How can you stimulate eyebrow growth?

Just like hair, eyebrow hairs grow at around 0.3 millimetres per day. If you are wondering how long it takes for eyebrows to grow, this depends on their biological cycle. It is estimated that eyebrows grow for about 30 days, whereas the growth phase of scalp hair lasts from 2 to 5 years. This is why hair is much longer than eyebrows. The life cycle of eyebrows lasts around 4 months. This eyebrow growth cycle is similar to that of scalp hair and is characterised 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, which grow from the hair follicles.

Note : A single eyebrow can contain up to 1,000 hairs, whose life cycles are independent of one another. This is why the overall density of our eyebrows remains the same over time.

Over-zealous hair removal or an injury within the eyebrow that leaves a gap are just some of the reasons one might wish to stimulate eyebrow growth. In cases of sparse eyebrows, many people wonder what to do or how to increase the density of their brows. First and foremost, it is important to note that, although certain methods can somewhat stimulate eyebrow growth, they will not, however, thicken your eyebrow line. In other words, even if one is looking for ways to achieve fuller eyebrows or to thicken them naturally, the outcome remains limited by your follicular capital. The shape and fullness of the eyebrows are specific to each individual and depend on the number and position of hair follicles present along the brow ridge.

Tip No. 1 for making your eyebrows grow faster: a healthy, nutrient-rich diet.

Nutrition 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-group vitamins, iron and magnesium, are involved in biological processes essential for cell proliferation and protein synthesis, particularly keratin. Thus, following a balanced diet, including whole grains, pulses, fruit, vegetables, and certain meats and fish, may help support the normal functioning of the hair follicles, without necessarily guaranteeing a direct effect on eyebrow growth.

For those wondering how to make their eyebrows grow more quickly, nutrition may represent an interesting indirect lever.

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

Tip No. 2 for making your eyebrows grow faster: Use specific density-boosting active ingredients.

Certain active ingredients can act on the activity of hair follicles and can therefore help to improve eyebrow density. This is notably the case 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, in particular by supporting the expression of cell division markers such as Ki-67. This dual action – both on anchoring and on cellular dynamics – helps create an environment that is more favourable to eyebrow growth.

Other active ingredients are also being investigated, such as capsaicin, a compound derived from chilli peppers. A study conducted in 15 volunteers with eyebrows considered imbalanced 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 should be interpreted with caution. As the full study is not available, the assessment method used to obtain these results is unknown (visual assessment, volunteer satisfaction, objective measurements, etc.). Furthermore, the number of participants remains limited and the full formulation of the product is not disclosed. Additional studies are therefore required to confirm these observations and to better understand the mechanisms involved.

Tip No. 3 for making your eyebrows grow faster: Apply plant-based oils.

Applying certain nourishing plant oils to the eyebrows helps to nourish and strengthen the hairs. Now, it is likely that healthy hairs grow more quickly. This explains why these methods are often mentioned when looking for how to regrow eyebrows or how to regrow over-plucked eyebrows. Among the most popular oils are avocado oil, coconut oil, and especially castor oil. This last one is also thought to have the ability to stimulate eyebrow growth on the basis of scientific studies focusing on its effects on alopecia, that is to say 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). It has been observed that this protein is present at around three times higher levels in bald areas of the scalp than in hair‑bearing 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 to restore hair growth. Nevertheless, with regard to its potential effect on eyebrow growth, no scientific data are currently available.

This is why it can only be stated that castor oil contributes to the strengthening of hairs.

Tip No. 4 for making your eyebrows grow faster: Give your eyebrows a gentle exfoliation.

As previously mentioned, healthy eyebrows tend to provide a more favourable environment for hair growth. Thus, when the skin is congested with dead cells or residues (sebum, pollution particles, make-up), 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.

Carrying out a gentle scrub once a week can help remove the excess corneocytes that have accumulated on the surface of the stratum corneum, and create a more favourable 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 in injecting at a very shallow depth into the skin cocktails of active substances, often composed of vitamins, amino acids and growth factors, in order to support the activity of the hair follicles by locally supplying elements likely to promote cell proliferation, keratin synthesis and vascularisation 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. The 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 above 8/10 and more than 90% of participants reporting that they were satisfied and willing to continue with the protocol.

However, these data must be interpreted with caution : the study relies largely on subjective assessments, does not include a control group, and involves a limited number of participants. Further research will therefore be required to confirm the effectiveness of mesotherapy in stimulating eyebrow growth.

Finally, the last piece of advice to keep in mind is to be patient. Eyebrows have their own natural 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).