One of the oldest warnings in the book of beauty says that “shaved eyebrows never grow back normally." Even the most seasoned razor veterans find their hands trembling when the blade hovers over either brow with no intention to shave. For some reason, consciously or subconsciously, we've all grown up with the idea that once you shave the eyebrow hair, under no circumstances will your eyebrows grow back. And if they do, well, you can just forget about words like 'symmetry' and 'contouring.'

But is there any truth to this? Absolutely not! If you happen to shave your eyebrow hair, your eyebrows will grow back. The better question would be – does eyebrow hair grow back to its original shape and size? And how long does the process take? This article dispels the ancient eyebrow myth and discusses everything you need to know about taking care of your beautiful brows.

Table of Contents

• Does eyebrow hair grow back normally?
• How quickly does eyebrow hair grow back?
• What can you do to speed up eyebrow growth?

Does eyebrow hair grow back normally?

Though it’s a rare look outside of Gen-Z and high fashion, shaving off eyebrows continues to catch on all over social media. It might seem like a risk, considering the importance of brows for facial expressions as well as protecting your eyes from debris and sweat, but once you know that brows can grow back, there’s no harm in having some fun with aesthetics.

However, the jury on whether your hair will grow back to its original shape, size, length, and thickness is still out. While some experimental studies have proven that shaved eyebrows do grow back to their usual characteristics, other experts believe that new hair post-shaving is coarse and blunt, resembling a stubble.

The study vouching for normal growth was conducted in 1999 and published in JAMA. Among the five participants who had a single brow shaven for the experiment, every person’s eyebrows were found to have regrown to their normal appearance. Such was the growth that neither the participants, nor observers, were able to notice any striking differences from the unshaved brows.

While the sample size of this research was too small to conclude whether shaving eyebrows is safe, it was able to confirm the quality of hair growth. On the other hand, many beauty experts warn that, once shaved, your eyebrow hair and eyebrow hair follicles won't be the same again. It might come back thicker, grow in patches, and worse, leave you with painful razor bumps if not done right. This is because, unlike waxing or tweezing, shaving is not hurting your hair follicles and it can’t remove your hair from the root.

But one thing’s for sure: the hair will come back, unless the eyebrow hair loss was due to certain medical conditions causing irreversible hair loss. 

How quickly does eyebrow hair grow back?

According to the JAMA study that we cited earlier, it takes four to six months on average for eyebrows to grow back after shaving. Another reason behind the myth of eyebrow hair not growing back might be the fact that it grows a tad slower than your scalp hair. In a day, your eyebrows can grow between 0.14 and 0.16 mm, while scalp hair can grow at the rate of 0.32 to 0.41 mm per day.

So, is it safe to shave your eyebrows? Technically, yes, as long as you do it with the utmost care. The skin on your face, especially the forehead region, is thinner than that of your body. That’s why your approach should be light and delicate. There are razors available in the market designed for brows, which are a safer and represent a more hygienic alternative to the razor you use to shave your arms and legs.

What can you do to speed up eyebrow growth?

The growth cycle of eyebrow hair after shaving or hair loss is affected by various factors like genetics, age, and hormones. If you want to make your eyebrows grow faster, consulting a dermatologist or hair specialist will give you a more personalized idea of some measures you can take.

To speed up the process at home, the first thing you need to take care of is your diet. The composition of hair strands is mostly protein, so make sure your daily protein intake is moderate to high. Vitamins A, B, C, and D are also stimulants for faster hair growth, so don’t skip out on the green leaves!

Apart from diet and supplements, you can also opt for topical solutions. Castor oil, for instance, has been proven to be an effective remedy for slow growth or hair loss. Castor oil can stimulate the hair growth cycle due to the ricinoleic acid in its composition. It moisturizes the hair, prevents hair loss due to breakage, and promotes faster hair growth. Here’s my favorite castor oil recommendation for stronger, thicker, and quicker hair growth:

WOW Skin Science Castor Seed Oil is 100% pure, undiluted and cold-pressed from castor seeds. The manufacturing process avoids heat and chemical solvents like hexane, giving you a natural, high-quality product with no harmful mineral oil or silicones. Because it’s rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids, along with Vitamin E, it helps create the healthy and holistic environment your eyebrows need to grow. Simply massage a few drops of castor oil on your eyebrows before bedtime and let it work overnight. You can also use castor oil to improve the overall health of your eyelashes, lips, nails, and scalp. 

Or opt for onion oil-rich products that are proven to be helpful in quick hair regrowth. 

Browse the WOW website, and find your perfect essential oil now.

Sources:

• https://www.byrdie.com/eyebrow-shaving-1716797#do-eyebrows-grow-back-after-shaving
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-red-light-district/201808/do-eyebrows-grow-back
• https://www.healthline.com/health/how-fast-will-my-eyebrows-grow-back#eyebrow-growth
• https://www.allure.com/story/shaving-eyebrows-trend-expert-advice
• https://bestlifeonline.com/never-shave-eyebrows/
• https://www.beautycrew.com.au/do-eyebrows-grow-back
• https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/a22778616/do-eyebrows-grow-back/