How to Make Eyebrows Grow

Co-authored by Aparna Ghosh

Last Updated: February 8, 2023 References

If you've accidentally over plucked your eyebrows, you're probably ready for them to grow back as soon as possible. While there's no magic trick to making your eyebrows grow back in, there are ways to make the transition a little easier. A well-utilized eyebrow pencil may keep anyone from noticing!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Waiting it Out

1
Plan to wait for several months. Eyebrows take a long time to grow back fully after they've been overplucked. For some people, it might only take six weeks, but others may have to wait a full year before their eyebrows regain their former shape. The best thing you can do for your brows is to be patient. Look at it this way: at least your brows won't need a lot of maintenance for a while.^{[1]
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2
Stop plucking and waxing. You probably already know this one, but it's worth emphasizing that plucking or waxing around your eyebrows isn't going to help them grow faster. In fact, sometimes plucking and waxing eyebrows damages the hair follicle permanently, preventing the hair from ever growing back.^{[2]
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3
Grow them in rows. If you can't stand the idea of letting all your hairs grow out before you shape your eyebrows, try the row-growing strategy. Allow a row of hair to grow out and pluck the stray hairs around it. When the row is finished growing in, start on the next row. Continue growing your brows out a row at a time until they're finished growing back.^{[3]
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- This method gives your brows a neater appearance while still allowing you to grow them back.
- The row-growing method may take quite a long time, so be prepared to wait even longer than you would if you just let your brows grow back all at once.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Stimulating Growth

1
Try exfoliating. While you're waiting for your brows to grow, stimulating the skin in the area may help the hairs come through faster. Use a soft facial brush to scrub your brow area in a circular motion, removing dead skin cells and spurring circulation in the area.^{[4]
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- You can also use an exfoliating scrub in your brow area. Buy a scrub at the store or make your own sugar scrub.
- Don't scrub too hard; rub the skin in gentle circles. Using too much pressure may loosen the hairs that are still in place.
2
Use a brow serum. Brow serum is a product that is designed to stimulate growth at the follicle level with peptides. Some people have greater success with serums than others with these serums; they can be quite expensive, and they don't work quickly. If you'd like to give one a try, look for eyelash serums as well, which contain the same active ingredients and are more widely available at drugstores.
- There is some debate over the effectiveness of brow serums, in general, so keep that in mind when choosing whether to spend money on them. While no hair growth serums formulated for eyebrows have been scientifically proven to work, you can check reviews from unbiased sources to determine if you want to try a specific product anyway.^{[5]
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3
Eat nourishing foods. Stimulate hair growth the natural way by making sure you're getting the vitamins and minerals you need to maintain healthy hair and skin. Get plenty of protein, vitamin B, iron, zinc, and omega 3's. Add these healthy foods to your diet:^{[6]
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- Walnuts, avocados, and olive oil
- Carrots, mangos, and sweet potatoes
- Lean meat, salmon, and other fish
- Leafy greens like spinach and kale

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Styling Your Brows in the Meantime

1
Use a brow pencil. While you're waiting for your brows to grow, you can draw them in quite effectively using a brow pencil. Choose a pencil that matches your brow color or is a shade lighter. Make short, thin strokes in the same direction as your hair growth.^{[7]
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- When using a brow pencil, subtle strokes are better than thick ones. Don't go overboard trying to give yourself the popular bushy look; stick with filling in the gaps for now.
- For a bolder nighttime look, go a shade dark than your brow color.
2
Use brow powder. Brow powder is formulated to stick to your existing brow hairs and make them look fuller and more filled in. It's a good way to add some heft to your brows if your hair tends to be sparse. Choose a shade that matches your brow color and use a brush to apply it in the direction of your hair growth.^{[8]
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3
Employ concealer to cover the stubble. When your hairs first start to grow back, they may have the appearance of stubble. Resist the impulse to pluck and use a little concealer there instead. Go for a chemical-free concealer so that you won't risk impeding your hair growth.^{[9]
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4
Try applying Vaseline on your eyebrows before going to bed. Do this for at least one month, and have patience. The petroleum jelly will condition your skin and hair follicles, which can revitalize dry, brittle strands of eyebrow hair and ultimately lead to better growth.^{[10]
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- If you want your eyebrows to instantly look thicker and better for an occasion, you could apply Vaseline immediately beforehand to fake the appearance of thicker brows.

Expert Q&A

Question

Can eyebrows grow back after over plucking?

Aparna Ghosh
California Licensed Esthetician & Electrologist
Aparna Ghosh is a Licensed Esthetician & Electrologist and the Owner of Synergy Skincare in Folsom, California. She has been running Synergy Skincare since 2017 and has over eight years of industry experience working with various skin types. Aparna specializes in corrective and preventative skincare. She is a Kaiser Permanente Network Provider providing electrolysis hair removal for transgender patients diagnosed with adult gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. In addition to being certified in skin health and herbology, she holds a Master's degree in Zoology with a specialization in Biochemistry and a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology with a minor in Chemistry. Synergy Skincare won the Hall of Fame Best in Folsom Award in 2019 and 2022 and the Yelp Recognition Badge in 2017 and 2020.

Aparna Ghosh

California Licensed Esthetician & Electrologist

Expert Answer

Over plucked brows usually don't grow back after a certain age. If you're still under 40, micro needling and a hair growth formula might revive the follicles, but if you're older, a permanent microblading is probably your better option, since there might not be follicles for the hair to grow anymore.