Whether you resorted to over-plucking in your youth, are experiencing hair loss due to hormone changes, or just struggle with thinning hair due to genetics, there are a number of reasons your brows may not be as full as you’d like. Luckily, with the right growth-promoting regimen, you may be able to reach the eyebrows of your dreams—no extensions, brow pencils, or gels required!
To discover the best tips and tricks for faster, fuller eyebrow growth, we spoke to board-certified dermatologists Anna Chacon, MD and Yoram Harth, MD, medical director of MD Hair. They told us that it’s all about treating your brows from the outside and promoting growth from the inside with proper supplementation. Read on for all of their expert advice!
Use A Hair Regrowth Serum
Dr. Harth and Dr. Chacon both recommend investing in a great hair regrowth serum to help your eyebrows reach their highest potential. "Growth serums contain vitamins that help in growing healthy eyebrows," Dr. Chacon explains. She notes that there are several natural oils that may also be able to help, including castor oil, which "contains proteins that encourage growth." Meanwhile, olive oil, coconut oil, and petroleum can help to seal in all the moisture your brows need to grow thick and full. However, she heeds warning: "avoid using petroleum if you have oil or acne-prone skin." Noted!
Take Hair Regrowth Supplements
In addition to topical hair regrowth serums, it's important to remember that hair health (including that of your brows) also starts from the inside. That's why Dr. Harth recommends adding supplements to your routine, too. "Taking a hair regrowth oral supplement that includes iron can be helpful," he says, noting that this can be especially necessary if you eat red meat fewer than twice a week. A few other supplements that can be extremely helpful include Vitamin D, zinc, selenium, and biotin, all of which will promote healthier, thicker hair—both from your scalp and your brows!
Be Gentle With Your Brows And Avoid Overplucking
While you may be tempted to tame your brows regularly with a tweezer or apply a lot of makeup products in order to make them look fuller, Dr. Harth and Dr. Chacon both warn against going overboard. Dr. Harth says you should "apply minimal pressure to your brow area when using brow pencils" and urges readers not to overpluck. "Tweeze in soft lighting only, so you don't get too tempted," he says, adding that "you can use an eyebrow brush to keep them tidy."
Additionally, you should consider the type of tweezer you're using. Dr. Harth recommends opting for those with angled ends, rather than flat ends, which "tend to cause more traumatic plucking." An angled end will allow you to pull in the direction of your hair growth. He also shares that the best time to pluck your brows is right after a shower, because "brow hairs slide right out with minimal effort." Noted!
Dr. Chacon says that if you really want to grow thicker brows, you can stop plucking altogether and just trim them instead. "Apply eyebrow gels upward and trim the ends," she instructs. However, if you insist on plucking, Dr. Harth recommends keeping the frequency to a minimum. "Plucking the eyebrows every couple of weeks should be enough for most people. If you pluck your brow hair every day or two, you're causing scarring, and the hair won't grow back," he concludes.
Of course, the best way to come up with an efficient plan to grow your eyebrows is to speak to a professional about your personal skin and hair health. But in general, you can't go wrong with these dermatologist-approved tips. If you combine growth serums with oral supplements and go easy on your brows, you should be on your way to fast, full growth in no time!
