How To Regrow Your Eyebrows After Years Of Over-Tweezing

Many women have succumbed to overzealous eyebrow tweezing. Drawn to the warm glow of the magnifying mirror, you start out by plucking a couple of stray eyebrow hairs just to "clean them up." But, before you know it, you've tweezed your eyebrow into a shape that not even Gwen Stefani circa 1990 would be caught dead wearing (via CafeMom). Maybe you've tweezed above the brow line and messed up the arch, or perhaps trimmed the tail clean off on one side. Panic sets in as you remember the old myth that over-plucked brows are a lost cause.

The good news is that regrowing your eyebrows after years of over-tweezing is entirely possible (via PureWow), especially considering recent trends focus on natural and fluffy brows (via The Brow Fixx). For most people, plucking your brows disrupts the hair's natural growth cycle, but doesn't necessarily cause lasting damage. With the right products, correct grooming tools, and a hefty dose of patience, you will be on your way to growing the full, fluffy eyebrows of your dreams.

The number one tool for regrowing your eyebrows after over-tweezing is patience. It can be tempting after making a catastrophic eyebrow plucking blunder to try and correct the mistake. As difficult as it is to put down the tweezers and step away from the mirror, overcorrecting will only lead to more damage. Although there are many temporary fixes and products that may help stimulate hair growth, patience — and patience alone — will get you the Instagram-worthy results you want.

According to Cleveland Health Clinic, it can take anywhere from three to four months for eyebrow hair to regrow once it has been plucked, because it goes through a four-stage growth cycle (via Wimpole Clinic). If you're lucky, you may see eyebrow hairs growing in as little as one month. However, hair growth anywhere on the body is influenced by a variety of factors, including climate, hormones, and what you eat (via Eyebrow Queen). Furthermore, it is important to remember that brows come in a variety of shapes, widths, and lengths. If genetics blessed you with naturally thinner eyebrows, you will likely be rewarded for your patience with the same thin brows you plucked away.

Although there is no one correct eyebrow shape, the past decade has favored the fuller eyebrow look. Whether you were born with thin eyebrows or accidentally forced them that way via over-tweezing, faking a full, perfect brow is easy with the right products (via PMU Hub).

According to the New York Institute of Beauty, brow shape is important for balancing the face, altering face shape, and helping to frame the eyes. Thicker brows also tend to be more natural looking and flatter a wide range of face shapes, which makes them a coveted beauty trend (via Brow Beat Studio). To achieve this look, start by drawing in your eyebrows with a pencil or wax-based kit. Natalie Borton also notes that feathering pens, tinted brow gels, and pomades are very helpful. If you've over-plucked, drawing in your brows allows you to control the shape and size. You can easily apply the products that work best for you in the original shape of your eyebrows and fill them in before anyone notices.

According to Maybelline, the best way to achieve fake full eyebrows is by brushing out your brow hair with a spoolie brush, before drawing the outlines of your brows. Use short, light strokes to mimic actual hair as you fill in your eyebrows. For an even-more natural look, try using a darker shade on the outer strands and a lighter one on the inner eyebrow.

No matter how many makeup products you buy to fill in your plucked brows, at some point, you're going to want to speed-up the hair growth process. There are numerous oils and home remedies available that can be used as topical treatments to stimulate hair growth. These oils are not a quick-fix solution, but they may help give your hair the nutrients needed to grow faster.

Castor oil is a popular and cost-effective at-home remedy that has been used to strengthen hair since 4000 B.C. (via Earth to You). Although the evidence for its use to grow hair is largely anecdotal, the multipurpose vegetable oil is rich in fatty acids that potentially benefit the skin and face, per Medical News Today. It can also condition and strengthen the existing eyebrow hairs. Using either Jamaican black castor oil or cold-pressed castor oil, apply the product to clean eyebrows with a spoolie brush or cotton ball. Massage the oil in and let it sit before washing off with your normal cleanser (via Healthline).

Many cosmetic companies offer hair growth oils specifically for the eyebrows and eyelashes. Some products require a prescription from your doctor, while others, as noted by Reader's Digest, can be purchased over-the-counter to improve thickness. If you choose an OTC product, keep an eye out for nourishing ingredients like panthenol, hyaluronic acid, keratin, and antioxidants.

A major part of regrowing your eyebrows is taking care of the existing hair. Although it may seem strange, conditioning your eyebrows with a high-quality serum is an excellent way to strengthen the hair you do have, making it naturally appear thicker and fuller (via Ziba Beauty). Similar to hair growth oils, there are dozens of OTC products and at-home remedies that can help you keep brow hairs in good condition.

According to Health, the best OTC eyebrow serums contain peptides. These strings of amino acids are the building blocks of important proteins like elastin and collagen, both of which play a role in healthy skin and hair follicles. High-quality eyebrow serums will also contain keratin, biotin, and other B vitamins to help thicken, moisturize, and strengthen brow hair.

If budget is a concern, consider conditioning your eyebrows with coconut oil two to three times a week. Coconut oil is rich in vitamin E and fatty acids. It can also penetrate the hair shaft better than other types of oils or conditioners, moisturizing and softening hair over time. To use coconut oil as an eyebrow serum, apply the oil to a clean spoolie brush or mascara wand to coat your brows with it. For best results, allow the product to set in overnight before gently removing it with your normal cleanser in the morning.

Being truly hands-off with your eyebrows as they grow in means you're going to have a few weeks of wonky hair (via The Cut). Hair that's used to being tweezed may start to grow in a funny direction or stick out. You may also notice a dark, stubble-like appearance as the hair grows in. It can be tempting to remove the ugly, short hairs, but doing so will inhibit any progress you've made.

That's where concealer comes in handy. Applying concealer under the eyebrow and over the hair that is growing in can help hide it. Concealer is also a great makeup tool for defining the shape of your eyebrows (via Essence). Simply shape and fill them in with a pencil or brow powder as normal, and use a flat-tip brush to apply the concealer underneath your brows. If you're looking for a razor-sharp brow, you can apply concealer on top of the eyebrow to carve it out. For best results, use a cream concealer one shade lighter than your natural skin tone and be sure to apply it right alongside the hairline — this way you will camouflage all of the tiny stray hairs and stubble.

For no-fuss eyebrows that look perfect every day, microblading is an option. The semi-permanent makeup application involves hand drawing individual hairs onto the eyebrows with a disposable tool made up of fine needles. These needles are in the shape of a blade, or a microblade, and carry the semi-permanent pigment into the skin (via Microblading LA). This cosmetic procedure, as explained by Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, is a form of eyebrow tattooing performed by an aesthetician. Unlike eyebrow tattoos, microblading lasts for one to two years, but will eventually fade over time.

There are risks to consider with microblading. Due to its semi-permanent status, if you go to an inexperienced professional or are unsatisfied with your results, you're stuck with the brows for a long time. It also isn't cheap. According to HuffPost, microblading is a more expensive alternative for eyebrow growth at roughly $1,000 per session. If you have oily or sensitive skin, microblading may lead to an allergic reaction.

That being said, microblading is a favored option for people who want a seamless eyebrow look without the hassle of products and hair growth serums. Although it won't kickstart new hair growth, it doesn't prohibit it. It easily fills in thin brows and offers the full, natural look that many women desire.

Microshading is a similar process with less commitment. Unlike microblading, microshading simply dots the pigment into the brow to create a fuller look (via Healthline). The semi-permanent results last for a couple of months.

If microblading or microshading doesn't sound right for you, consider tinting or laminating your brows as they grow in. These are cosmetic procedures that will give new life to your eyebrows, but may not come with health risks or semi-permanent status.

Brow tinting is the perfect way to camouflage patchy or sparse brows. This non-invasive process normally takes place at a salon and involves the professional application of tinted color on the brows. Dying your brows can help give them a thicker, more shapely appearance (via Lash Lovers). Overall, tinting your brows can last for a few weeks.

Brow lamination is sometimes referred to as an eyebrow perm and lasts longer than eyebrow tinting. It creates a fuller, more even look by lifting the eyebrow hairs in a uniform direction and sealing them in place with a neutralizer (via Healthline). Once the hairs are sealed, to keep them looking good, they will need to be laminated every eight weeks. The entire process takes around one hour to complete at a salon. Brow lamination is especially helpful for taming unruly eyebrow hairs that grow in different directions, or refuse to comply with gel or pomade. Although the effects don't last as long as microblading, it is significantly cheaper at around $100 per session.

Most women do their eyebrows at home with a pair of tweezers and a vanity mirror. Although this method is certainly cheaper, it can lead to disastrous results that require correction by a professional.

Eyebrow styling professionals are the first place to start. Normally eyebrow styling professionals are estheticians who specialize in shaping eyebrows (via Best Health). They won't be able to make your eyebrow hair grow faster, but they will be able to help you work with the shape you do have for the time being. Normally, eyebrow specialists require at least two weeks of hair growth before they can begin. Once you start seeing a professional, your eyebrows will not only be maintained beautifully, but you will have someone to keep you from sabotaging your hair growth efforts.

If years of over-tweezing your eyebrows have led to permanent hair loss in places, a hair loss specialist may be able to help. Hair loss specialists, including trichologists and dermatologists, are well-versed in problems relating to hair loss and hair growth. They may suggest temporary cosmetic procedures, prescribe medications or serums, or determine if you're a good fit for an eyebrow hair transplant, per Chicago Hair Institute.

Diet is a major component in the quality of hair growth. A well-balanced diet rich in vitamins A, B6, B12, folic acid, C, iron, zinc, and protein are vital for healthy skin and hair (via Sutter Health).

Vitamin A is important for producing sebum, or oil, which helps moisturize the scalp and hair. Dairy and dark leafy greens are excellent sources of vitamin A. But, be mindful of ingesting too much of it, as excess vitamin A in the body can lead to hair loss. The B vitamins — found in whole grains, fish, meat, nuts, and avocados — help support a healthy metabolism and they're needed to grow strong, healthy hair (via Forbes Health). Likewise, in addition to maintaining a healthy immune system, the antioxidants in vitamin C help to improve blood flow to the scalp, which in turn can help the hair to grow.

In addition to fatty fish, nuts, and dark leafy greens, a diet rich in protein is vital for hair growth. Hair mostly consists of the protein keratin, and without a regular source of protein in your diet, hair can turn dry and brittle. Red meat protein sources also contain iron, which is an important nutrient for carrying oxygen to the hair follicles (via Cleveland Clinic).

In addition to a healthy diet, taking supplements may also help promote hair growth. Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a beloved hair growth supplement that some studies suggest may help increase hair growth in women with thinning hair (via The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology). It helps with the creation of red blood cells, which help carry needed nutrients to the hair follicles. A diet that includes eggs, salmon, sweet potatoes, and milk will normally provide plenty of biotin. However if your diet lacks biotin-rich foods, an OTC biotin supplement may help.

Omega-3 supplements are popular for hair growth as well. These fatty acids can be found in foods like oily fish, shellfish, or flaxseed (via Cleveland Clinic). They are also easily added to your diet in the form of a fish oil supplement. Omega-3s are excellent for your overall health, with numerous studies finding the fatty acids reduce triglyceride levels and relieve arthritis symptoms. When it comes to hair, omega-3 fatty acids can potentially help stimulate hair growth by moving it into its active growth state (via Medical News Today).

The chances are good that once you have successfully grown out your brows, you're going to need to perform some maintenance on them. You can avoid the trauma of regrowing over-tweezed eyebrows by learning how to properly pluck them in the future. Before you begin, make sure to wash your face with warm water and a mild cleanser. This will help relax the skin and prepare the hair for removal. Plus, don't forget to disinfect your tweezers.

Start by assessing the natural shape of your eyebrows. Identify the beginning and end points of each brow and pluck any hairs that fall outside these limits (via Women's Health). The natural arch of your brow should lie on the brow bone and lineup with the outer rim of your iris, while the tails should gently taper. You can find where your eyebrow should end by lining up a pencil with the outer edge of your nostril and angling it upward toward the outer corner of your eye.

Once you have a good idea of the shape of your eyebrows, visually select the hairs you'd like to remove. If you plan to use tweezers to shape your brows, make sure they are angled at 25 degrees for better precision and grabbing power. The tweezers should also close evenly (via Meraki Lane). Once the area is prepped, hold the skin tight, carefully grab the hair at the root, and slowly pull out in the direction the hair grows.

Just like the skin on our scalp, the skin on our eyebrows can experience dryness and flakiness, which can lead to hair loss. The secret to luscious brows often lies in regular exfoliation and washing. Over time, the build-up of dead skin cells and eyebrow products can clog the hair follicles, preventing new hair growth and leaving your eyebrows looking sparse.

Exfoliation is the key to unclogging those follicles and allowing your brows to flourish, but we're not talking about scrubbing your eyebrows with harsh ingredients or abrasive tools. Instead, opt for a gentle exfoliating cleanser or a soft-bristled brush that gently cleans your brows. Massage the cleanser or brush in circular motions across your brows to slough off any dead skin cells and product residue. Just like we cleanse our faces to remove makeup and impurities, our brows deserve the same treatment. "Make sure to wash your brows. It may seem obvious, but people often forget to cleanse and wash their brows thoroughly, so brow pencil and powder can build up," board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick tells Byrdie. 

Did you know that a little tender loving care in the form of massage can work wonders for your eyebrows? That's right, folks: Massaging your eyebrows isn't just a luxurious treat; it can actually stimulate the hair follicles and promote healthy regrowth. According to Healthline, massaging the brows works by "stretching the cells of hair follicles," which results in thicker hair and better blood flow to the area.

To begin your eyebrow massage ritual, start by applying a small amount of nourishing oil or face cream to your fingertips. Then, begin massaging your brows in circular motions. "Since every hair is connected to a tiny blood vessel, stimulating blood flow to the brow area can help encourage healthy hair growth," a brow expert for Benefit Cosmetics, Jared Bailey, tells Byrdie. "Try giving your brow bone a micro-massage with your fingertips when going through your skincare routine by gently using the fingertips to tap over each brow for about 30 seconds." Remember to be extra careful and avoid excessive pulling or tugging on your brow hairs. Remember, consistency is key. With time and dedication, you may just notice your eyebrows looking both fuller and thicker.

Did you know that stress can also take a toll on your precious eyebrows? When stressed, our bodies release cortisol, a hormone that can "disrupt the hair's natural growth cycle," according to Precision Analytical. This can lead to thinner eyebrows or even hair loss in extreme cases. Fear not — there are plenty of simple yet effective ways to dial down the stress and nurture your brows back to their former glory.

First things first: Take a deep breath and find activities that help you unwind. Whether it's going for a walk in nature, practicing yoga, or indulging in your favorite hobbies, finding what brings you joy and relaxation is crucial. Taking time for yourself and engaging in activities that reduce stress can positively impact your overall well-being (via the National Institutes of Health), including the health of your eyebrows. Another key aspect of stress reduction is getting enough beauty sleep. Yes, beauty sleep is a real thing. When we sleep, our bodies, including our hair follicles, regenerate and repair themselves. So, aim for those recommended seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night. Your brows might just thank you for it.

One essential step you can't overlook is hydrating the skin beneath your brows. The skin beneath your eyebrows is delicate and can easily become dry and prone to flakiness. This dryness can impede hair growth and make your brows appear lackluster. "Let's face it, we often neglect the skin under or around our brows," Jared Bailey tells Byrdie. "Simply bring your eye cream all the way around your eye and up to your orbital bone each time you apply."

Again, consistency is key, and this also applies to hydrating your brow area. Make it a habit to moisturize daily, preferably after cleansing or exfoliating your brows. This will ensure that your skin stays plump, hydrated, and ready to support healthy hair growth. And, of course, don't forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Hydration starts from within, and staying properly hydrated will benefit every part of you, including your brows.