How long it takes for overplucked eyebrows to grow back

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".

Do eyebrows grow back after threading?

Threading – the primary mode of hair removal in Asia for centuries – involves rolling twisted pieces of cotton thread over your brows to pluck them out of the follicle. Because threading (like plucking and waxing) involves removing hair from the root, your hairs will take several weeks or more to grow back.

Do eyebrows grow back after microblading?

Microblading (also known as feathering) is a brow tattooing technique that uses a precise blade to create the look of individual hairs in sparse brows. Since it doesn’t actually involve removing hairs – rather it adds ‘fake’ hairs where there are none naturally – it has no effect on normal hair growth.  

How to grow your eyebrows back fast

#1 / Keep your hands off them
Ironically, the top thing you can do to speed up eyebrow hair growth is to do nothing at all. “The most important thing to do when growing back your brows is to put the tweezers down and give the hairs a chance to grow again – it’s the only way,” says Mutze. Jean agrees, but adds that if you need to tweeze any stray hairs, “fill in your brows with your favourite brow product into the shape you’re trying to achieve, then strictly only tweeze the hairs that fall outside of that shape”.

If you’re looking for a new product to fill in your brows, we recommend Benefit Cosmetic’s Goof Proof Eyebrow Pencil ($45 at Sephora), Amy Jean Privée Brow Veil ($46 at Amy Jean) and Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zing Pro Palette ($68 at Sephora).

#2 / Make regular appointments with an experienced brow expert
The journey back to great brows is not one that you need to take alone. Jean and Mutze both recommend making regular monthly appointments with an experienced brow artist who can help tidy up the shape of your brows while ensuring all the valuable growth remains.

#3 / Brush through your brows regularly
One surprising way to stimulate hair growth is to regularly brush through your brows, both morning and night with a spoolie. Mutze explains that this practice massages the skin and encourages blood flow, which can encourage hair growth.

#4 / Nourish the hairs you already have
It can be easy to forget about the eyebrow hairs you already have when you’re trying to grow more, but maintaining the health of your current hairs is essential for achieving the arches you’ve always wanted. To do so, Jean suggests using an eyebrow hair growth serum to nurture and nourish current hairs. The way these products work is by strengthening the hairs to prevent breakage, which will help them continue to grow at their natural pace (note: just like your hair, you can’t *actually* make brow hairs grow faster, you can only optimise their hair growth rate).

Looking for other ways to improve your skin and hair? Then find out the omega-3-rich diet Victoria Beckham swears by, discover why you need an eye cream in your skin care routine, and learn why you need a clarifying shampoo in your haircare line-up.

Main image credit: Getty