Do Eyelashes Grow Back After Lash Extensions?

If you find yourself in the unenviable position of asking, “Do eyelashes grow back after lash extensions?” – it’s fair to say you’ve probably had a run-in with an unskilled lash technician.

And that sucks because when you go in for lash extensions, you can’t stop thinking about the gorgeous, fluttery fringe of lashes that’s going to frame your eyes and how pretty they’ll make you feel.

You do all your research, find a technician who seems capable, pay for the procedure, and…the result isn’t quite what you expected.

But the worst part is not even the way they look when they’re fresh – it’s that they’re glued wrong, and they take your natural lashes with them when they fall.

It’s an unmitigated disaster and now you’re scrambling to see what can be done – will eyelashes grow back after lash extensions? Will your eyes be bald forever? Should you be looking into eyelash implants?

Thankfully, it’s not quite so dire. Your lashes will grow back – let’s see how long you have to wait, and what you can do about it in the meantime!

Why Did Your Lashes Fall Out?

This is one of the issues that creates all the misconceptions about eyelash extensions and how bad they supposedly are for your natural lashes.

With a normal, proper application, your lash extensions should not affect your natural lashes in any way. Proper extension application is done on top of your natural lash (typically one extension on one natural lash, but if your lashes are thicker, they may be able to support two or three extensions on one lash). 

However, if the application is done the wrong way, you may end up with your natural lashes glued together in clumps with the extensions on top.

Not only will they not look the best, but when the extensions do fall out, they take your natural lashes with them, leaving you with uneven lashes. 

Do Eyelashes Grow Back After Lash Extensions?

At this point, you may be a little worried about your lashes and whether they’ll grow back in.

We’re happy to tell you that you can remain calm – your lashes will absolutely grow back in, don’t worry.

You’d have to rip your lashes out repeatedly several times for them to stop growing back, so even if you do have an accident – or an unfortunate experience with extensions – there is no need to panic.

However, be aware that there is some waiting time involved. 

How Long Do You Have To Wait for Lashes to Grow Back?

How long you’ll have to wait until your lashes go back to the way they were depends where your lashes were in their growth process when they fell out.

They should start coming back in about 6 to 8 weeks, but it might take longer until they go back to the way they used to look. 

Lashes go through three different growth phases, that each last a few weeks.

If your lashes happen to fall out during the third stage, when they were close to falling to make room for the regrowth anyway, then you’re in luck.

If, however, you lose them earlier, you may be in for a longer wait, because that interrupts the growth cycle and you may have to wait for a new one. 

Can You Help Your Lashes Grow Back Faster?

That being said, no one says you can’t “cheat” and help rush the lash growth process a little bit.

This is a matter of urgency, after all.

There are some tricks you can use to stimulate and encourage your lashes to hurry up and grow back – and even grow back longer, fuller, and thicker. 

The most popular ones? Lash growth serums.

Lash serums are not new on the market, but a lot of people are skeptical – do they really work? And the answer is yes, but also not necessarily. Allow us to explain the variety of options out there…

Latisse (and the like)

First, you’ve got lash growth serums like Latisse – this one is tested and proven, so you know you’ll get results.

However, it can be pricy and it can have some weird side-effects: dark staining of the eyelid and the iris. Plus, you need a prescription. 

Latisse alternatives (with prostaglandins)

If you want to avoid the high price tag and the rigamarole of getting a prescription, there are also several great Latisse alternatives, which contain the magic prostaglandins that result in dramatic length and volume.

latisse alternatives

The downside, of course, is that they also come with the side effects as Latisse so lighter-eyed beauties may want to look for less risky options.

Eyelash conditioners (without prostaglandins)

If you’ve got blue, green or other light-colored eyes and you’re wary of the whole iris staining effect, you can get fantastic eyelash conditioners that aren’t part of the prostaglandin analogue category, so you can side-step any side effects.

eyelash growth mascara

These won’t produce the va-va-voom lashes that Latisse is known for but they will help strengthen and thicken your natural lashes so they can grow to their full potential.

DIY Lash growth serums

If none of those sound good to you, you can even fashion your own eyelash growth serum at home.

Castor oil is a natural alternative that’s great for hair growth, so apply it topically every evening and check for results in a few weeks.

Supplements for lash growth

Finally, you can also start supplementing with Biotin, which apparently has almost magical properties, according to some users who swear by it.

The thing with these DIY treatments is that there is no real proven growth, so results vary depending on the person.

How Can You Make Your Lashes Look Longer in the Meantime?

Okay, let’s say you’re calmer now and patiently waiting for your lashes to grow back. But in the meantime, you still have to deal with your bald eyelids. What can you do about that?

A good pair of falsies can go a long way, and so can individual false lashes, if you’re looking for something more natural.

Yes, there is a learning curve involved if you’re a newbie, but they’re inexpensive now (unless you go for a premium, mink pair!), and if you practice over the course of a weekend or at night, before bed, you should get the hang of it pretty quickly.

That should tide you over until your lashes start growing back. 

Another brilliant option is to use a lash growth mascara – GrandeMascara has the double benefit of boosting lash growth while making your lashes look longer and more voluminous.

Grande Mascara

It’s the perfect combination of a great mascara and a top notch lash growth serum.

As you can see, while losing your lashes as a result of badly applied extensions is a total pain, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. Your lashes will grow back, they just might take a while.

Arm yourself with patience, a good lash serum (or a lash growth mascara), and a pair of falsies and keep your lashes looking perfect while they grow back.