If you’ve been diligently using eyelash serums in hopes for longer, thicker lashes but don’t seem to see any results, do not lose heart! They may not have completed an entire lash growth cycle, and you may need to simply wait a bit longer. In other words: be patient.

Hair follicles are rapidly dividing cells, and consistent use of an eyelash serum is proven to help lashes grow longer and thicker. You may be wondering how long it takes for your eyelashes to grow. However, this depends on the different phases of the lash growth cycle and which phase your lashes are currently in.

The Anagen Phase

The Anagen phase usually lasts 4-6 weeks and is also known as the growth phase. It’s considered the most important one when using lash serums, as this is when lashes grow to their full length and can absorb the Young and Lush Eyelash Enhancement Serum ingredients best.

The Catagen Phase

Known as the transition phase, the Catagen phase lasts around 2-3 weeks. During this time, the eyelashes stop growing but are not yet shedding for a new lash growth cycle. Eyelashes pulled out during this phase can disrupt the cycle and risk permanently damaging the hair follicle.

The Telogen Phase

Taking up to 3 months, the Telogen phase is the resting phase. During this third and final stage of the eyelash life cycle, the hair stops growing and prepares to shed to start the eyelash growth cycle anew.

Common Lash Care Mistakes

Many women make these common lash care mistakes that can delay or halt lash growth:

1. Going to bed without removing makeup. - Not properly removing makeup before going to bed is not only bad for your skin but also bad for your lashes. Mascara makes eyelashes stiff to hold them in place, which can cause them to break or be pulled out while you sleep.
2. Aggressively removing your eye makeup. - Rubbing your eyes while removing makeup can easily cause lashes to fall out (not to mention will cause wrinkles on the delicate skin around your eyes). Instead, try gently pressing a cotton round soaked in makeup remover on your closed eye, waiting up to one minute before gently pulling away to loosen the makeup.
3. Clamping your lashes too hard. - Another common curling mistake is clamping the lashes too hard, which can damage and weaken them, causing them to break off more easily.
4. Ripping off your false lashes. - If you’re using false lashes, it’s important that you remove them as gently as you applied them. Ripping them off your lash line can easily pull out your actual lashes. So instead, loosen the lash glue with a cotton round soaked in eye makeup remover for at least ten seconds before pulling the falsies off gently.

Reasons Why Your Lashes May be Falling Out

Sometimes thinning lashes can be an indicator of an underlying health condition. Common ones include:

• Alopecia - If you only have a few eyelashes or none at all, you may be suffering from alopecia. This autoimmune condition inhibits hair growth on your body, head, or face. Scientists believe that alopecia causes the body to attack its own hair follicles, causing full, partial, or episodic hair loss. Unfortunately, there are currently no cures for alopecia, but a doctor can prescribe treatments that may help hair regrow more quickly.
• Chronic inflammatory diseases - In chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, the body attacks itself, affecting the healthy cells and tissues in the joints, organs, and blood vessels. Hair and lash loss can sometimes be a sign of these diseases.
• Thyroid Conditions - The thyroid is a gland in the neck that controls the body's hormones. Common conditions of imbalanced hormones are hyperthyroidism (an overload of hormones) and hypothyroidism (too few hormones), which both can cause lash loss, in addition to weight, heart rate, and blood pressure changes.
• Blepharitis - A condition that primarily affects people of Western European descent with fair-skinned, pink-toned complexions, blepharitis clogs oil glands near the base of the eyelashes, which can lead to chronic inflammation and follicle dysfunction, therefore stopping lash growth. Good eyelid hygiene can help it clear up as well as a visit to an eye doctor.

How Lash Serums Can Stimulate Growth

Growing is only part of the equation if you want long luscious lashes: you also want to make sure your lashes grow longer, stronger, and thicker. For that to happen, you need to strengthen your lashes to prevent them from breaking prematurely. That’s where the Young and Lush Eyelash Enhancement serum comes in: it helps with growth and health by giving your eyelashes the natural ingredients they need. To ensure your lash serum contains active ingredients that will make your lashes grow thicker and longer, it should include:

• Active ingredients, including peptides, minerals, and natural stimulants
• Stem cells of natural fruits or vegetables
• Biotin to improve eyelash health and promote growth

When serums are applied, at least once daily, they help strengthen eyelashes at each step of the growth cycle. Even when lashes are shed, hair follicles treated with serums are stronger and healthier, ensuring thicker and longer eyelash regrowth. Using a serum like the Young and Lush Eyelash Enhancement serum is the first step to healthier lashes.