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Growing thicker eyebrows takes time, effort, and consistency. By following these tips and using natural oils like castor or coconut oil, along with maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding over-plucking, you can encourage the growth of fuller, more defined brows. Remember to be patient and stay consistent with your routine to achieve the best results. Whether you opt for a natural approach or choose to invest in a brow serum, with the right care, your eyebrows can become thicker, healthier, and more beautiful.
How to Grow Thicker Eyebrows, According to Dermatologists
These eight methods are totally doable.
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Despite the return of all things Y2K, bushy eyebrows are still very much sought after. But to transform your natural arches into full, dense brows can require extra care of both the hair itself and your overall health. In other words, figuring out how to grow thicker eyebrows requires strategy and know-how. Before getting into that, though, we need to explore a couple of reasons why eyebrows thin in the first place.
According to dermatologist Hadley King, M.D., brow thinning can result from an iron or biotin deficiency, genetics, or over-tweezing. Stress and trauma can also play a role, as may aging, says dermatologist Samantha Ellis, M.D. “When determining the best course of action for reversing brow thinning, it’s best to take a look at why it’s happening,” she adds. Finally, you can either consult your healthcare provider or stop whatever’s in your way, allowing you to restore full, thick brows, Neera Nathan, M.D., tells us.
Meet the expert
- Hadley King, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist and a clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
- Samantha Ellis, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist in Danville, California. Dr. Ellis is also the founder of Prequel Skin.
- Neera Nathan, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist who contributes to the Harvard Health Publishing at Harvard Medical School.
Keep reading to learn eight dermatologist-approved tips for how to grow thicker eyebrows.
Use a Brow-Enhancing Serum
One of the easiest ways you can grow thicker eyebrows is using a brow serum. This is especially true if your thin brows are caused by hormones that disrupt the hair growth cycle. “Using a brow-enhancing serum can support the growth of new, strong brow hairs,” says Dr. Ellis. The dermatologist recommends Virtue Flourish Brow Density Booster, which has a patented keratin protein, peptides, and plant-based extracts to stimulate hair follicles.
Dr. Nathan’s brow serum pick is the Vegamour GRO Brow Serum. For one, it’s clean, “which is really important for anything that is applied near the eyes,” Dr. Nathan says. “It contains mung bean and red clover, which are rich sources of nutrients and appear to naturally support eyebrow growth.”
Latisse is a prescription lash-growth solution that can be used as an off-label solution to thicken and lengthen eyebrow hair. However, if you’re considering Latisse, proceed with caution. Dr. King notes that Latisse has caused adverse effects in pregnant animals but has not been tested on humans.
Avoid Prostaglandins
Steer clear of any product that includes the ingredients prostaglandins, says Dr. Nathan. These cause irritation, darkening of the eyes, and a sunken appearance in the eye area. Additionally, some prostaglandins can actually inhibit hair growth1.
Reduce Stress
While this may be easier said than done, Dr. Ellis encourages everyone to find ways to decompress—at least for the sake of your brows. “Stress disrupts the normal hair growth cycle and can lead to hair shedding, including eyebrow hair,” she says. “Some individuals will also pull or pluck their eyebrows during times of stress, a condition known as trichotillomania.”
To combat this, she recommends prioritizing stress-reducing habits—like regularly exercising, getting a proper amount of sleep, maintaining a healthy diet (more on that later), practicing meditation, and seeking professional counseling and therapy if it’s available to you.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Nutritional deficiencies are one of the main causes of thinning brows, says Dr. Ellis. Because of this, she recommends having a balanced diet that promotes hair growth, such as foods rich in vitamin B, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, iron, and biotin—which have been proven to help encourage an environment for healthy hair growth.
Abstain From Brow Trauma
Another common cause of thinning brows is excess brow trauma, a.k.a. anything that rubs, scratches, or pulls on the hair that might stunt its growth. “Prevention is key to keeping brows thick,” says Dr. Nathan. “I advise caution with waxing and treatments like brow lamination or microblading; if performed improperly, they could cause damage or inflammation to your eyebrows or the surrounding skin.”
In addition to that, over-plucking and dyeing the brows can damage the hair follicles and cause breakage, says Dr. Ellis. If you’re looking to thicken your eyebrows, avoid going tweezer-happy—and be sure to use gentle and safe dye or tint formulas.
Try Castor Oil
Castor oil is recommended for hair growth because of its high concentration of ricinoleic acid—which can help improve nutrient delivery to hair follicles. Additionally, points out Dr. King, it won’t damage existing hair and “can provide some conditioning that improves the flexibility of the hair fiber.” Since you can use castor oil to make your eyelashes appear thicker, it makes sense that you’d be able to use it to grow your eyebrows too.
That said, Dr. King offers a caveat: “A lot of the buzz around castor oil and hair involves stories of it being helpful for hair growth, but there are no studies that show that castor oil directly causes hair growth.”
Apply Minoxidil
Topical minoxidil treatments, like Rogaine, appear to increase eyebrow growth at least a little and are comparable to Latisse, says Dr. King. However, because this ingredient often irritates the scalp, it’s best used as a last resort. After all, the skin on your eyebrow area is even more sensitive than your scalp. You may experience burning, dryness, itchiness, redness, or scaling when using minoxidil.
Visit Your Doctor
If none of the above methods are working and you suspect that it might be tied to a medical condition, consult your doctor. According to Dr. Ellis, meeting with your healthcare provider will help to determine the underlying cause of eyebrow thinning. It’s the safest way to ensure you’re not making the situation worse.