10 Ways To Thicken Your Eyebrows Naturally
While pencil-thin eyebrows were all the rage in the '90s, many people today prefer a more natural, fuller look. However, not all of us are endowed with the ability to grow fluffy, well-shaped brows on our own — and if you've been plucking or shaving them for an extended amount of time, you know just how difficult it can be to encourage regrowth naturally without reaching for an eyebrow pencil to get that desired fullness. If you're finding that your brows aren't growing as fast as you'd like, thickening them using natural methods can be the answer you've been looking for.
Despite there being many products designed to help restore your eyebrows to their fluffy glory, the thought of splashing the cash on an expensive product that may not work can be off-putting. As an alternative to this, thickening your eyebrows naturally through extracts and oils is a simpler way to give them some care without breaking the bank.
It's important to note, though, that natural at-home remedies for eyebrow growth are not guaranteed to stimulate full, thick eyebrows overnight. In fact, Healthline notes that "little evidence suggests home remedies can help your eyebrows grow" at all. Still, there are some natural ingredients that many people swear by. Just keep in mind that all of these methods require two important things: consistency and patience.
Try lemon juice
An ingredient in many facials and scrubs, lemon juice may be used to thicken your eyebrows naturally. In a scientific sense, lemon has been suggested to help your hair's collagen levels and "strengthen the hair follicles," according to Miami Hair Institute. This is due to the high amounts of vitamin C found in this fruit, which is considered suitable for hair growth.
Before applying lemon to your eyebrows, there are a few tips that you need to know. The first is that this eyebrow hack is best performed before you go to sleep or in the evening. While lemon as a natural highlighting agent might be stylish in your actual hair, using it at night is a good way to avoid accidentally sun bleaching your eyebrows. It's important to note that using lemon juice has the potential to be damaging to the skin, according to True Skin Care Center, so doing a patch test beforehand is usually advised.
To give your eyebrows some added lemony lushness, it's recommended that you apply lemon juice — or rub a lemon slice directly — onto your eyebrows and let the juice sit for about an hour before rinsing it off (via Hair World Magazine). If you're afraid of accidentally getting the juice in your eye or causing a skin reaction, mixing lemon juice into water and gently applying it to your eyebrows with a cotton pad or spoolie brush is another way to incorporate this fruit into your natural eyebrow routine.
Castor oil for eyebrow thickening
A vegetable oil derived from the castor bean plant, castor oil is nourishing for both the hair on your head and your face. When used in its extract oil form, castor oil is claimed to help with hair rejuvenation, which is key when you're trying to grow thicker eyebrows, according to Dr. Axe. Castor oils' hydrating properties, an abundance of fatty acids, and vitamin E may help thinning hair.
The science behind castor oil as a hair-growing aid has yet to be fully explored in depth. "Currently, there is no real evidence that castor oil affects eyebrow growth," certified trichologist Gretchen Friese tells Byrdie. "However, there is evidence that ricinoleic acid, which is a chemical compound that makes up [the majority] of castor oil, may treat hair loss." So why not try it out? Using castor oil is a good way to add a bit of shine to your eyebrows and keep your hair follicles moisturized.
To incorporate castor oil into your natural eyebrow routine and get the most out of it, Ipsy recommends that you use a primarily castor-based product without any other "filler ingredients." Begin by applying castor oil to clean eyebrows with a spoolie brush once or twice a day. A fairly simple method of eyebrow care, this hack may take a while to get the results that you're looking for. "I would apply it nightly and stay consistent. Don't plan to notice a difference in a few days," makeup artist Cara Lovello detailed to Ipsy. Patience is key!
Give lavender oil a shot
As both a fragrance and a healing oil, lavender oil is sometimes used to give eyebrows a bit of extra love. Derived from the lavender plant, this essential oil is known for its sweet smell and has a wide range of reported benefits, from reducing inflammation and healing acne to repelling bugs and soothing anxiety (via Medical News Today). Another thing lavender oil can do is stimulate hair growth, especially if it's combined with other essential oils like rosemary or thyme.
While some people may approach lavender oil as a hair-growth ingredient with skepticism, a 2016 study published in Toxicological Research regarding lavender oil's nourishing properties for hair found positive results. Even though the test involved mice — so more research into human subjects will need to be explored — the results are promising and suggest that this sweet essential oil may help with hair growth.
As a home remedy for thicker eyebrows, it's recommended that you apply this oil in the mornings or evenings with a spoolie brush or cotton pad and apply it to your eyebrows. For maximum effect, the lavender oil should be left on overnight or for at least several hours. Like castor oil, it's recommended that you use lavender oil regularly for several months on a regular basis to promote natural hair growth.
Hibiscus extract for extra growth
Hibiscus flowers are both beautiful and useful in their extract form for encouraging natural eyebrow growth and thickness. This plant contains "plenty of flavonoids, amino acids, and antioxidants" that "are known to boost hair health and growth" (via All Things Hair). Fun and fragrant, hibiscus oil is a great way to rejuvenate your eyebrow follicles, as well as give your brow hair some extra moisture for that healthy shine.
This method of hair replenishment is somewhat scientifically verified as having some positive impacts on thinning hair, with a 30-day animal-tested study from the Journal of Ethnopharmacology finding that extracts from both the hibiscus flower and its leaves can aid with hair regrowth. Plus, according to HealthShots, hibiscus can act as a "natural conditioner" for your brow hairs due to its "high amount of mucilage," which may lead to rejuvenated and strong brow hairs.
So how should you be using this extract? In general, it's recommended that you massage this oil into your eyebrows after cleaning your face in the morning or evening — this can be done with just your fingers. Alternatively, you can make use of other hibiscus-infused products to care for your skin and hair, with hibiscus shampoo and facial mask recipes available online. Like other plant-based essential oils, it may take a while for your brows to get to where you want them using this tip, so establishing a regular regime of application is key.
Try petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly is reported by some to be a good way to replenish your eyebrows. Often found in beauty regimes and skincare routines, petroleum jelly has been reported to help "lock in moisture" within your eyebrow hairs, which can "make your hair less prone to breakage" (via Healthline). Less breakage equals stronger hairs.
This hack is often achieved with popular petroleum products such as Vaseline that you can easily buy at your local drugstore or pharmacy. Applying the jelly on a regular basis can also help keep your brow hairs in place, giving the appearance of thicker brows in the meantime. While there is little scientific study into whether or not a product like Vaseline can help with eyebrow growth, as Healthline notes, this could be the trick for you if you're wanting to give your brows and their follicles some extra shine.
To apply petroleum to your brows, the steps are simple. "First, you should comb the eyebrows with an eyebrow brush or clean mascara wand, then pick up a small amount of Vaseline and take the brush upward," board-certified dermatologist Zain Husain details (via Byrdie). For the fullest of brows, it's recommended that you leave the jelly on your brows overnight or a few times per day. However, Healthline advises those prone to breakouts to avoid using petroleum jelly on their face.
Use coconut oil
A popular natural remedy for dry skin and improving dental health, coconut oil can also be used to help promote healthy eyebrows. Adding coconut oil to your beauty routine is an effective way to keep your skin moist and healthy while taking care of your eyebrows. As well as being safe to apply in your eye area, coconut oil is "superior to other oils when it comes to hair" and can help decrease hair breakage and protect your follicles with an excellent moisture barrier (via Healthline).
Coconut oil doubles as both a way to encourage healthy hair and to protect your skin. When applying coconut oil to your brows, it's worth ensuring you have the right balance — you don't want to apply too much or too little. To cover the eyebrow completely, use a cotton pad or spoolie to brush the oil gently into your eyebrows every morning and night.
Before diving head first into this one, it's worth considering that coconut oil can be unhelpful for people with sensitive skin. "Each person's skin can react differently, but I never recommend coconut oil to my acne-prone patients," dermatologist Craig Austin recommended to Byrdie. "But if you don't constantly battle acne, your skin might not be as sensitive to it, and it could have a beneficial moisturizing effect," he added. As always, a patch test is your best friend.
Growing your brows with peppermint oil
Like lavender oil, peppermint essential oil has been touted by some as a way to get your eyebrows looking thicker and stimulate growth. "Menthol, the main component in peppermint oil, has been shown to increase blood flow to the area where it is applied," dermatologist Craig Ziering explains to Shape. "Better blood circulation to the skin could encourage more hair to grow in the affected area."
In terms of scientific evidence behind peppermint oil as a way to grow your brows, there is little research into how much this oil affects human hair growth. However, a 2014 study published in Toxicological Research into the effects of peppermint oil on hair growth in mice "without toxic results" yielded a positive outcome and "thus could be used as a therapeutic or preventive alternative medicine for hair loss in humans" the study concludes.
Additionally, peppermint oil is known for its refreshing minty fragrance, which will ensure that not only will your eyebrows look more hydrated, but you'll emulate a fresh scent, too; a total win-win. To apply peppermint to your brows, the process is simple — combine the peppermint with a "carrier oil" like coconut, as recommended by Healthy and Natural World. Then, brush or massage it into your brows. Let the oil sit for a minimum of 30 minutes for a minty solution to thinning eyebrows.
Using aloe vera
A trending ingredient in many skincare treatments and healing shampoos, the aloe vera plant and its extracts are renowned for their soothing abilities. When applied to your eyebrows, this gel is not only helpful in boosting hair growth but it's reported to help rehydrate the skin due to aloe vera's rich mineral properties. According to Beauticate, this plant contains vitamins A, C, E, and B1, which are "essential for hair growth."
That's right: Not only good for keeping your skin healthy and moist (and treating sunburns), aloe vera may have the ability to help you get your eyebrows to the fluffy state you desire. While the aloe vera plant and its direct extract is perhaps the purest way to get access to this plant's goodness, there are more practical products available on the market if you don't want to bother with growing and cutting the plant yourself.
Using an extract, oil, or lotion, apply the aloe vera to clean eyebrows with a cotton pad or cotton swab, and brush through with a spoolie before letting the gel sit for up to 30 minutes. One tip to make your brow growing process a little easier with aloe vera is to brush it into your hair "in the direction you want your eyebrow hairs to grow" to encourage a fuller, even look (via She Began).
Thickening your eyebrows with almond oil
A nutty remedy for struggling brows, almond oil is a popular extract often used to help hydrate dry skin and other common skin problems. Almond oil is particularly favored by some due to its plant-based goodness — it contains a high amount of vitamin B7, also known as biotin, which is often linked to hair growth (via Healthline).
Almond oil can, in a way, be seen as an alternative or sister oil to castor as they complement one another and can be applied in a similar manner. "What many people don't know is that almond oil has the same properties as castor oil in terms of moisturizing brow hair," brow expert Sabah Feroz tells Well + Good. To apply almond oil to your eyebrows, the steps are quite straightforward. Simply take a spoolie brush, cotton pad, or cotton swab and rub the almond oil lightly into your eyebrows in the morning or evening.
When introducing almond oil to your beauty routine, looking out for comedogenic reactions, such as blocked pores and skin rashes, can be helpful. Although this oil has a low comedogenic rating, it may occasionally block the pores of people with "sensitive and acne-prone skin" (via HealthShots). Like many essential oils, almond oil does not ensure regrowth overnight and must be applied regularly.
Tea tree oil for eyebrows
Not just a home remedy for acne and topical wound treatment, tea tree oil is reported to help in the regrowth of your brow hairs. An oil of many purposes, tea tree oil is also known to help with hair-related concerns, like dandruff and the stabilization of oil production on the scalp (via Women's Health). It also contains antioxidants to help with hair loss and regrowth. "The antioxidant properties of tea tree oil may help mitigate the impact of free oxygen radicals," which can mitigate hair loss, double board-certified dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp explains to Women's Health.
When integrating tea tree oil into your beauty routine, it's recommended that you introduce this oil slowly. By diluting it with a "carrier oil" like olive oil before applying it to your brows, you can best avoid drying your skin out or causing a negative reaction (via Derm Collective). Tea tree oil is generally massaged into the brow using either your fingers or a clean cotton pad.
While specific scientific backing behind tea tree oil as a means to help achieve naturally thicker brows needs to be further explored, applying it once a day has been suggested to help improve the general appearance of your eyebrows. You never know if you don't try! If you have tea tree oil nearby — or any of the other essential oils on this list — incorporate it into your nightly beauty routine and see for yourself.