Yes, It’s Possible—Here’s How To Regrow Your Over-Plucked Eyebrows

So, first things first: Can eyebrows grow back?

Sparse brows got you down? Before you start using every growth serum on the market, it’s important to determine whether or not you can grow out your eyebrows in the first place. New growth can be achieved, but it depends on a variety of factors, including your genetics and grooming history. “The overall health of the person, diet, skin health, and hair health will all factor into the new growth,” says Kendra Bray, brow expert and founder of Better Brows & Beauty in NYC.

While you can certainly encourage eyebrow hair to grow back, you won’t succeed in making hair grow if it was never there in the first place—and you shouldn’t expect to wake up with fuller brows, ala Cara Delevingne, overnight. “If you never had full brows, despite your best effort, they will only grow so much,” says Bray. While eyebrow hair can grow back, the results of constant plucking, tweezing, threading, and waxing could cause permanent damage. “Eventually the hair follicle is destroyed and will not produce more hair,” says Bray.

Even though the same can’t be said for other parts of the body, like the hair on your legs, for example, whenever you’re working with hair on the face, you should exercise caution. “The hair follicle is a little more delicate,” says Joey Healy, celebrity brow expert and founder of the Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio in NYC.

How long does it take for eyebrows to grow back?

In order to evaluate the growth potential of your eyebrows, Bray says it’s best to do a growth test and allow your brows to experience a full growth cycle without interfering. “A full hair growth cycle is 12 to 15 weeks,” says Bray. “In this time, the hair will grow from the follicle, mature to full length, and eventually fall out.” In order to support growth, patience is key. “One must commit to the full growth cycle if they expect to see results,” says Bray.

How can you help your eyebrows grow?

We get it: Waiting for your eyebrows to grow may feel like a painfully slow process, but luckily you can promote healthy hair growth on your brows a variety of ways, from trying at-home hacks to incorporating eyebrow growth serums into your daily routine.

If you decide to try a growth serum for your eyebrows, look for an option that contains peptides, which stimulate new hair growth. “Peptides are long chains that create proteins which are the building blocks of hair,” says Healy. “Our brow renovation serum has a series of five peptides. It’s highly effective to grow hair.”

In order to achieve results, you have to commit to the process and incorporate a serum into your daily skincare routine. It takes “about three weeks to start seeing results,” Healy says, but it may take up to six weeks from the initial start to really notice a difference. Keep in mind once you stop using the serum your results will also subside.

If you prefer at-home hacks, it might be worth using castor oil on your brows. While there aren’t confirmed reports linking castor oil to hair growth, it is a nourishing option rich in vitamin E that will strengthen your hair, which in turn will  prevent breakage. Think of it like a conditioner for your brows. Castor oil, which comes from the bean of the castor tree, also contains ricinoleic acid (a chemical compound that may treat hair loss). Just be sure to apply during your nighttime routine and use it sparingly so you don’t cause yourself to breakout—trust us, a little goes a long way. If you’ve never used castor oil before, it’s best to do a spot test, especially if you have sensitive skin.

If your eyebrows have fallen victim to years of overplucking, all the serum in the world might not be enough to stimulate hair growth and it might be time to consider other options, like microblading. “Microblading can create the look of a fuller, shapely brow without the need to add makeup everyday,” says Bray. If you feel like filling in your brows with an eyebrow pencil takes up the majority of time in your morning routine, then you’re a prime candidate for the semi-permanent treatment, which typically lasts from one to three years. “Microblading is a cosmetic tattoo,” says Bray. Unlike the severe tattooed makeup you might’ve seen in the past, microblading creates natural-looking lines that mimic  strands of hair and blend in seamlessly with your eyebrow hair, creating the illusion of a fuller brow. Since the treatment will last for a while, Bray says it’s best to do your homework before booking an appointment. “Do a lot of research before you speak with your prospective artist and review before and after images,” says Bray. “You’ll want to find an artist that has a similar style to your personal style.”

When it comes to growing out your brows, everyone’s hair is different; but that doesn’t mean you can’t encourage hair growth on your own and try some easy DIY options to speed up the process.

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