these remedies, one question must surely pop in your mind – how long does it take to fully grow back your eyelashes when they fall out or are damaged? Scroll down to know more.

How Long Does It Take For Eyelashes To Grow?

The growth rate of eyelashes varies from person to person and depends on several factors like reason for eyelash loss, health of hair follicles, genetics, age, and overall health. In most cases, it will take between 6 weeks to 3 months for eyelashes to fully grow back. But, if you have ended up cutting your eyelashes too short with lash scissors, they will grow right back in 2–3 weeks. Remember to keep taking care of your lashes regularly to see the best growth.

Note: Not all eyelashes fall out or grow back at the same time because they are all at different phases of the growth cycle.

Infographic: 5 Easy Home Remedies For Eyelash Growth

Flaunting thick eyelashes is a huge trend in the fashion industry. While some may use faux eyelashes to achieve a thicker look, many of us prefer to show off natural thickness. But how can you naturally make your lashes thicker? What helps eyelashes grow? You can use natural ingredients from the kitchen to grow eyelashes safely.

Check out the infographic below to know the list of easy home remedies that can promote thick eyelash growth.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Can crying help eyelashes grow?

“No, there’s no scientific evidence to support that tears can grow eyelashes longer. When you cry, your body releases hormones and other chemicals, but none of these are proven to be beneficial for eyelash growth,” says Asako Ito.

What mascara makes your eyelashes grow?

For those looking to enhance their lash volume instantly, get thicker lashes with mascara through expert techniques that maximize your mascara’s effectiveness. You will find mascaras from various brands that aim at making your lashes grow longer. Look for mascaras that contain a blend of peptides, proteins, and lash conditioners that help your lashes grow longer.

What is the best eyelash growth serum?

The best eyelash growth serum in the market is Latisse – the only FDA-approved proven treatment to help with eyelash growth. The key ingredient in this serum is bimatoprost.

Do lash extensions damage your natural lashes?

Yes, lash extensions can damage your real lashes. They require lash glue to stick to your lashes. When the extensions are removed after use, this glue makes the removal of false lashes difficult. It can also cause your natural lashes to fall out.

Does drinking water help eyelashes grow?

Drinking adequate water may keep your hair follicles hydrated and supply adequate nourishment to stimulate eyelash growth. However, there is not enough scientific evidence to prove the same.

Illustration: Natural Remedies To Make Your Eyelashes Longer

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

The following video shows 11 quick ways to grow long, luscious eyelashes in just 30 days! Get ready to flutter your beautiful lashes and turn heads. Check it out!

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Reviewer Expert Author Editor Fact Checker

Vd. Naveen SharmaBAMS, Ayurveda Specialist

 

Dr. Naveen Sharma is a renowned Ayurveda specialist with an experience of 10 years. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery(B. A. M. S) from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, in 2007.

Read full bio of Vd. Naveen Sharma

• 
  Asako ItoCertified Eyelash Technician. Asako Ito is a beauty professional and a certified eyelash technician from The Lash Shop Academy with a decade of experience. She is also the co-founder of Divine Lashes, and her aim is to help bring out the beauty of her clients by enhancing their lashes.
  
  Asako Ito is a beauty professional and a certified eyelash technician from The Lash Shop Academy with a decade of experience. She is also the co-founder of Divine Lashes, and her aim is to help bring out the beauty of her clients by enhancing their lashes.

Dipti SharmaBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Dipti is a health and wellness writer specializing in holistic health practices. She graduated from Maharishi Dayanand University, Haryana, and has worked closely with Ayurvedic doctors, which has given her a deep understanding of traditional remedies and their applications.

Read full bio of Dipti Sharma

Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy.

Read full bio of Anjali Sayee

Monomita ChakrabortyBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Monomita has a graduate degree in mass communication and video production from St. Anthony's College, Shillong, and a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from the Royal Global University, Guwahati. She is also a certified skincare coach with a keen interest in skin, hair, tattoos, nail art, and lifestyle trends.

Read full bio of Monomita Chakraborty