The amount of time it takes for your brow hairs to be restored to (some kind of) their former glory depends on the person, of course. Just as some lucky people can grow out their misshapen bangs within weeks and others have to wait months, the same rules apply to eyebrows — brow growth is hair growth, after all. Madron says that she’s seen “major brow revolutions” — that is, a total overhaul of the fullness and shape of the brows — take up to a year.
If you’re having trouble growing back your set after more than a few months or noticing your brows seem to be getting thinner, not thicker, there are several factors that could be at play. As with the hair on your head, aging and stress can result in thinning of eyebrow hair. That said, if thinning comes on suddenly or you notice more than a few fallen hairs at a time, you should check in with a medical professional, as it could be a sign of something more serious. “Some underlying medical conditions may also contribute to eyebrow thinning, such as thyroid disease, anemia, malnutrition, and underlying autoimmune conditions,” Dr. Zeichner says.
Also keep in mind that if you’ve been the type to pluck away over the years in pursuit of thin brows, some parts of your arches may simply never grow back: Overplucking can cause permanent damage to the follicle to the point where regrowth is no longer possible. In such cases, microblading may be the best option to achieve fuller-looking brows: The tattoo-like treatment involves using ultra-fine needles and semipermanent pigment to etch hairlike strokes directly into the skin in your brow area.
Do eyebrow growth serums work and should you use them?
Like any beauty product, the efficacy of an eyebrow growth serum — most of which have an applicator similar to that of a brow gel or mascara — depends on how diligently you use it. “[In my experience], brow serums do work,” says Robin Evans, an eyebrow specialist based in New York City and New London, Connecticut. “However, the growth that they promote will fall out after discontinued use. Keep that in mind. It’s all about commitment.”
That said, the brow-enhancing effects of RevitaBrow Advanced Eyebrow Conditioner have been proven in an independent clinical study during which participants applied the formula over their brows daily for eight weeks. (Also worth mentioning: The eyebrow serum has also earned more than 10 Allure Best of Beauty awards.) “I’ve used [RevitaBrow] personally for over a decade and suggest it for my clients as well,” adds Madron. “I also use Nutrafol supplements [backed by a third-party, placebo-controlled study] for healthy lashes and brows.” (Note: You should always consult your doctor prior to taking a new supplement for any purpose.)
According to New Jersey-based cosmetic chemist Ginger King, brow serums that actually work do so “by stimulating the hair follicle health,” and suggests reading the ingredient label to be sure your serum has some form of peptides, “which a consumer can generally recognize by the wording ‘peptide’ on the ingredient list.” Dr. Zeichner also highly suggests using topical brow serums that contain peptides. “Peptides help stimulate the activity of the hair follicle to give greater length and thickness of eyebrow hairs,” he says.