brow regrowth

Written By Jorgia Van de Sype

It’s shedding season! I’m experiencing brow shedding, and so likely are a few of you. 

To start, let’s understand the stages of brow growth:

1. Anagen (the growth phase): This is the phase where your hairs are growing. They will normally only grow to a certain length, and the process lasts between 30 and 45 days. 


2. Catagen (the transition phase): In this transitional phase, the hair follicles start to shrink and detach from the blood supply. The growth slows down significantly, and the hairs become more fragile. This phase prepares the hair for the next phase. 


3. Telogen (the resting phase): During this resting phase, the eyebrow hair is no longer actively growing. Instead, it remains in place until it's eventually pushed out by new growth. You might notice that during this phase, your brows are more prone to falling out, either due to natural shedding or external factors. The cycle then repeats as new hairs start growing in place of the old ones. 


Now, some common causes for hair loss:

  • TWEEZING: As we know, over-tweezing or not-so-great waxing can lead to damaged brows and potentially kill the follicle, so the hair might never grow back. In the words of Justin Bieber, “Never Say Never”. We’ve seen it, clients have seen it, things can come back with time.

  • FRICTION: excessive itching or rubbing brows can lead to inadvertently pulling hairs out. Trichotillomania for brows is also a real thing. I have two clients that mention they’ve caught themselves hyper fixating on their brow hairs while working at a computer, pulling the hairs out.

  • GENETICS & HEALTH CONDITIONS: Your genes, reproductive and aging hormones, lifestyle, stress, vitamin deficiencies, alopecia, and eczema can also play a role.

  • AGING: Sad fact, but as we get older, the natural aging process thins the hairs on our bodies, and slows down regrowth. 


Here are some questions to help you investigate if this is happening to you:

  • Does anyone else in your family experience hair loss or thinning?

  • Have you been under increased stress lately? This can play a role in hair/body hair thinning. 

  • Lifestyle/Nutrition is a factor here as well. How have you been feeling lately? Do you eat enough? How is your hydration? Your body needs essential nutrients to build hair/skin/nails. If you’re not eating enough/well enough, your more vital organs will steal said nutrients to optimize bodily functions. Hair is lower on the priority list. 

  • **Thyroid issues: eyebrow hypotrichosis can occur from hypothyroidism. It is often an early sign, its medical name is “the Hertoghe sign”. Sure, we’re brow nerds here but we’re not doctors. I must proceed with caution & sensitivity when mentioning this to a client. I typically monitor it over a few appointments in case it’s just seasonal shedding. If not, I will gently suggest going a bloodwork panel done to test for TSH levels. 

  • Do you have any other underlying health conditions or find yourself dealing with skin issues semi-regularly? Some autoimmune diseases that cause eczema, psoriasis, etc. can all cause delayed growth of brow hair. This is because the skin barriers are compromised - and as we know we need the perfect environment to grow healthy hairs.  

What can be done? 

  1. Internal hydration. Nutrition. Omega-3 supplementation with a higher EPA to DHA ratio (this is anti-inflammatory). 

  2. External hydration. Moisturize regularly:

    1. Castor oil - Nourishing to the follicle and helping the hair stay longer in the anagen phase

    2. Vitamin E - Same as above. Has a good lipid profile.

    3. Topical moisturizers containing panthenol or vitamin B5

  3. Lowering stress & other hormonal drivers that can lead to hair loss.

  4. Latisse or another peptide serum. Latisse is the only FDA approved product for lash regrowth. Yes, it’s indicated usage is only for lash growth, but is used commonly off-label for brows as well. 

  5. Rogaine - BUT this is not FDA approved for brows. There is a lot of research that minoxidil (the active ingredient) can help start the engines on follicle production. We cannot legally advise clients to use it. But we can talk about the fact that this ingredient is specific for hair production. It works by creating stimulation & microcirculation around the hair follicles inducing arteriolar vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels), thereby encouraging hair growth.

  6. See a professional. Not tweeze, all the things we already mention in our appointments. 

Hopefully some of this helps! 

Xx, 

J

Jorgia Van de Sype