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.
Table of Contents
- How Eyelashes Grow?
- Why Do Eyelashes Grow Back After Being Cut?
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How Long Does It Take for Eyelashes to Grow Back After Being Cut?
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Do Eyelashes Grow Back If Pulled Out from the Root?
- Helping Your Lashes Grow Back
- Will Cutting Your Eyelashes Make Them Grow Back Longer or Thicker?
- Are There Any Risks to Cutting Your Eyelashes?
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.
What If You Accidentally Cut Your Eyelashes?
If you accidentally cut your eyelashes, don't worry — they'll grow back. Cutting doesn't damage the follicle, so the natural growth cycle continues uninterrupted. The freshly cut lashes that were in the active growth (anagen) phase will keep growing, and any that were in the resting phase will simply shed and be replaced as part of the normal cycle.
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.
What If You Accidentally Cut Your Eyelashes?
If you accidentally cut your eyelashes, don't worry, they'll grow back. Cutting doesn't damage the follicle, so the natural growth cycle continues uninterrupted. The freshly cut lashes that were in the active growth (anagen) phase will keep growing, and any that were in the resting phase will simply shed and be replaced as part of the normal cycle.
How Long Does It Take for Eyelashes to Grow Back After Being Cut?
Cut eyelashes typically grow back to full length within 6 to 8 weeks, though it can take up to 16 weeks for the lash line to fully restore. The timing depends on where each lash was in its growth cycle when it was cut: lashes in the anagen (growth) phase keep growing, while lashes in the catagen or telogen phase stay short until they shed and regrow as new lashes.
Because each lash is at a different stage of the cycle at any given time, you'll see gradual restoration, not a single moment of full recovery. Your lash line will look fairly natural (just shorter than usual) within a few weeks, with full restoration taking 6 to 16 weeks depending on your individual cycle and overall health.
Do Eyelashes Grow Back If Pulled Out from the Root?
Yes, eyelashes grow back if pulled out from the root in most cases, but it takes longer than cut lashes. Plucking or pulling forces the follicle to restart the entire growth cycle, so regrowth takes 6 weeks to 3 months on average, compared to 6 to 8 weeks for cut lashes.
When you pull a lash out, the follicle has to enter a new anagen (growth) phase before a new lash can begin to form. If you happened to pull a lash near the end of its telogen (resting) phase, regrowth is faster; only a few weeks. But if the lash was actively growing, you can wait up to 4 months before a replacement appears.
Repeated pulling can damage the follicle. In rare cases, follicles that are damaged through repeated trauma (such as from trichotillomania, a condition involving the urge to pull out one's own hair) may stop producing lashes entirely. If you find yourself frequently pulling out lashes, consult a healthcare provider.
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.
Beyond diet, three habits speed up natural lash regrowth:
Use a conditioning lash serum nightly. Serums with peptides or biotin can extend the anagen (growth) phase, helping new lashes grow longer before they shed. Apply along the upper lash line before bed.
Be gentle with the lash line. Avoid rubbing your eyes, tugging at lashes during makeup removal, and using harsh waterproof mascara during the regrowth period. Sleep on your back, or use a curved sleep mask, to minimize friction.
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.
Will Cutting Your Eyelashes Make Them Grow Back Longer or Thicker?
No, cutting your eyelashes will not make them grow back longer or thicker, this is a popular myth with no scientific basis. Lash length is determined by your genetics and the duration of the anagen (growth) phase, neither of which is affected by trimming.
The myth likely comes from confusion with body hair, where cut hairs feel coarser at the tip because the tapered end has been blunted. The hair itself isn't actually thicker — it just feels that way. The same applies to lashes: a freshly cut lash may briefly look fuller because the natural taper has been removed, but the lash itself doesn't grow back any longer or stronger than it would have otherwise.
If you want longer or fuller lashes, the proven options are conditioning lash serums (which extend the anagen phase) and lash extensions or clusters that add immediate length without affecting the natural lash.
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.
