How To Grow Eyelashes: 6 Science-Backed Ways For Bambi-Like Flutters, From Derms

While a coat or three of mascara can help your lashes look fluttery and Bambi-like, there's just something about naturally long eyelashes that gains a certain gravitas. It's not just about the aesthetics: Lashes wilt and snap off as you age, which goes hand-in-hand with dryness and breakage.

Meaning, encouraging length simultaneously keeps your lashes stronger and healthier, too. And who doesn't want that? 

Technically, there isn't any hard science to back up any castor oil claims (for both lash and general hair growth, it turns out). But as board-certified dermatologist Ava Shamban, M.D., founder of SKINFIVE, has told us about castor oil for lashes, "There is no denying its anecdotal powers and prowess." Its moisturizing and antioxidant capabilities have made it a beloved staple for years in both Ayurvedic and Black households, and even if it doesn't promote growth, per se, it can certainly keep the lashes you do have nourished and healthy. "It is super hydrating, so lashes don't become brittle and dry or break, which happens as we age," Shamban follows. 

Did you know your eyelashes are actually tiny, delicate hairs? Yep, those fine flutters are structurally made up of the same proteins as the hair on your head—keratin perhaps being the most noteworthy.

And while lashes do grow in on their own (assuming there's no scarring of the tiny follicles), supplying your body with the right nutrients can enhance the process.

Specifically, to build keratin, your body needs several types of amino acids, many of which are part of collagen peptides1. That's why research points to collagen and biotin supplements for hair growth, as ingesting both can help support your natural levels of these essential ingredients.

In fact, one small study showed that women with thinning hair had significant regrowth when supplementing with biotin as compared to those given a placebo.

A product that makes lashes look fuller and supports healthy growth? Sign us up. There's a growing number of serum-infused mascaras on the market, all of which coat your lashes in healthy, lengthening actives while sporting pigment. Conditioning your lashes by day (and mastering a dolled-up look, while you're at it) has never been easier.

Just like your scalp can amass buildup, your lashes can accumulate gunk as well. Eye makeup, mucus, and oil can stick in those lashes (even eyelash glue, if you're partial to extensions)—too much buildup, and it could limit lash growth, even causing a flutter or two to fall out. Your lashes stem from tiny follicles, remember? Keeping them clear and clean is key for healthy hair growth. 

Here's the final ticket: To encourage growth, it's important to keep the hairs you already have strong. Healthy, thriving hairs tend to look fuller, no? Of course, keeping those hairs happy includes all the methods mentioned above, but you'll also want to do your best to avoid unnecessary stress.