How to Grow Longer, Stronger, and Healthier Eyelashes

You don’t have to try different mascaras or fake eyelashes to get beautiful lashes! You can work to improve the overall health of your natural lashes. Try using natural remedies, like castor, coconut, or olive oil, green tea, or petroleum jelly, to help with growth. You can also talk to a dermatologist about prescription medication to help your lashes grow.

Method 1: Buying Lash Strengthening Products

1. Use an eyelash thickening medication. Bimatoprost, also called Latisse, is a prescription medication you can get through a dermatologist to help your eyelashes grow. You apply Latisse to the lash line of the upper lashes twice each day. The medication is used for two months. You have to continue using Latisse to see the results. If you stop, your eyelashes will eventually return to their normal appearance within the next 5-8 weeks. Latisse can cause side effects, such as irritated or dry eyes, darkened eyelids, darkened pigmentation to the iris, and hair growth around the eyes where the medication drips.
2. Buy an eyelash serum. There are various eyelash serums on the market that you can buy to try and stimulate lash growth. These products commonly contain green tea, biotin, and other natural lash-enhancing ingredients. You can find these products at makeup stores or online. Most of these products range from $30 to $80. Many beauty blogs and consumers claim these products help make their lashes fuller and stronger. However, individual results may vary.
3. Try a conditioning mascara. When you wear mascara, you may want to try a mascara that helps condition and strengthen your lashes. Many makeup companies are adding ingredients like argan oil to mascara to take care of your lashes when you’re wearing makeup. Look for a mascara that is labeled for conditioning. One great option is an argan oil mascara, which you can find at makeup stores or online.

Method 2: Using Natural Remedies

1. Try castor oil. Castor oil is a common home remedy for growing longer eyelashes. You can try placing castor oil on your lashes with a clean mascara brush before bed. You can also apply it to your eyebrows to get fuller brows. Use a cotton swab to dab any excess oil that gets on your face. After applying, go to sleep. You can also use your fingers to rub castor oil on your lashes if you don’t have a lash brush. Remove the oil with makeup remover or soap and water the next morning. Look for cold-pressed, natural, organic castor oils. You will probably find them at health stores or online.
2. Use vitamin E. Vitamin E can be rubbed on your lashes to help promote growth. Open a vitamin E capsule. Put the liquid inside on a clean lash brush or your fingertips. Spread the liquid vitamin E on your lashes. Try doing this at night and sleeping with the vitamin E on your lashes. You can also use Vitamin E oil. Apply a few drops to your clean finger and gently coat the eyelid and eyelashes.
3. Spread a natural oil over your lashes. Natural oils aren’t just good for moisturizing your hair and skin. You can use them to give you healthier lashes. Place some oil on a cotton ball and spread it on your lashes before bed. Remove the oil in the morning. You can use olive, coconut, avocado, sweet almond, linen, sesame, rosehip, or argan oil. You can also mix any of these oils with castor oil for a lash-strengthening mixture.
4. Soak your lashes in green tea. Green tea can help promote growth, as well as clean the follicles around your lashes. Caffeine and flavonoids found in green tea help stimulate your lashes. Brew some green tea and let it cool. Then soak a cotton ball in the green tea and wipe it over your lashes.
5. Sleep with petroleum jelly on your lashes. Petroleum jelly, like Vaseline, can help moisturize your lashes and help them grow. Place petroleum jelly on a mascara wand and apply it before bed. Wash it off in the morning. Do this three times each week. If you don’t want to use petroleum jelly, you can find non-petroleum jelly at health and natural stores.

Method 3: Eating the Proper Diet

1. Eat more omega-3 fatty acids. Foods containing omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, tuna, and nuts, can help improve the health of your hair follicles. This can make your lashes grow, and make them stronger and healthier. If you are a vegetarian, you can try omega-3 supplements. Walnuts and flax seeds are good vegan sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Vegetarians who are not vegan can also get this nutrient from eggs.
2. Increase biotin. Biotin is also called vitamin H. It helps make your nails and hair stronger and healthier. Low levels of biotin can lead to hair loss. Try adding this nutrient to your diet to help promote longer, thicker lashes. Biotin is found in yeast, egg yolks, cauliflower, peanuts, avocado, raspberries, pork, almonds, bananas, mushrooms, nut butters, and salmon.
3. Eat more foods containing folic acid. Folic acid helps your lashes grow thicker and stronger. Folic acid also helps your lashes get a naturally darker color. Folic acid is found in milk, peanuts, legumes, and whole grain cereal.

Method 4: Maintaining Healthy Eyelashes

1. Go without mascara for a little while. Mascara covers your lashes, which can cause irritation. Removing mascara daily may be harsh on your lashes, and may even cause you to pull them out. Skip wearing mascara for a few weeks. This gives your lashes time to breathe and repair themselves. This includes going without fake eyelashes. The glue used with fake eyelashes may irritate or damage your eyelashes. Alternatively, you could try going without mascara and false lashes 1 or 2 days a week.
2. Wear waterproof mascara only when necessary. Waterproof mascara is drying and difficult to remove. You can easily damage your lashes while removing it. Wearing it frequently can make lashes brittle and fragile.
3. Massage your eyelids. Giving your eyelids a gentle massage can help increase the blood flow, which can help your lashes grow. Wash your hands and face well. Then apply gentle pressure with the pads of your fingers to massage your eyelids and lash line. Make sure not to pull too hard. Also, be careful not to pull on your lashes so that you accidentally yank them out.
4. Use eyelash curlers with caution. Curling your lashes is a great way to make them look longer, but be careful to use moderate pressure and never to pull. Excess pressure or curling too close to the lash line can break or damage your lashes.
5. Be gentle when removing makeup. Removing your makeup every night is important for healthy, strong eyelashes, but you should be careful. If you rub too hard to try to remove mascara, you can break the lashes, pull them out, or cause them to be brittle. Use a gentle makeup remover. Press it onto your lashes, let it sit, then press and wipe instead of rubbing hard.

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Written by: Laura Martin, Licensed Cosmetologist

This article was co-authored by Laura Martin. Laura Martin is a Licensed Cosmetologist in Georgia. She has been a hair stylist since 2007 and a cosmetology teacher since 2013