Big eyebrows are all the rage on runways. But sparse or thinning eyebrows aren’t uncommon everywhere else. A Research report 2012 showed that there are many possible causes of thinning or sparse eyebrows, including:
- tweezers
- To grow
- Medication side effects
- Alopecia
- genetics
- the natural aging process
Let’s cover some strategies for filling in and treating eyebrows that have lost some of their fullness.
The easiest way to treat thin eyebrows is to use makeup to make them look thicker and fuller. There are several types of makeup products that you can use to do this, including:
- Eyebrow pencils
- powder
- Eyebrow mascara
- Waxes
You might want to experiment, mix and match with a few products to find the beauty routine that will give you the eyebrow look you want.
Start with the following steps to try and fill in your eyebrows to make them look fuller:
- Start with a clean, dry face. Using an eyebrow brush or clean cotton swab, comb your eyebrows so that all of the hair is flat and facing in the same direction.
- Use the brush or swab to shape your eyebrows and sweep the hair into a natural arch. Your arch should fall at a 45 degree angle with the floor of your nose.
- You may want to use a light cream or gel to style your brows and secure them in your preferred shape.
- Using an eyebrow pencil or powder on a brush, make light, feathery strokes that mimic your hair next to and above your natural brows. Start on the part of your forehead closest to your nose and work all the way to the tip to get the shape you want. Don’t do this so quickly. Remember that the more short strokes you have, the thicker your eyebrows will look.
- You can then use an eyebrow mascara or wax to get the result if you want.
If you’re looking for a remedy that is more permanent than makeup, you can consider these other techniques and treatments for filling your eyebrows.
Hair dyes
You can use semi-permanent or permanent hair dye to give your eyebrows a darker pigment. This can give the illusion of brows that are thicker and fuller.
You can tinker this treatment yourself with hair dye from the drugstore or go to a beautician.
Food supplements
A Research report 2017 showed that hair loss has been linked to some vitamin deficiencies, including Vitamin D and Iron deficiency.
It makes sense, therefore, to believe that taking supplements for vitamin D and iron can help your hair grow back, including on your eyebrows.
Additionally, the same research report above showed that dietary supplements are unlikely to be effective unless you are nutritionally deficient.
Essential oils
Anecdotally speaking, some essential oils are said to promote hair growth on your head and on your eyebrows.
Make sure you always dilute them with a Carrier oilAvoid using oils that are too close to the eye and eyelid. castor oil and Peppermint oil are two anecdotal favorites for hair growth.
Microblading
Microblading is a cosmetic procedure performed by a licensed provider. The goal of microblading is to make your eyebrows look full and even.
Microblading (and its cousin process, Nanoblading) does this by making tiny, feather-like strokes that mimick real hair, and filling those strokes with a semi-permanent pigment.
The Results of microblading last 8 to 30 months, after which you need to get a touch up if you like the result.
Microshading
Similar to microblading, Micro shadow is a procedure that is also performed by a licensed provider.
Unlike microblading, microshading mimics the appearance of a powder makeup application (in other words, it looks like makeup, not real eyebrows). Microshading takes 3 to 6 months.
Eyebrow tattoos
Semi-permanent eyebrow tattoos (like henna) and regular permanent tattoos have been around for many years. They often don’t look as realistic as microblading.
Bimatoprost
According to a 2016 study, Bimatoprost (Latisse) has not yet been approved by the FDA for use in eyebrow restoration and is considered off-label use. The dosage is a topical application to your eyebrows once or twice a day.
This FDA-approved drug used to stimulate eyelash growth is only available by prescription. It can take several months to get the full results.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil (Rogaine) is available as both over-the-counter and prescription drugs. It can be administered as a topical foam, as a concentrated solution, or orally.
In one small 2014 study39 participants were asked to use a minoxidil-containing lotion on one side of their face and a placebo product on the other side to treat eyebrow thinning.
The study found that the minoxodil side had significantly better results than the placebo.
Eyebrow restoration
You can speak to a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon about hair transplants that target your eyebrows. These types of grafts use your existing hair follicles to fill in thin areas and encourage regrowth.
These Procedure for transplanting eyebrows can be quite expensive, take a few weeks to recover, and run the risk of serious side effects and infections.
May have sparse eyebrows several causes.
Plucking over or tweezing your eyebrows can damage your hair follicles and lead to poor hair regrowth. Other causes of sparse eyebrows include:
Hair loss from your eyebrows can be frustrating, but there are many treatments available. You can also check out cosmetic procedures and even hair transplants to make your brows look bigger.
If you are concerned about hair loss or you can’t figure out what is causing it, speak to a doctor.