Accidentally cut your lashes? Intentionally looking to shorten them? Either way, you probably want to know if your eyelashes grow back after getting cut. The answer is straightforward: Yes.
However, how long it’ll take your lashes to grow back depends on a few factors, as we’ll discuss in this post. Lashes are hair, so just like the hair on your head, they eventually grow back after they’ve been trimmed.
In this guide, we’ll explain how the eyelash growth cycle works and what role it plays in lashes growing back. We’ll also give a few tips for growing back your lashes, and finish with a few words of caution if you plan to get trimming.
How Eyelashes Grow
Before we dive into what happens when you cut your lashes, it’s useful to understand how lash growth works. Your lashes grow out of follicles in the eyelid, in the same way that hair on your head grows out of follicles in the scalp.
Their main job is to protect the eyes from dust and other micro-particles, but they also help keep the eyes moist by triggering blinking and impacting the flow of air around the cornea. They also have a big role in aesthetics, as prominent lashes make the eyes seem larger and more inviting.
From genetics to age and diet, there are many factors that control how your lashes move through their lifecycle. There are also medications and topical treatments that can help extend the growth phase for longer lashes.
Understanding the Lash Growth Cycle
All hair on the human body has a lifecycle that consists of three main stages:
Anagen is the growth phase, which starts when a new hair begins to grow. During this phase, the root of the hair is attached at the base of the follicle.
Around 50% of lashes will be in this phase at any given time, growing anywhere from 0.12 to 0.14 mm per day. The eyelash anagen phase normally lasts between 4 to 10 weeks. The longer it is, the longer the lashes will grow.
The catagen is the degradation phase, when the connection between the hair and the follicle degrades and growth stops.
Finally, the telogen phase is the rest phase, when the hair simply sits in the follicle unattached until it sheds and a new lifecycle begins.
Why Do Eyelashes Grow Back After Being Cut?
Cutting the eyelashes doesn’t impact the hair follicle, so your lashes will grow back eventually. Just like the hair on your head grows back after a haircut or the hair on your body grows back after shaving, cut lashes also grow back.
This is great news if you’ve cut your lashes by accident, as a bit of patience is all it takes.
The cut lashes in the anagen phase will just continue growing for as long as they stay in the anagen phase. Lashes in the catagen or telogen phases will stay short until they reach the end of their lifecycle, at which point they’ll shed, and new lashes will grow in their place.
How Long Does It Take for Eyelashes to Grow Back After Being Cut?
It will take your lashes at least 6 to 8 weeks to grow back. Each lash will grow back at a slightly different rate depending on where it was in its lifecycle at the time of cutting. However, your lashline will only return to its full glory once most of your hair follicles go through a full lifecycle, shedding the previously cut lashes and growing brand new lashes.
Fortunately, because each lash sheds at a different time, this is a gradual process. Your lashes will look fairly natural (but shorter than normal) just a few weeks after cutting. The cut lashes in the anagen phase will continue growing, while resting lashes will remain short until they shed, and new lashes can grow.
Helping Your Lashes Grow Back
To give your lashes the best chance of success in growing back, make sure your lifestyle is as healthy as possible, with a diverse diet rich in proteins and micronutrients, and enough sleep.
You can also use a lash serum with ingredients that extend the growth phase, but remember that your lash growth will return to normal once you stop. Aside from that, keep your lashes clean. Avoid pulling on them or touching them, and consider sleeping with a curved sleep mask to protect them from friction.
If you’d like to camouflage the fact that you’ve cut your lashes, temporary lash extensions like our Lilac St. lash clusters can make all the difference. These DIY lash extensions are easy to apply, but they stay put for multiple days at a time. You can apply clusters only where you’ve trimmed your lashes, or all along the lash line.
Are There Any Risks to Cutting Your Eyelashes?
Yes, there are several risks to cutting your eyelashes, starting with the risk that you’ll injure your eyes while trimming. It’s never a smart idea to get close to your eyes with a sharp object.
Beyond that, you could introduce bacteria to the eyes or eyelids if you use unclean scissors. If your scissors aren’t sharp enough, you could also pull on the lashes and irritate your lash line.
For these reasons, we recommend that you don’t cut your eyelashes. If you’re still intent on trimming them, there are ways to reduce (but not eliminate) the risks.
Pick up brow safety scissors with a rounded tip, and disinfect them thoroughly before using. If trimming by yourself, make sure your grip is steady. Try to eliminate all potential distractions or interruptions. Avoid doing this if you have allergies or are feeling sick, as sudden movements from sneezing or coughing could lead to injury.
Bottom Line
Sure, your lashes will grow back after cutting, but it’ll take a bit of time. The exact number of weeks for regrowth largely depends on your individual lash growth cycle. As you wait for your lashes to grow back, take excellent care of them and of yourself. Soon enough, they’ll be back to their usual length.
