Have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed your eyelashes are shorter than those of other people? If so, you might be wondering why.
Short eyelashes can be a source of frustration, as they don’t provide the same amount of protection and beauty that long lashes do.
Luckily, there are some possible explanations for why your eyelashes might be shorter than average. Read on to learn more about the potential causes of short eyelashes and what you can do to make them longer…
What Is The Growth Cycle Of Natural Eyelashes?
Each of our eyelashes starts its journey as a small club-like structure called an eyelash follicle, which is formed within the skin at the base of our eyelids.
From here, it takes some 30 to 45 days for that single lash to reach its full length, during which time it grows through three distinct phases: Anagen (growth phase), Catagen (transition phase), and Telogen (rest phase).
In the eyelash growth cycle’s conclusion, we naturally lose old lashes to make room for newly formed ones – and the cycle repeats itself every few weeks; each natural lash typically going through this process several times in its lifetime. So, try not to worry when you experience eyelash loss, it’s all part of the natural cycle.
Why Are My Eyelashes So Short?
Having short eyelashes can be frustrating, especially if you feel like other people have longer and fuller lashes. The length of your eyelashes is typically determined by genetics, meaning that there are some things you can’t change about them.
However, there are plenty of ways to give the appearance of longer and thicker eyelashes. If you choose the right mascara and primer, it can significantly help volumize lashes for an instantly eye-opening effect.
Curling your lashes prior to applying mascara is another way to create an illusion of length. If these methods still don’t work for you, then lash extensions may be a great solution. Extensions are semi-permanent strands that can extend beyond your natural lash line for a dramatic look in just a few hours.
What Are The Causes Of Short Eyelashes?
If you’ve tried all the methods mentioned above, but still can’t seem to grow your lashes out, then there may be an underlying cause. The most common causes of short eyelashes are:
- Hormonal Imbalances – Hormones play a big role in hair growth and when hormones become imbalanced, like the menopause, it can lead to shorter than normal lashes.
- Vitamin Deficiencies – Vitamins like biotin and vitamin B6 have been known to contribute to healthy lash growth, so if you’re deficient in these vitamins it could be those health issues causing your short lashes.
- Aging–As we age, our lashes naturally get thinner and shorter due to a decrease in hormones as well as an increase in lash shedding.
- Over-Manipluation – Rubbing your eyes and pulling on your lashes can weaken the hair follicles, making them less able to grow longer lashes. So, remember to be gentle with your mascara wand, and your makeup remover at the end of the day, before going to bed.
- Thyroid Issues–Your thyroid is responsible for regulating many body processes, including lash growth. If you have an overactive or underactive thyroid, it could be a contributing factor to why your eyelashes are shorter than normal.
No matter what the cause may be, there are ways to help everyone make their eyelashes look longer and fuller. From using natural remedies to trying out lash extensions, there are plenty of options available, and beauty products, to really make a difference to your natural eyelashes.
How Do Genetics Affect Our Natural Eyelashes Length?
Our natural eyelashes length is determined by our genetic makeup. Some people can have long and voluminous lashes, while others may have shorter eyelashes, and thinner ones.
Genetics influence the hair follicle shape, size and speed of growth directly, leading to different lengths in eyelash size for different individuals.
The number of lash follicles present will affect the thickness of the lashes; having more follicles means more strands can grow at once, making for thicker looking eyelashes.
Moreover, being a wild type mutation, genetics play a role in this variation as some individuals may produce longer lashes than others due to hereditary factors such as chromosomal makeup or recessive traits from their family line.
Knowing our genetic background can help with better understanding why we have the type of nails we have naturally.
Why Do Eyelashes Get Shorter As We Age?
As we age, the body changes. Skin gets thinner and wrinkles form; hair loses its luster and often turns gray or white; and even our eyelashes, the protective frames on each eye, change in appearance.
As it turns out, this is normal, as our eyelashes get shorter and thinner with age. While scientists are still unable to explain why exactly our lashes change as we age, there are some theories that attribute it to hormones and the body’s natural aging process.
Loss of healthy oils due to decreased hormones can also be a factor as it leads to weaker lashes which make them more prone to breakage.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to completely stop the changing of your lashes with age – but luckily there are ways you can maintain their life cycles, such as regularly treating them with a moisturizing conditioning serum or using an eyelash curler to keep them looking healthy and long.
What Causes Our Natural Lashes To Thin?
Our natural eyelashes have the potential to thin for a number of reasons, from the use of harsh makeup products to an underlying medical condition.
Wearing too much eye makeup can cause our lashes to be weighed down and become damaged, leading to weakened and sparsely distributed lashes. Stress and inflammation can also prevent our natural lashes from growing healthily, leading to thinning lashes.
Certain medications like blood pressure medications, steroids, and cancer treatments can also lead to patchy lash growth or lash loss.
Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that results in hair loss, is another possible cause for reduced lash thickness. Fortunately, these causes are easily avoided, or can be treated.
Can Eyelash Extensions Make Our Natural Lashes Shorter?
Eyelash extensions have become extremely popular in recent years, and for many people, they are the perfect treatment to add volume and length to their lash line along the eyelid, to help them achieve luscious lashes.
While the results of lash extensions procedures can often be stunning, some people worry that eyelash extension hairs applied or a lash lift can cause their natural lashes to become shorter than they were before.
The truth is, eyelash extensions will never affect the length of your natural lashes, as they are applied directly onto each individual false lash, without touching a real lash.
However, it’s important to make sure to use eyelash extensions properly, so you don’t damage your lashes or ruin the look of your faux set. Eyelash extensions work as a beautiful eyelashes effective alternative to false eyelashes, and can be applied to those with shorter eyelashes.
How To Lengthen Our Natural Eyelashes?
Every girl dreams of having naturally long, full eyelashes to complete her look without having to rely too much on cosmetics. Fortunately, there are a few strategies that can help us keep our natural lashes looking thicker and longer.
For example, using an eyelash serum can condition the lashes to create healthier and strong follicles that promote growth. Additionally, avoiding oil-based eye makeup removers is important because these types of products can strip away natural oils in the lashes and leave them dry and brittle.
If you wear mascara, try to use one with a brush that has smaller bristles, so it can get each individual lash for a fuller effect.
Finally, manual eyelash curlers are great for giving the illusion of lengthier lashes; just be sure not to tug or pull your lashes, as this may cause breakage. Overall, taking small steps daily to make sure our natural eyelashes stay healthy is key in order for them to grow longer over time.
How To Make Your Natural Lashes Appear Longer?
If you’re looking for ways to make your natural lashes appear longer without using any harsh chemicals or treatments, then these tips might help:
- Avoid rubbing your eyes as much as possible. Rubbing can cause the hair follicles to weaken and break, resulting in shorter lashes.
- Try a lash conditioning serum that is made with natural ingredients like biotin and peptides. These ingredients can help nourish the hair follicles while promoting lash growth.
- Use a lash comb after applying mascara to separate and define each individual lash. This will give them more definition and length.
- Be gentle when removing makeup – use an oil-free cleanser or micellar water to gently remove any residue from your lashes.
- Try using a lash curler to give your lashes an instant lift and length before applying mascara.
- Avoid using waterproof mascaras as they tend to be harder to remove, which can cause the hair follicles to become damaged over time.
Do Lash Growth Serums Improve Lash Length Or Thickness?
Whether lash growth serums are effective is a question many people want answered. Several studies have shown that these products can help extend the length of eyelashes, often with results visible after only two weeks of use.
It appears that lash serums may also be able to make lashes thicker and fuller when several weeks of use are documented. However, the truth is that individual results vary greatly, and some users may not experience the same effects as others.
Thus, if you’re considering using a lash growth serum, and you’re expecting drastic changes in your lash length or thickness, it’s best to research the product thoroughly and determine if it could be a good investment for you.
Does Coconut Oil Make Your Lashes Longer?
With the surge in natural and organic products, coconut oil has become a popular target for health and beauty. But what about its claims to make your lashes longer?
While it is true that this natural product can be used to care for your eyelashes, it’s important to remember that coconut oil alone won’t make your lashes grow as long as you might hope.
To achieve the desired length, coconut oil should be combined with a healthy diet that includes essential vitamins A & E, which help maintain lash growth, as well as regular exercise and hydration, to prevent brittle lashes.
Therefore, while coconut oil can certainly be used to keep your eyelashes nourished and conditioned, it isn’t the only key ingredient necessary for longer lashes – you could also try castor oil.
Which Supplements Can Help With Eyelash Length?
To achieve a long lash look, many people turn to supplements as a natural alternative to extensions or mascara.
While there are various types of products marketed for improving the length and fullness of your upper lashes, it’s important to be aware that not all treatments are created equal or are backed by scientific research.
Biotin and saw palmetto are two popular supplements identified as beneficial for strengthening and lengthening eyelashes due to their ability to promote hair growth within the lash hair follicles.
It’s recommended that these be taken in combination with other vitamins including vitamin E and zinc to support their efficacy in optimizing facial hair. Plus, vitamins A, C, and D3 have been proven to improve lash luster while also providing antioxidant benefits, and helping to combat a loss of lashes.
Summary
It can be difficult to determine why your eyelashes are so short, but understanding the underlying causes such as stress, poor diet, and over-styling can help you find ways to address the issue.
Using a lash conditioning serum with natural ingredients like biotin and peptides is one way to nourish the hair follicles while promoting growth.
You can also use a lash curler to lift and curl the lashes for extra definition. Finally, certain vitamins in your diet such as A, E, C, and D3 are beneficial for optimizing lash luster while providing antioxidant benefits that help combat hair loss.
Hi, my name is Gemma, and I’m the owner of MakeupMuddle.com. I’m a true beauty obsessive, and love writing about anything to do with beauty. In addition to Makeup Muddle, I also own GemmaEtc.com, and love sharing my thoughts and feelings about the greatest (and not so great) beauty products!