How to Make Eyebrows Grow

Waiting it Out

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.

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.

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. 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.

Stimulating Growth

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. 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.

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.

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: Walnuts, avocados, and olive oil Carrots, mangos, and sweet potatoes Lean meat, salmon, and other fish Leafy greens like spinach and kale

Styling Your Brows in the Meantime

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. 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.

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.

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.

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. 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.