Eyebrow trends have constantly been transforming with every passing year. From the thin, rounded brows of the 1930s to the barely-there brows of the 2000s, we’ve seen it all. So while keeping up with eyebrow trends may be essential, it is also important to allow the brows to grow.
If you’re someone with naturally thin brows, we want you to know that it’s completely normal. But if it hinders your confidence level, we are here to help you with some easy hacks to make your brows look thicker. The key is to achieve fuller-looking eyebrows, whether you wish to keep it arched like Lea Michele or bushy like Cara Delevingne. With well-grown eyebrows, you can easily catch up on the latest brow trends.
Through this article, we intend to enlighten you about 10 ways to get thicker eyebrows. So keep reading to brows(e) through some of the most popular ways of making your eyebrows look fuller.
1. Avoid Over-plucking
The trend of pencil-thin eyebrows took over the fashion industry between the late 90s and early 2000s. If you witnessed this, chances are you’ve spent much time at a salon getting your eyebrows plucked. It was a time everyone was seen flaunting thin eyebrows. As a result, those with naturally thick eyebrows experienced thinning of their eyebrows over the years.
The pressure applied by tweezers and threading tools on the hair follicles of the brows may cause long-term thinning effects. Paired with other factors like stress and underlying ailments, eyebrows may take a while to grow back to their original form. Therefore, we recommend doing it less frequently for those who intend to get their eyebrows plucked in the future.
If you’ve been in the habit of over-plucking your eyebrows, we recommend getting rid of this habit to make them grow naturally thick. Bidding goodbye to the tweezer for a few months will help your brows gain their natural thickness back.
2. Balanced diet
There is a significant relationship between nutrition and the thickness of your hair. Therefore, a diet that lacks the necessary nutrition for healthy hair growth will result in thinner hair on the scalp, brows, and lashes.
Eating a well-balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids may help regain eyebrow thickness. For example, following a diet that is rich in iron, protein, zinc, vitamin A, and omega-3-fatty acids may help in regrowth. When the body is supplied with healthy food, the nutrients give you healthy hair, skin, and nails.
Consume as many fresh vegetables and fruits as possible. Munch on fruits like lemon, orange, papaya because they are a good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C intake may help those suffering from iron deficiency and, in turn, reduce hair loss (1).
Also Read – White Hairs in Eyebrows – The Reasons and Remedies
3. Coconut oil
For centuries, coconut oil has been raved about for its ability to promote hair growth. However, a study done in 2003 determined that coconut oil strongly impacts reducing protein loss in hair (2).
The moisturizing abilities of coconut oil nourish, protect, and hydrate the eyebrows. In addition, when applied to the eyebrows, the antifungal and antibacterial properties of coconut oil prevent the possibility of infections around the eyes.
Massaging coconut oil on the roots of your eyebrows regularly may boost blood circulation, thereby allowing the essential nutrients to reach the hair follicles of your brows. In addition, doing this consistently for a few months may give your noticeably thicker eyebrows.
4. Panthenol
Also known as vitamin B5, panthenol is a chemical derived from pantothenic acid. A study has shown how panthenol can slow down the process of hair thinning (3). Thus, applying pantothenol-rich products like brow serums or gels may increase the thickness of the brows.
Panthenol is known to prevent dryness, and so when it comes in contact with the scalp and hair, it ensures the hair and hair follicles are properly hydrated. In addition, it gets easily absorbed, thus improving cell regeneration to make the hair shaft stronger.
Eyebrow growth products containing panthenol can moisturize the hair of your eyebrows, thereby adding volume to them. In addition, panthenol forms a protective layer on the hair of your brows to prevent it from the harmful effects of the sun and other environmental factors. By adding volume and shine to the eyebrows, panthenol gives your brows a fuller appearance.
5. Castor Oil
For many decades now, castor oil has been considered a boon for hair growth. Though there are no proven studies about the effects of castor oil on thin eyebrows, castor oil’s main constituent ricinoleic acid was found to be associated with hair regrowth in a study (4).
Derived from the beans of castor trees, castor oil is rich in vitamins, proteins, fatty acids, and antioxidants. These nutrients nourish the hair follicles by improving blood circulation around the eyebrows.
Another study proved that applying castor oil to the eyebrows can make them look fuller by imparting a shine to the hair (5). Thus, we recommend applying castor oil regularly to the eyebrows to make them visibly thicker.
We recommend you apply a few drops of castor oil on the roots of your eyebrows daily. Then, leave it for at least half an hour or overnight to see visible results. This may take a month or two to show any effect on the thickness of your brows, but consistently applying castor oil is the key.
To avoid any reactions, first, perform a patch test of castor oil. Also, the results may vary from person to person, depending on how thin the eyebrows are.
6. Microblading
If natural remedies are not your thing, we recommend going for cosmetical methods like microblading. This is the process of using ink to create semi-permanent fuller brows. Tiny needles are used to deposit the ink in between the eyebrow hair to make them appear thicker.
While microblading doesn’t do anything for hair growth, it fills the sparse spaces to give your brows a fuller look. It is a quick procedure that professional microbladers can do. The process involves numbing the area, followed by creating thin hair-like strokes in the brows.
Also Read – How to Fix 8 Most Common Eyebrow Issues Easily
This may need to be repeated once the ink starts to fade, but microblading gives 100% visible results on thinner eyebrows. Not every individual needs microblading, but it is recommended for those who have extremely thin eyebrows. It is an expensive procedure, so we recommend doing proper research about the microblading services in your area.
7. Olive Oil
Rich in fatty acids, olive oil has a composition that is believed to improve hair health. In a study, it was found that olive oil stimulates hair growth (6). The nutrients in olive oil strengthen the hair follicles, thus promoting hair growth.
When applied to the eyebrows, olive oil may help in preventing hair loss. In addition, applying olive oil regularly to your eyebrows will give them a fuller and healthier appearance.
We recommend applying olive oil regularly to the roots of your eyebrows. First, take a few drops of olive oil in your palm and rub it to heat it slightly. Then gently apply it on your brows and perform slow massage motions till the oil coats the hair follicles and hair.
8. Onion Juice
Onions contain minerals like sulfur that can improve the health of the hair. Sulfur prevents hair loss and aids in hair regrowth. While there has not been much research on the benefits of onion, one study proves that topical application of onion juice helps hair regrowth (7).
To make onion juice, first, de-skin 3-4 onions and chop them into small pieces. Put the pieces in a grinder and blend them into a paste. Strain this paste through a muslin cloth and squeeze out the onion juice. Apply this juice directly on the eyebrows regularly, avoiding any contact with the eyes. Wash it off after 10-15 minutes.
9. Fenugreek Seeds
Fenugreek or methi seeds have been a popular hair growth remedy in Indian households. The seeds are believed to have a positive effect on the growth of eyebrows.
There are not many scientific proofs about the benefits of fenugreek seeds for eyebrows, but one study determined its efficacy on hair loss in general (8). The proteins, iron, essential fatty acids, and zinc in fenugreek seeds may help hair growth in the eyebrows.
Consuming fenugreek seeds regularly may improve the hair growth of your eyebrows. Grinding fenugreek seeds into a paste and applying it regularly on the eyebrows may help you achieve fuller brows. However, you need to be careful not to let the paste get in your eyes.
10. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has been used for decades on the skin and hair. The aloenin in aloe vera is known to promote hair growth on the scalp. This compound is similar to the keratin in its structure and thus helps in strengthening the hair strands. On the eyebrows, aloe vera behaves as a sebum absorber. This is particularly beneficial for those who have oily or combination skin types. Excess sebum production can clog the hair follicles, thus inhibiting the growth of eyebrows.
To get the maximum benefits from aloe vera, we recommend extracting the gel from the raw leaves of aloe vera. Then, grind it into a paste and apply the paste to your eyebrows. The paste can be stored in your refrigerator and used daily throughout the week.
Tips on Maintaining Thick Eyebrows
- Treat your eyebrows gently and avoid excess tugging or pulling against the delicate eyebrow hair.
- Refrain from over-plucking the eyebrows as it will lead to thinning, which sometimes becomes irreversible.
- Always keep the roots of the eyebrows nourished by applying hydrating products or remedies.
- To prevent dryness of the hair follicles, keep the eyebrows moisturized at all times using oils of coconut, castor, or olive.
- Ensure that the skin around the eyebrows is properly exfoliated regularly to prevent the build-up of sebum and dead skin cells that can clog the hair follicles.
- Keep a check on the density of the eyebrows to detect premature balding or the development of sparse spaces.
- Minimize the factors that cause thinning of the eyebrows like poor diet, stress, over-application of cosmetics, etc.
- Make sure the skincare products in your routine do not contain ingredients that can inhibit the healthy growth of the eyebrows.
Summary:
Eyebrows are an essential part of our face and play a vital role in face recognition. They define the essence of our face by giving our eyes definition and contour. Maintaining healthy eyebrows requires effort and dedication. Irrespective of the brow trends in the beauty industry, it is essential to allow your brows to grow. To ensure your eyebrows are thick, you need to focus on two things – not plucking or tweezing your brows often, and relying on a balanced diet. There are also DIY remedies that you can depend on to maintain thick eyebrows like applying coconut oil, aloe vera juice, olive oil, onion juice, etc. For severe cases of hair loss or thinning of eyebrows, it is recommended to try cosmetical solutions like microblading. For regular maintenance of thick eyebrows, applying fenugreek seeds paste and castor oil every week on the brows may be beneficial. You must always perform a patch test before trying any such remedies to avoid mishaps and negative reactions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the growth cycle of eyebrows?
Eyebrows have a similar growth cycle to the hair on your body. It takes around 4 months for the hair on your brows to grow actively. Following this, there is a resting period, and then the hair is released.
What are the reasons for thinning of eyebrows?
Eyebrow thinning is a common issue amongst both men and women. Several factors contribute to eyebrow thinning. The most common reasons are hormonal changes and immunity disorders. Other factors include deficiencies, stress, and life-threatening ailments. Skin infections can also lead to hair thinning in the eyebrows. Applying too many cosmetics around and on the eyebrows can also inhibit the growth of the eyebrow hair.
Can fully shaven and bald eyebrows grow back?
In the case of fully shaven eyebrows, yes, they do grow back normally. As for bald or sparse eyebrows, your eyebrows may take months to grow back to their original form, depending on your lifestyle and physiological conditions.
How to maintain thick eyebrows?
To ensure your eyebrows are full and thick, minimize the application of cosmetics on brow hair. Avoid over-tweezing your brows and stick to trimming them once in a week or two. In addition, prevent dryness and clogging of the hair follicles of the brows by cleaning the brows regularly with a mild cleanser.
References:
- “The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A review” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil on prevention of hair damage” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “A novel cosmetic approach to treat thinning hair” – onlinelibrary.wiley.com
- “In silico prediction of prostaglandin D2 synthase inhibitors from herbal constituents for the treatment of hair loss” – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Optical properties of hair: effect of treatments on luster as quantified by image analysis” – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “Topical Application of Oleuropein Induces Anagen Hair Growth in Telogen Mouse Skin” – journals.plos.org
- “Onion Juice (Allium cepa L.), A New Topical Treatment for Alopecia Areata” – onlinelibrary.wiley.com
- “Fenugreek+micronutrients: Efficacy of a food supplement against hair loss” – researchgate.net
