The Tamesis
Chances are, your eyebrows have been through a lot. Whether it’s ’90s over-plucking or just a bad salon experience, getting thicker brows can feel boring. Here, experts round up six tips for getting thicker brows—think Lily Collins or Zendaya levels—without microblading or transplants.
put down the tweezers
While this may seem obvious, the first step is to stop using tweezers. Chanel brow artist Jimena Garcia explains that this will bring all of your brows to the same stage of the growth cycle.
“During the growth phase, you can keep it neat by trimming longer hairs rather than plucking them,” she says, adding that “a bit of brow gel can also help tame any unruly behavior.”
Garcia also recommends using this growth time to try another part of your beauty routine. “Try a bold red lip, try out those bangs you’ve always wanted, or master chic cat eyeliner,” she advises.
Avoid harsh hair removal methods and exfoliants
Rachel Westbay, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical in New York City, recommends avoiding aggressive waxing and threading, as well as harsh exfoliating products. These can include retinoids, AHAs (such as glycolic acid and lactic acid), BHAs (such as salicylic acid), and mechanical exfoliants.
She explains that the skin around the eyebrows is thinner and more fragile than the skin on the scalp. So it’s important to focus not only on the health of your hair follicles, but also on the skin in which they grow, she says, “because chronic inflammation inherently exacerbates thinning.”
watch your diet
“Don’t underestimate the inside-out approach,” Garcia said. Dr. Westbay agrees, noting that consuming enough protein is important to maintaining healthy hair since hair is primarily made up of protein.
Additionally, “iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional factors leading to thinning hair, including in the eyebrows and scalp,” says Dr. Westerby. (Some iron-rich foods you can add to your diet include spinach, nuts, eggs, red meat, and dark chocolate.)
Other factors include zinc, vitamin D and certain B vitamin deficiencies, so prioritizing a balanced diet is key.
Pay attention to the ingredients in eyebrow serum
Ingredients in eyebrow growth products “are often designed to extend the growth phase, reduce breakage and improve support of the hair follicles,” says Dr. Westerby. “That’s why you’ll often find brow serums containing ingredients like peptides [and] Conditioners such as panthenol. “
For those unfamiliar with peptides, Dr. Westerby describes them as “signaling molecules,” adding, “They help communicate with the cells surrounding the hair follicle and help support a healthier environment for hair growth.” She noted that some peptides can help stimulate the production of keratin (the protein that hair is made of), while others can extend the hair’s growth phase. (Her favorite is Olaplex Browbond Building Serum.)
If you’re focused on hair growth, the brow products you use should be gentler, formulated with “less alcohol, less fragrance, milder preservatives and a lighter delivery system,” says Dr. Westby.
Condition eyebrows
Castor oil is often thought of as an ingredient for hair growth; however, Dr. Westby says it’s actually more of a moisturizer. She explains that it makes your brows look healthier, shinier, and softer, and can help make your brows look fuller by conditioning and reducing breakage.
The oil is an ingredient in what Garcia calls “the magic blend,” working with sweet almond oil and vitamin E to nourish and condition brows. She says it can be used once a week to up to three times a week, depending on how much conditioning your hair needs.
