Overview of Eyelashes
Eyelashes are an important part of the anatomy of the eye and serve a few different functions. They protect the eyes from debris and foreign objects, and they also help spread tears evenly over the eyes. In addition, they frame the eyes, giving them a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.
But how fast do eyelashes grow? Let’s take a closer look.
Anatomy of the eyelash
The eyelashes are the hair follicles that delicately line the edge of our eyes. Made of keratin protein, like all human hair, lashes grow in three distinct phases. An individual lash will live for approximately 90 days before it naturally sheds and its follicle regenerates; an entire cycle then starts over again with new lash growth emerging from the same follicle.
A healthy adult’s eyelashes can grow to a length of up to 10 millimeters without international aid from cosmetic mascara or lash extensions, but the amount of body chemistry and makeup products chosen can certainly affect how quickly it grows.
The different parts of the eyelash anatomy include:
- Hair shaft – Visible part that can be seen above skin surface, where pigment is produced on the surface in dark brown or black color
- Hair root – It is embedded beneath skin layer and forms bulb shaped cellular organ that includes living cells. These cells have a nutrient pathway which nourishes them with blood vessels below skin level
- Jejunum – Thin layer just beneath surface of skin that keeps follicles split from each other slightly so they don’t grow clumped together
Likewise, understanding how your lashes naturally work helps you know what methods may be best for achieving your desired look. If you want to promote longer-looking eye lashes, understanding how to take care of them properly is vital for encouraging healthier regrowth and maintenance.
Types of eyelashes
Eyelashes come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors and lengths. They come in a variety of colors including white, blond, brown and black. Eyelashes also vary in length. Most people have an average length of 8 millimeters on the upper lid and 6 millimeters on the bottom lid. However, its quite common to find eyelashes as long as 10 – 15mm in some individual cases.
The thickness or thinness of eyelashes varies among individuals depending on genetic makeup. Thicker eyelashes usually make eyes appear more awake while thin lashes can make eyes look smaller or strained.
There are several different types of eyelash extensions including:
- Classic lashes
- Russian volume lashes
- Hybrid lashes (mix of classic & Russian volume)
- Flare lashes
Each type has its own unique characteristics that vary in terms of appearance, feel and durability; however all extensions involve attaching single synthetic extension fibers to individual natural teeth for a fuller look that lasts up to 8 weeks.
Factors that Affect Growth
Eyelashes can be an important part of someone’s overall looks, and their growth rate has become an area of interest for many. There are several factors that can affect how fast eyelashes grow, such as genetics, age, diet, and environmental elements. Taking a closer look at these factors can help us understand the growth rate of eyelashes and how it can be improved.
Age
Age is a major factor for how fast eyelashes grow and how long they can get. Generally, once a person reaches adulthood, eyelash growth slows significantly and the cycle shortens to only 5-6 weeks.
During childhood, eyelash growth hormone levels are higher, so lash growth is much faster, up to 16-17 weeks for the average person. During puberty, the lash cycle temporarily increases to 8-9 weeks as hormones peak.
In old age, hair follicles shrink and become inactive; therefore, lash growth slows down even more than in adulthood. That’s why older adults tend to have shorter and lighter eyelashes than younger people.
Genetics
Eye lashes are a type of hair and as such are often subject to the same external and internal factors that affect the rate at which all hair grows. Genetics and age play important roles in this process, as does the health of an individual’s scalp and normal levels of oil production. Additionally, those who use certain kinds of eye makeup or suffer from an illness associated with hair loss may experience delays in lash growth.
The rate at which eyelashes grow is largely inherited, but can be affected by various lifestyle changes and medical treatments. Genetics controls the length of the eyelash’s active growth period, as well as its resting phase. In general, younger people tend to have quicker growth rates than older individuals due to more active follicles. At any age, however, having adequate nutrition is essential for healthy lash growth; not only will vitamins help ensure strong roots and hairs but they will also provide the body with essential nutrients that promote lash regrowth when natural shedding occurs.
Those using waterproof mascara or other oils-based eye makeup should take care in removing these products on a daily basis: buildup can lead to clogged pores and restricted follicle operation. Similarly, sleep deprivation or excessive amounts of stress may also cause eyelashes to grow slowly over time because both issues prevent natural cycles from occurring properly; this includes hormonal fluctuations associated with menstruation – another potential cause for slower lash development outside of genetics or age differences. And lastly, illnesses that may inhibit hair growth like thyroid disease or alopecia should be discussed with one’s physician if extensive periods sans-growth are noted on one’s lashes despite proper treatment for those conditions.
Diet and Nutrition
Having a balanced diet is an important factor when it comes to the health of your eyelashes. Eating nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins can provide the vitamins and minerals your body needs to produce stronger and longer lashes. Additionally, try to get adequate amounts of vitamin C, zinc, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, flaxseed oil, biotin and other micronutrients that are beneficial for hair growth.
Drinking plenty of water can also help in promoting the regrowth of eyelashes by keeping them hydrated.
Hormones
Hormones play a vital role in the growth of any body part, including eyelashes. Different hormones – especially androgens – affect certain functionality and growth rate of hair on the human body. There are various androgen hormones responsible for numerous bodily processes, like testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and others.
Over-secretion of these hormones can lead to disturbances in the growth rate of natural hair, including eyelashes. This is why people with conditions such as ovarian cysts or hormonal imbalances may experience facial hirsutism which includes longer and thicker hair on areas like chin, upper lip or sides of cheeks. Similarly uncontrolled secretion can impede eyelash growth as well.
On the other hand, some medications prescribed for chronic illnesses such as PCOS may contain particular compounds like anti-androgens which can reduce the production levels of these hormones in an effort to mitigate hyperactive body functions associated with them thus promoting healthy growth rate for elliptic hairs as well. Additionally, some treatments for diseases related to loss of hair (alopecia areata) consist mostly of types of cancer therapy which involve hormonal drugs that help in recovery from baldness conditions by inducing re-growth from follicular cells around them leading to healthy eyelash re-growth as well.
How to Speed Up Growth
Eyelash growth can be frustratingly slow, which is why many people look for ways to speed it up. Fortunately, there are a few different steps you can take to help accelerate the rate at which your eyelashes grow. We’ll explore the different methods you can use to promote faster eyelash growth:
Use Castor Oil
Using castor oil on your eyelashes is one of the most common methods for accelerating growth, conditioning and improving overall volume. Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid that has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. Before applying, make sure to take a small patch test first to make sure you don’t have a reaction to the product.
Castor oil may be applied directly onto the lashes with a brush or clean finger tips. Be careful not to apply too much as this can clump lashes together making them look shorter than they are. When done correctly, you may notice visible results after about one month with more dramatic results within two months or so.
Another benefit of using castor oil is that it can condition your eyelashes which prevents breakage and keeps your lashes from becoming dry and brittle. Furthermore, if used regularly over a period of time it can even help strengthen weak eyelashes allowing them to grow longer and thicker.
Use a Lash Growth Serum
Using a lash growth serum is an ideal way to boost the growth rate of your eyelashes. Many of these products are clinically-proven to help increase the appearance of length and volume over a period of time, usually between weeks two and four. Lash serums usually contain vitamins such as biotin, as well as conditioning agents such as collagen, which help add volume and nourishment. Other ingredients you may find in lash serums are peptides, which are considered “natural” conditions that can help encourage healthy hair growth.
To see the best results when using a lash growth serum, it’s recommended that you use them consistently over several months. Many products suggest using it twice daily for best results – once in the morning either after or before applying makeup and once at night after cleansing your face before bedtime. With regular usage, you may even be able to see noticeable results within two to four weeks!
Use a Lash Growth Enhancer
A lash growth enhancer is an effective way to help your lashes reach their full potential. These products come in a variety of forms, including liquids, serums, and creams. By applying the product directly to your eyelids and lashes before bedtime every day, you can significantly increase the speed at which your eyelashes grow.
Lash growth promoters work by stimulating hair follicles and encouraging cell regeneration throughout the eyelid area. Some even contain biotin which supports natural lash growth while also providing vital nutrients like riboflavin, thiamin and pantothenic acid that are known to help strengthen lashes and nourish them from within.
In addition to aiding in faster eyelash growth, many lash enhancers contain beneficial moisturizing agents that can help soften brittle lashes caused by over-styling or harsh makeup removers. Ingredients like castor oil and vitamin E are useful for promoting healthy cell growth while defending against free radicals that cause damage to delicate follicles around the eyes. When combined with regular exfoliation and hydration, using a lash growth enhancer can help improve length, thickness and overall condition of your lashes faster than if you did nothing at all.
Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes
It is important to keep your hands away from your eyes. While you may be tempted to rub or tug at lashes or eyelids, this can actually damage and break the hair follicles, causing them to fall out and slowing down growth of new lashes. If you must touch your eyes for any reason, be gentle and try and keep your hands away from areas around the eyes such as brows, browbones, eyelashes, and eyelids.
Additionally, avoid using harsh chemicals near the eye area. Chemicals in beauty products as well as irritants caused by allergies or reactions can also hinder growth of new lashes by causing them to break off prematurely or become weak and thin. Make sure you carefully read labels on all products you use around the eye area to ensure they are gentle enough for sensitive skin – this includes shampoos, conditioners, lotions, creams and more.
Conclusion
After exploring the factors that influence eyelash growth, we can conclude that genetics is the most important factor in the rate of growth. Other factors such as age, health, and diet can all play a role in the rate of growth, but genetics will always be the most influential. With proper care, one can expect to see their eyelashes grow to their full potential.
Summary of the article
This article provided a guide to the four general color categories of coffee roasts available on the market:
- Light roasts are light brown in color, and have a higher concentration of caffeine than their darker counterparts.
- Medium roasts are also known as American roast and have a slightly stronger flavor and no oil on the surface.
- Darker roasts are characterized by their rich dark color, oil on the surface, and a pronounced bitterness.
- Espresso is an Italian-style roast that produces shiny black beans with an oily surface and bitterness.
No matter what type of carbon you prefer there is something for everyone!
Recommendations for further research
Further research is needed to better understand the factors that can influence eyelash growth, as well as development of effective methods or treatments to improve or restore eyelashes. This might include:
- Researching potential genes associated with eyelash growth.
- Identifying pathways for longer and thicker growth.
- Examining the role of nutrition in recovery of eyelashes after injury.
Investigating different ingredients used in products such as serums, conditioners and mascaras could allow refining the formulas to optimize results. It will also be important to understand if the effects of any treatments are sustained after discontinuation, or potentially cause damage with long-term use. Improving our understanding of how best to support health and maintenance of lashes would help many people achieve their desired aesthetic.
