Eyebrows are one of the most important parts of our faces and rightfully so. They frame our eyes, illustrate our expressions, complement our hair, and styling them is an art in itself.
Some people struggle with grooming their naturally thick brow hairs, while others struggle to try and encourage their growth.
To help you better understand the eyebrow growth cycle, we explain hair growth phases and their timeframes, as well as how to get the most out of your natural brow hairs. So, let’s get started!
What Is the Eyebrow Growth Cycle?
The brow growth cycle refers to the inherent timeline of eyebrow renewal. It’s a completely natural process that’s common to all of us, although individual experiences can slightly vary.
Eyebrow hairs go through basically the same cycle as any other hair on the human body. They emerge from their follicles, grow for a while, stop growing when they reach their optimal length, and stay that way for a time. Then the body sheds them and grows new hair.
It’s important to remember that our eyebrows don’t have a uniform cycle: each individual brow hair is on its own timeline. That’s why we typically don’t notice them shedding. Since they aren’t in the same stage at the same moment, we only ever lose a brow hair or two at a time.
What Are the Eyebrow Growth Phases?
The eyebrow growth cycle consists of three distinct phases:
- the Anagen phase,
- the Catagen phase,
- and the Telogen phase.
Since everyone’s body is unique, the exact duration and rhythm of these phases are a bit different for each individual. However, every person goes through the same steps overall, so here’s a closer look at each.
Anagen Phase
The Anagen phase is also known as the active growth phase. The hair follicles in the eyebrows begin to produce new cells which become a hair shaft. It extends outwards, becomes a brow hair, and keeps growing for a while.
The length of the Anagen phase determines the maximum potential length of your eyebrows. In most people, it lasts anywhere between 4 to 8 weeks.
Catagen Phase
The Catagen phase is a relatively brief transitional period, also known as the degradation phase. In this period, the new brow has reached its full mature size at which it will stay until the end of its cycle.
The hair follicles begin to shrink, cutting off the hair’s nutrient supply. Due to this, the hair growth stops, and the follicles prepare for the shedding process.
Telogen Phase
The final step of the brow growth cycle, the Telogen phase is commonly known as the resting phase.
During this period, the old hair, which no longer has any access to nutrients for growth, rests in the follicle while new cells begin to form beneath it. When the follicle is ready for a new hair shaft to emerge, the old hair falls out, and the cycle restarts with the Anagen phase.
What Is the Average Eyebrow Growth Cycle Time?
On average, the entire eyebrow growth cycle takes around 4-6 months. Factors that can influence the duration of each brow growth phase include:
- Age
- Genetics
- Overall health
- Skin and brow sensitivity
- Diet
- Grooming routines
- Hormonal fluctuations
However, it’s essential to note that individual timelines vary between people. It’s not uncommon for some people to experience brow growth cycles that are shorter than 4 months or longer than 6 months.
How Does the Eyebrow Hair Growth Cycle Affect Brow Treatments?
Understanding the eyebrow growth cycle is crucial when it comes to brow treatments such as tweezing, threading, waxing, or transplantation.
These treatments aim to enhance the appearance of the eyebrows by removing hair or (in the case of transplants) by adding hair from elsewhere on the body to the eyebrow area.
In each of those cases, the specific rhythm of your brow growth cycle will affect the success of the treatment and the duration of the results.
Since each hair follicle undergoes its own growth cycle, it’s important to be patient and avoid any kind of excessive removal of hair.
Likewise, if you’re considering eyebrow transplants, remember that the growth cycle applies to all hair. You have to be familiar with your original brow cycle rhythms in order to be able to monitor the differences and notice any potential indication of an eyebrow transplant gone wrong.
Image source: Freepik
How Do Brow Growth Serums Affect the Eyebrow Growth Cycle?
Brow growth serums are a popular and promising treatment option for people who would like to enhance the thickness and fullness of their eyebrows. They’re also often recommended for helping brows grow back after excessive grooming.
These serums are formulated with ingredients that provide nourishment to the hair follicles, helping to improve their overall health and strength. By doing so, brow growth serums have the potential to positively impact the eyebrow growth cycle.
The way they work is that the active ingredients can help extend the Anagen phase, which is when active growth occurs.
By prolonging this phase, brow growth serums create an environment that encourages continuous growth and prevents premature shedding of eyebrow hair. This might result in improved eyebrow thickness and length over time.
It’s important to note that the effectiveness of brow growth serums can vary between individuals. There are two reasons for this. First, as we mentioned, everyone’s hair growth follows a different pattern. Second, each person’s responses to these products are unique.
Additionally, noticeable results typically require consistent and long-term use. Invest the time and effort to choose the best eyebrow growth serum for your particular needs.
To Sum It Up
Understanding the dynamics of the eyebrow growth cycle is crucial both for brow technicians and DIY brow enthusiasts.
The cycle consists of three phases: the Anagen phase (active growth), Catagen phase (transitional), and Telogen phase (resting). Each brow hair follows its own timeline, so they aren’t in the same phase at the same time.
On average, the complete cycle takes 4 to 6 months, but individual timelines vary due to factors like age, genetics, health, and hormones.
Cover image source: Freepik
