Does Crying Make Your Eyelashes Longer? Debunking the Myth

does crying make your eyelashes longer

When it comes to beauty, it’s not always easy to tell what’s true and what’s a myth. One persistent myth is that crying can help improve lash growth through mysterious means.

Is there any magic to tears that could make your lashes longer? Before you pull up The Notebook on your favorite streaming platform, make sure to read this post and learn the truth.

The Science Behind Crying: What Happens When We Cry?

Our bodies produce tears constantly, increasing production when there is direct irritation to the eye area or as a reaction to emotional stimuli.

The tears are a way to keep our eyes clean and lubricated, which is essential for eye health. They add much-needed moisture to the retina and actively remove debris from the eyes and the lash line, preventing irritation and infections.

There are several types of tears that form in slightly different ways:

Basal tears are the tears that keep our eyes constantly lubricated
Reflex tears forms when something gets in your eye like debris, smoke, an errant eyelash, or onion fumes
Emotional tears form when we feel strong emotions, from sadness and anger to joy

And tears aren’t just water! According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, they contain enzymes, lipids (oils), metabolites, and electrolytes (minerals like salt). Some scientists even believe that emotional tears contain additional hormones and proteins, although the exact reason why isn’t known.

Do Your Eyelashes Grow When You Cry? Myths vs. Reality

Is a good cryfest truly the secret to longer lashes? Sadly, the answer is no. While many individuals believe in the connection between tears and eyelash growth, this personal experience simply doesn't align with any scientific findings.

"There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that crying promotes eyelash growth,” ophthalmologist Dr. Jovi Boparai of CorneaCare explains.

The oils and proteins in your tears aren’t comparable to the powerful peptides and follicle-stimulating ingredients you’ll normally find in a lash serum. While they may help lubricate your lashes and lash line, the overall impact isn’t enough to improve lash growth.

We’re not sure exactly where the myth comes from. Perhaps it’s because ears add sheen and make the lashes clump together, leading to this common misconception. According to Dr. Boparai, the liquid in tears may temporarily plump up the lashes, making them seem fuller immediately after crying (but not in the long term).

Understanding the Lash Lifecycle

The science of lash growth comes down to the eyelash’s lifecycle.

Eyelashes grow naturally based on a consistent cycle with 3 phases:

Anagen is the active growth phase, which lasts for 30–70 days. The longer the anagen phase, the longer the lashes will be able to grow.
Catagen is the transition phase, which lasts for 2–3 weeks, during which the lashes stop growing and start detaching from the base of the follicle.
Finally, telogen is the resting and shedding phase during which the lashes are no longer attached to the follicle. It lasts for several months, and it ends when a new anagen phase starts, so the sooner, the better.

Some hormones, known as prostaglandins, can increase the growth phase. The main hormones present in emotional tears, such as cortisol and prolactin, are unfortunately not associated with increased lash or hair growth. In fact, prolactin is known to suppress hair growth by quickening the transition from the anagen to the catagen phase.

Does Crying Have Benefits for Eyelashes? What’s Good About It?

Crying may not impact lash length, but it still offers the eyes and lashes some important health benefits.

Keeps Lashes Clean

Crying can help flush away debris and bacteria stuck between the lashes. Clean lashes are generally healthier, so this can be a real benefit. That said, a sobbing session isn’t an alternative to properly cleansing your lashes, especially if you wear makeup or eyelash extensions.

Helps Lubricate the Eyes

If you’ve ever had dry eyes, you know how uncomfortable they can be. Crying’s major physiological benefit is keeping the eyes lubricated, which keeps the eyes healthy and protected. Otherwise, you can develop painful or itchy dry eyes.

Gives Emotional Release

When we cry, our body releases chemicals like oxytocin and endorphins. This is why what you feel after a crying session is similar to how you feel after a deep tissue massage or an intense workout: Calmer, but sometimes also a little drained.

Fosters a Bond

Crying also signals to those around you when you’re in distress. It helps you receive support and fosters stronger bonds and connections.

What Happens to Our Eyes if We Never Cry?

Crying might not be the secret to longer lashes, but it’s still an important physiological response. While you don’t need to sob regularly to keep your eyes healthy, it’s very important that your tear ducts can produce liquid.

Without any tears, you can develop dry eyes, which is a condition that can make the eyes turn red, cause them to feel scratchy and irritated, and disrupt your vision. If left untreated, a lack of tears can actually cause permanent damage to your eyes, potentially leading to vision loss.

If your eyes don’t produce tears, make sure to speak to a doctor since treatment is often as simple as prescription eye drops.

If you never actively cry, but your eyes still tear up instinctively when you cut onions or get dust stuck inside, you probably don’t need to worry about dry eyes. That said, crying can be healthy for us on an emotional level. If you never cry, you might want to investigate if there is an underlying mental health reason for it.

What Happens When You Cry Wearing Lash Extensions?

Crying might not make your lashes longer, but eyelash extensions absolutely will. Even better news? You can cry to your heart’s content even while rocking lash extensions - just as long as enough time has passed since the application.

Professional eyelash extension adhesives can take anywhere from 4 to 24 hours to cure. Moisture speeds up the curing process, which actually makes for a weaker bond. That’s why your lash tech will always tell you to avoid showering or swimming immediately after you’ve had extensions.

Once that time passes, lash extensions are waterproof, and you can cry as much as you want. Be careful not to rub your eyes since that can damage the lashes.

If you’re using the Lilac St. DIY lashes, you don’t need to worry about wait times. Our lash adhesives cure quickly, so you can cry soon after applying a set.

How to Care For Your Eyelashes After Crying

Crying isn’t harmful to the lashes, but what you do when the tears show up does matter.

According to Dr. Boparai, the associated wiping of tears and eye rubbing can cause eyelashes to fall out. For that reason, it’s very important to avoid aggressively rubbing your eyes. Instead, you can dab at your eyes carefully with a soft cloth or tissue. If you wear makeup, consider removing it completely with a makeup remover.

Once you’re done crying, if your eyes are swollen or red, you can offer them some relief with a cold compress or a facial roller. Otherwise, care for your lashes just as you would normally by keeping them clean and detangled.

What Really Boosts Eyelash Growth

So if crying doesn’t help lashes grow, what will? There are many other ways to make eyelashes grow longer. Here are our favorite tips:

Avoid friction: Lashes are delicate. They can break or fall off easily when there’s too much friction, so avoid rubbing or touching them too much.
Gentle lash care: Use a gentle makeup remover, take mascara breaks, and sleep on your back are great ways to avoid lash shedding.
Nutrition & sleep: Help your body recover and grow better (including your lashes) by prioritizing healthy nutrition and enough sleep. A diverse diet rich in minerals and B-vitamins correlates with better lash growth.
Use a lash serum: Lash serums are made with ingredients that extend the lash growth cycle, which prevents shedding and allows your lashes to grow longer and denser. It’s by far the most effective way of improving lash growth.

Other Lash Boosting Tips

Even the most powerful lash growth remedies have their limits, but there are several cosmetic options that can help bridge the gap:

Use mascara: While frequent mascara usage can be damaging, it’s undeniable that nothing beats it for elongating the lashes in the short term. Use mascara when you need to impress!
DIY lash extensions: If you want even more lash drama without mascara, DIY lash extensions are great for elongating your lashes at home.
A lash lift: A lash lift doesn’t elongate the lashes but actively lifts them up, which works just as well to make them seem longer and more visible. It’s a salon treatment that lasts for 6 to 8 weeks.

FAQ

Do tears make your lashes longer?

No. Unfortunately, this is a myth. While tears help cleanse the lashes and lubricate the eyes, they have no lash-growing effects.

Does crying make your eyelashes grow faster?

No. Crying has no impact on the lash growth cycle, so it can’t make lashes grow faster.

Why do my eyelashes look longer after I cry?

Your lashes may look longer after you cry due to the moist sheen of your tears or because they absorb some of the moisture, which adds a little fullness. Both effects are temporary.

Can crying damage your eyelashes?

Crying itself probably won't damage your lashes, although excessive rubbing of the eyes may lead to some lash breakage and loss.

What is the best way to grow longer eyelashes naturally?

The best way to boost your lashes naturally is with a dedicated, natural lash serum that contains peptides or botanical extracts known to stimulate the hair follicle.

How long does it take for eyelashes to grow back if they fall out?

Lashes that fall out typically grow back within one to three months, aligning with the average eyelash life cycle.

Beauty without tears

Crying can be wonderfully cathartic every once in a while, and tear production is important for the overall health of your eyes. However, crying won’t help your lashes grow longer or fuller. It may temporarily give your lashes a sheen and fullness, but this is a temporary and purely cosmetic effect.

If you are interested in fuller, longer lashes, the best way to get there is through gentle care, a healthy lifestyle, and the help of a lash serum. It requires time, consistency, and patience, but in the meantime, cosmetic solutions like mascara or lash extensions can help. In other words, there’s no need to cry about it.

Explore the world of eyelash growth with Lilac St. and learn more articles:

Understanding Eyelash Regrowth: Do Eyelashes Grow Back Naturally?

Why Are My Eyelashes Falling Out? 14 Causes and Conditions.

The Truth Revealed: Does Mascara Make Your Eyelashes Fall Out?

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