Women tend to think of long lashes as a flirting mechanism. They’re alluring and feminine, and great for a sexy wink. Now that’s downright dangerous.
Today we’ll teach your how to get longer eyelashes, so you can be your own version of a dangerous woman.
How to get Longer Eyelashes
While we’re somewhat limited by our genetics, there are ways to get longer eyelashes than what you’re currently working with.
Today we’re only going to explore ways to actually make your lashes longer. If you want to know how to make them appear longer, read our blog on applying mascara correctly for longer-looking lashes everyday (click here). Let’s dive into our list:
1. Encourage eyelash growth for longer eyelashes
There are two solid ways to get longer lashes in just 6-12 weeks: either with a prescription or non-prescription lash enhancer. Choosing the right one takes some effort, so we’re doing a deeper dive on this step, so you can be an informed consumer.
Prescription Lash Enhancers
Prescription lash enhancers use prostaglandin—a hormone analog—that your body produces on its own to stimulate the process of hair growth. When applied topically to the lashes, it will lengthen the growth phase of lashes, resulting in longer lashes. Two major complaints about such prescription products are that while they’re great for lengthening lashes, they aren’t great at increasing the number of lashes, leading to a “spidery” lash look (which is in season! Actually.. strangely.)
The other complaint are the side effects Prescription lash enhancers come with the side effects of darkening irises (blue and green eyes can turn brown), and darkening the skin around the eyes…permanently. The biggest prescription lash enhancer company in the US was brought under fire in 2009 for understating the frequency of these side effects in their marketing and literature (read here). Oops.
Non-prescription lash enhancers
Non-prescription enhancers currently use either peptides or essential fatty acids. Many popular non-prescription products that use peptides were also brought under fire by the FDA in 2011 for illegally using prostanglandin in their formulations, presumably because they were sourcing their formulations from China (read here).
Our WINK lash & brow oil uses essential fatty acids, which have been shown to stimulate natural prostaglandin production in individuals with a deficiency (click here to read more). While it’s unclear if your natural prostaglandin production levels can match those you would reach when applying prostaglandin topically with a prescription product, it is very clear that WINK does not carry the same color-changing side effects as its prescription counterparts.
2. Massage is the key
Besides feeding your lashes what they need, another way to encourage growth is to bring blood to the area. Your blood keeps everything moving and healing. When heat and/or massage are applied to wounded areas, the increased blood flow helps those areas help faster.
Similarly, increased blood flow to an area with hair follicles can result in increase growth. Like scalp massage, eyelid massage can stimulate lash growth. We’ll admit that it feels a little weird, but it’s worth doing for 5 minutes a day (it’s free, after all!).
3. Feed your lashes from inside
Akin to feeding lashes on the outside is feeding them from the inside, by making sure your body is not deficient in any lash-building vitamins. Eyelashes need keratin, protein, vitamin E, biotin, and essential fatty acids to grow.
Of course, vitamins work in tandem, not solo, so it’s important that your body is also getting it’s fill of Vitamin A, C, B vitamins, D and K. That’s a lot to remember. Our suggestion? Go heavy on the fatty-acid-rich foods (like nuts, seeds, coconut and salmon) and get more than your recommended amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables, and you’ll be just fine. You’d be amazed how much is packed in your leafy greens.
If you feel inclined to take a vitamin, reach for a 5000 mcg biotin daily and add a tablespoon or two of chia seed or flax seeds (seed or oil form is fine) to your smoothie or salad.
4. Remove makeup carefully
If you want longer lashes, you’re going to have to let them grow to their full potential, not nip them in the bud. This means removing your makeup carefully and gently every day. Here’s a blog on how to make a high-end, lash-friendly makeup remover at home (click here).
5. Treat them like gold
For longer lashes, treat them like they are your most important beauty asset. Don’t tug or pull at them. Eat well. Apply a natural growth serum (like WINK). Condition them with WINK or another oil blend. Use gentle makeup, and apply it correctly. If you wear falsies, don’t rip them off; remove them correctly.
If you mistreat your lashes, they won’t last forever. Treat them like a non-renewable resource starting right now. ?
Conclusion: How to Get Longer Eyelashes
Now that you have long, fabulous lashes, it’s time to show them off. Learn how to curl them correctly, so they’ll be looking their best—with or without makeup! (click here).
