How can you stimulate eyebrow growth?

Just like hair, eyebrow hairs grow about 0.3 millimeters per day. If you’re wondering how long it takes for eyebrows to grow, it depends on their biological cycle. It is estimated that eyebrows grow for about 30 days, while the growth phase of scalp hair lasts from 2 to 5 years. This is why scalp hair is much longer than eyebrow hair. The life cycle of eyebrows lasts about 4 months. This eyebrow growth cycle is similar to that of scalp hair and is defined by the following stages:

• The anagen phase : During the growth phase of an eyebrow hair, the cells at its root multiply actively, leading to an increase in its length.

• The catagen phase : This is a resting phase during which eyebrow growth stops. This period can last from a few weeks to several months. During this time, the eyebrows remain in place without undergoing any significant changes.

• The telogen phase : The telogen phase is the shedding phase of the eyebrows. They fall out naturally to make way for new hairs that grow from the hair follicles.

Note : An eyebrow can contain up to 1,000 hairs, each with its own independent life cycle. This is why the overall density of our eyebrows remains the same over time.

Overzealous hair removal or an injury within the eyebrow that leaves a gap are just some of the reasons one might want to stimulate eyebrow growth. In cases of sparse eyebrows, many people wonder what to do or how to make their eyebrows look fuller. Before anything else, it is important to note that while certain methods can help stimulate eyebrow growth to some extent, they cannot actually increase the thickness of your eyebrow line. In other words, even if you are trying to get fuller eyebrows or learn how to thicken your eyebrows naturally, the results will always be limited by your follicular capital. The shape and density of the eyebrow line are unique to each individual and depend on the number and location of hair follicles present along the brow ridge.

Tip #1 for making your eyebrows grow faster: A healthy, nutrient-rich diet.

Diet plays an important role in the overall functioning of the body, including that of the hair follicles. It may therefore influence, to some extent, the quality and growth of the eyebrows. Indeed, certain nutrients, such as B vitamins, iron, and magnesium, are involved in biological processes that are essential for cell proliferation and protein synthesis, particularly keratin. Thus, adopting a balanced diet that includes whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and certain meats and fish may help support the normal functioning of hair follicles, without necessarily guaranteeing a direct effect on eyebrow growth.

For those who are looking for ways to make their eyebrows grow faster, nutrition may represent an interesting indirect lever.

Note : The effects of the mentioned diet and nutrients have mainly been studied at the scalp level, based on mechanistic or observational data, and remain poorly documented for the eyebrows.

Tip #2 for making your eyebrows grow faster: Use specific density-boosting active ingredients.

Certain active ingredients can act on hair follicle activity and thus help improve eyebrow density. This is particularly true for biotinyl-GHK and panthenol, two derivatives of B-group vitamins, which act at several levels. On the one hand, they help strengthen hair anchoring by stimulating the synthesis of adhesion proteins such as laminin 5 and type IV collagen, components of the basement membrane located between the epidermis and the dermis. On the other hand, they promote the proliferation of keratinocytes in the hair bulb, notably by supporting the expression of cell division markers such as Ki-67. This dual action – both on anchoring and on cellular dynamics – helps create a more favorable environment for eyebrow growth.

Other active ingredients are also being investigated, such as capsaicin, a compound derived from chili peppers. A study conducted in 15 volunteers with eyebrows considered unbalanced in terms of density, length, and thickness observed, after application of a capsaicin extract, a significant increase in length, thickness, and density as well as a visible improvement in the appearance of the eyebrows.

However, these results must be interpreted with caution. Since the full study is not available, the specific evaluation method that led to these results is unknown (visual assessment, volunteer satisfaction, objective measurements, etc.). Moreover, the number of participants is limited, and the complete formulation of the product has not been disclosed. Additional studies are therefore needed to confirm these findings and to better understand the mechanisms involved.

Tip #3 for making your eyebrows grow faster: Apply plant-based oils.

Applying certain nourishing vegetable oils to the eyebrows helps nourish and strengthen the hairs. Now, it is likely that healthy hairs grow faster. This explains why these methods are often mentioned when people are looking for ways to regrow their eyebrows or regrow over-plucked eyebrows. Among the most popular oils are avocado oil, coconut oil, and especially castor oil. Castor oil is also thought to have the ability to stimulate eyebrow growth based on scientific studies of its effects on alopecia, that is, hair loss.

Indeed, in these studies, it was shown that the ricinoleic acid present in castor oil had an inhibitory effect on prostaglandin D2 (PGD2). Now, it has been observed that this protein is about three times more abundant in balding areas of the scalp than in hair-covered areas. It and its metabolite 15-dPGJ2 halt hair growth by binding to the molecular receptor GPR44. By inhibiting prostaglandin D2, castor oil could therefore help restore hair growth. However, regarding its potential effect on eyebrow growth, there are currently no scientific data available.

This is why we can only state that castor oil contributes to the strengthening of hair.

Tip #4 for making your eyebrows grow faster: Give your eyebrows a gentle exfoliation.

As mentioned earlier, healthy eyebrows tend to provide a more favorable environment for hair growth. Thus, when the skin is clogged with dead cells or residues (sebum, pollution particles, makeup), this can disrupt the normal emergence of the hair at the surface and promote the appearance of ingrown hairs or areas where regrowth appears to be slowed.

Performing a gentle exfoliation once a week can help remove excess corneocytes that accumulate on the surface of the stratum corneum and create a more favorable environment for the eyebrows.

Tip No. 5 for making your eyebrows grow faster: Turn to mesotherapy.

Certain more technical approaches, such as mesotherapy, are also being explored to improve the appearance and density of the eyebrows. This method consists of injecting, at a very shallow depth into the skin cocktails of active ingredients, often composed of vitamins, amino acids, and growth factors, in order to support the activity of the hair follicles by locally supplying elements that may promote cell proliferation, keratin synthesis, and improved blood flow around the bulb.

A study conducted in 32 women with sparse or weakened eyebrows evaluated the effects of this technique after three sessions spaced two to four weeks apart. Participants received injections of a mesotherapy serum containing growth factors, and the outcomes were assessed based on their level of satisfaction. The results show an overall improvement in eyebrow appearance, with a mean satisfaction score higher than 8/10 and more than 90% of participants reporting that they were satisfied and willing to continue the protocol.

However, these data must be interpreted with caution : the study relies largely on subjective assessments, has no control group, and includes a limited number of participants. Additional research will therefore be needed to confirm the effectiveness of mesotherapy for stimulating eyebrow growth.

Finally, the last piece of advice to keep in mind is to be patient. Eyebrows have their own life cycle, which it is important to respect. Even though some methods claim to make eyebrows grow in 3 days, these promises are not supported by any scientific evidence.

• FONG P. & al. In silico prediction of prostaglandin D2 synthase inhibitors from herbal constituents for the treatment of hair loss. Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2015).

• KANG S.-M. & al. Eyebrow growth-stimulating properties of capsaicin extract. Journal of the Korean Society of Cosmetology (2015).

• ANESINI C. & al. Jarilla–coffea extract: A natural cosmetic product that improves eyelash and eyebrow growth in women. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology (2018).

• KRASNIQI B. & al. Assessment of clients' perceptions and satisfaction with eyebrow mesotherapy treatment. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology (2024).