Thinning Brows: Why They Happen & What You Can Do About It
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First things first, what causes thinning eyebrows in the first place?
“In older women, thinner sparser brows can often be caused by over plucking at a younger age. When we over pluck our brows, they take a very long time to grow back – this is especially true if you plucked them from the centre. Likewise, hair loss can occur due to trauma, but in older women, it is often a hormonal effect and, unfortunately, a natural part of the ageing process. The hair follicles above your eyes get thinner and finer with age – just like they do on your scalp. Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to boost their appearance.”
So, if over plucking is your problem, how can you now counteract the effects?
“Growing back your brow hairs can be challenging – especially as we grow older. Try not to get too pluck-happy and always leave the parameters of your brows clear so that you aren’t tempted to take out the hairs that make up your core shape. The middle of your brows will always take the longest to grow back and they can stop growing altogether if you’re not careful. If you want to re-stimulate growth, try nourishing products like oils – both castor and almond have been known for centuries for their hair growth benefits. Likewise, I advocate vitamin D or biotin supplements to encourage extra hairs.”
What about natural thinning, what are some simple ways to prevent it?
“As mentioned above, natural thinning is hard to counteract. I would advise leaving them alone altogether in terms of trimming and plucking. Both treatments will just weaken any hairs you have left at the root, likely causing them to stop coming back altogether. Instead, try using nourishing products that keep brows soft and glossy. Rosemary oil is another great ingredient for boosting growth – BBB London’s Nourishing Oil is brimming with it to strengthen and condition hairs from the root to the tip. You can also try other growth serums which use active ingredients to encourage growth. RapidBrow is well worth trying for speedy and visible growth.”
Aside from temporary growth stimulators, what offers more permanent results?
“Tinting is one of the quickest ways to achieve a thicker, natural-looking brow that lasts for longer than a few days. This can be very youthful when done right, too. To prolong the effects, avoid the sun and don’t use stripping skincare. It’s especially effective for those with light or grey-toned eyebrows. Brow lamination is another treatment I recommend to those who are a bit older – especially if your brow hairs are wayward or prone to sticking outwards. The treatment works to redirect and set brow hairs into your desired shape so that you get the most fullness out of your natural shape. Depending on your brow concerns, the lamination process – which is like perming hair – can give quite dramatic results but in a non-invasive way. This includes straightening and smoothing thinning brows, while also giving them a thicker appearance and manipulating any gaps. Lamination can allow you to have the appearance of an illustrious, fluffy brow, even if you don’t have much to begin with. Alternatively, if you’re looking for something with much more of a permanent feel, consider microblading. The technique consists of creating fine, hair-like strokes into the skin with a hand-held tool, which is then filled with pigment. As it’s such a precise technique, you get a very natural finish that lasts for months on end. Ideal for those looking to cover gaps, define or fill in over-plucked brows long term.”
When it comes to products, should anything be avoided as we get older?
“As we age, it’s important to avoid going too heavy on the brows. It can be tempting and seen as a quick fix to add bulk, but too much darkness is hard to pull off. You want to keep things quite soft but have enough colour to bring out your eyes. An exact shade match to your brow hair is fine, or a shade that has a slightly stronger pigment to bring out your natural hair colour. More than shade, it’s important you consider texture, too. For example, gels are best for offering a subtle amount of colour to brows as they only coat the hairs, whereas pencils and pomades are ideal for a more defined look and to fill in any gaps.”
Finally, as lockdown has only just ended, it’s not easy to get an appointment. What do you advise?
“If thinning of the brows or lack of hair volume is bothering you, and you can’t wait, I’d advise you book an online consultation. Not only will an expert be able to tell you the best treatment options for your individual needs, they’ll also assess your issues and give you their unbiased expertise. Try playing with products, too. From pencils, to pens, pomades and powders, there are plenty of ways you can add definition to your brows naturally – practice makes perfect, so use this time to experiment with what works best for you.”
Try: Virtual Brow Appointments at Nails & Brows Mayfair
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