We’ve all had a moment where we’ve experienced a brow disaster so significant we were immediately left wondering whether our eyebrows would ever grow back. Luckily, even if you’ve been too heavy-handed with the wax strips or tweezers, we’re happy to report that your brows will grow back…eventually. To find out exactly how long you’ll need to wait until new hairs appear and whether the waiting times differ depending on which hair removal method you chose, we spoke to two top brow experts: Benefit Cosmetic’s National Brow Artist, Hannah Mutze, and brow artist and founder of Amy Jean Brow Agency, Amy Jean.
How long does it take for eyebrows to grow back?
Both Amy Jean and Mutze note that the time it takes for brow hairs to grow back varies from person to person, but the best case scenario is you’ll see hairs starting the reappear within a month. “While most brows show signs of new growth within a couple of weeks, others can take several months or years,” says Mutze.
Do eyebrows grow back after shaving?
Although it’s not a common way to shape your brows, you may have given this technique a go if the thought of plucking is too painful. While we don’t recommend shaving your brows – due to the risk of cutting yourself, or worse, plus it’s far too difficult to get an accurate shape – the good news is your hairs will grow back quite quickly if you have already shaved them. Mutze notes that because shaving only removes the hairs above the surface of the skin rather than from the root, the hairs will start to grow back within a week or so. In fact, you’ll probably find they grow back so quickly that you’ll constantly need to reach for your razor to keep your brows tidy. Even more reason to try another method!
Do eyebrows grow back after plucking?
Once a hair has been removed from the root, a new one starts to grow in its place. While it does take time for the new hairs to be visible above the surface of the skin – the growth cycle of eyebrow hairs can take anywhere between four to six weeks – you can rest assured that they are indeed growing back.
According to both Mutze and Amy Jean, the only reason why hairs may not return is if a follicle has been damaged or traumatised in the hair removal process. Amy Jean notes repetitive and excessive tweezing is to blame when this occurs.
Do eyebrows grow back after waxing?
Just like plucking, hairs will grow back at a slower rate because each hair has been removed from the root. According to Amy Jean, some people can expect hairs to grow back softer and sparser after waxing, however others “will find their hair grows back just as consistently as it did prior to being waxed".
