CAN YOU GROW BACK OVER- P LUCKED EYEBROWS?
Krissy Turner talks to three experts about how to regain thicker, fuller brows
Your eyebrows frame and lift your features, and when they are perfectly suited to your face they can help you look healthier and well-groomed. But what about those of us who just couldn’t help over-plucking into a very Nineties thin line? Will we ever get back that treasured Lily Collinsesque thickness and full arch without the need to use pencils and shadows? We asked the experts.
Pluck wisely
“Over-plucking not only runs the risk of losing your most flattering eyebrow shape, it can also lead to permanent hair loss,” says brow guru Shavata Singh. “Always tweeze your brows in natural light using a large mirror for an overall realistic view, and a magnified hand mirror to help with the detail. Take a few hairs from each brow at a time – it’s easier than doing one and trying to copy it on the other side. If you make a mistake, grow it out – don’t try to correct it or you’ll end up plucking them to nothing. Brow hair takes eight to 13 weeks to grow, depending on your metabolism and age, so be patient and wait as long as you can before getting them shaped by an expert, who will analyse your features to find the best shape for you. And a professional tint will make brows appear naturally thicker and fuller.”
Dietary help
“Ensuring that your diet includes iron, vitamins C, D, B6 and keratin (it is a protein: so eggs, fish, dairy) is very sensible, as these aid the health of the hair,” says Dr Thomy Kouremada-Zioga, hair transplant surgeon at The Private Clinic of Harley Street. “There are certain supplements you can take, such as iodine (required for the production of the thyroid hormone), which contribute to healthy hair growth. While our diet can have a big impact, if permanent damage has been done to the follicles, the hair will not grow back. In cases where hair growth seems to be progressing slowly, a scalp solution containing 2% of the active ingredient minoxidil can, in certain cases, help to boost the growth of the eyebrow hairs by supplying nutrients to the area, as it increases the blood supply.”
Boost thickness with permanent make-up
“The number one reason people visit my clinic is because of brow loss,” says Tracie Giles, founder of the Tracie Giles Bespoke Permanent Makeup Clinic. “Brows are hugely sensitive and any form of ‘root’ depilation, such as plucking or threading, can disrupt the natural hair growth cycle. Repeatedly ripping out hairs in any small area can stunt or completely destroy growth. To those who have experienced brow hair loss, permanent make-up can be a good solution, and the application has no effect on brow growth, as the hair root goes deeper into the dermal layer of the skin than the tiny needles that we use very superficially to create the look of healthy eyebrows.”