The life span of an eyelash can vary from 4 months to as long as 11 months. There are three phases to this life span: the growth phase, the degradation phase, and the telogen phase. Growth phase. Also known as the anagen phase, this phase may last between 4 and 10 weeks.
In a regular lash shed cycle, we can lose up to 5-7 natural lashes per day, however this can increase dramatically in Spring and Autumn in preparation for the temperature changes. This is what's referred to as 'Lash Shedding Season'.
Catagen (Transition) Phase
This stage lasts for 2 – 3 weeks. If an eyelash unnaturally falls out (or is pulled out) during this phase, that follicle stays empty while it completes this phase and moves on to Telogen. That means you'll have an empty spot until that follicle reaches the Anagen phase again.
The average person loses up to 20% of their natural lashes every two weeks and new hair growth is constant. Lash cycles occur every 2-3 months. As you start seeing your lash artist regularly, by your third or fourth fill you may noticeably see fewer lashes because you are nearing the end of your lash cycle.
In a typical cycle, eyelashes grow, shed and replace themselves every six to 10 weeks. However, during the Spring and Fall, this can increase dramatically in response to temperature changes. For most people — especially those who don't have eyelash extensions — the lash shedding season goes unnoticed.
When lashes are not clean, the lash hair follicle can get clogged with dirt and debris. Clogged follicles cause lashes to shed and if left untreated can lead to stunting new lash growth.
There are three stages of the eyelash growth cycle. Anagen (the growth phase), Catagen (the transition phase) and Telogen (the resting phase). This is where the magic starts to happen, and the eyelashes are actively growing.
The catagen phase starts when the anagen phase ends, and tends to last about 10 days or so. During this chapter, hair follicles shrink and hair growth slows. The hair also separates from the bottom of the hair follicle, yet remains in place during its final days of growing.
Catagen is the transition phase and the hair stops growing and becomes detached from the base of the follicle. The hair bulb begins to break down, resulting in the follicle becoming shorter. On average, 1% of follicles are in the catagen stage.
As an adult, you might be less excited to notice your eyelashes falling out. It's natural to wonder if they will ever grow back. But, just like hair on your head, eyelashes grow, fall out, and regrow again in a natural cycle.
Just like the hair on top of your head, eyelash hairs grow, fall out, and regrow—this process takes about 4–16 weeks (Aumond, 2018). However, there are some caveats and exceptions. Namely, as long as there is no trauma or lasting damage to the eyelid itself or the hair follicles, your lashes should grow back.
On average, most people have 80-120 natural lashes per eye, with a natural shed rate of 2-5 lashes per day. So looking at the maths: in a normal week, 21 lashes are often shed, 42 lashes in two weeks and 63 lashes lost after three. Sometimes (seasonal and hormonal changes) more lashes are shed, and sometimes less.
Lashes protect the eye from debris that can obstruct vision or cause infection or injury. Eyelashes grow, fall out and replace themselves in a natural cycle every six to 10 weeks, just like the hair on top of your head. It's normal to lose between one and five eyelashes each day.
During the telogen phase, the hair follicle is completely at rest, and the club hair is completely formed. 5 Pulling out a hair during the telogen phase of the cycle will reveal a solid, hard, dry, white material at the root.
Also, the hairs will look like hairs in the telogen phase — they will have a white bulb at the end that was in the scalp, and will not have a gel-like covering around that end of the hair.
The anagen phase is the first stage of the hair growth cycle, and the most visible. You can tell your body hair is in this phase when it's above the skin and ready for removal.
On average, a person loses about 20% of their natural lashes every two weeks. Natural eyelashes grow in and fall out in cycles, which occur every 60 to 90 days.
Pulling out eyelashes can signal an underlying anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder. It can cause eye problems or complications. Pulling out eyelashes can be a symptom of trichotillomania but can also be brought on by stress. Without treatment, the behavior will likely continue.
Just like the hair on your head, eyelashes naturally fall out and replace themselves in a natural cycle every six to 10 weeks, so it's totally normal to lose between one and five eyelashes each day.
“Patients should seek medical attention for lash loss as it can be the first sign of local or systemic disease,” says Dr. Moskowitz, who recommends making an appointment with your dermatologist or ophthalmologist.
Clean them regularly. You should always, always remove your mascara each and every night to prevent more eyelash loss. Especially if you're partial to eyelash extensions: Effectively (and gently) cleaning the lashes can prevent any buildup of gunk over time, says Aunique.
Vaseline is an occlusive moisturizer that can be used effectively on dry skin and eyelashes. It can't make eyelashes grow faster or longer, but it can moisturize them, making them look fuller and lusher. It isn't right for everyone, though.
“There is no evidence that crying actually increases eyelash growth.” While it may appear that way when you're spilling tears, it's just a temporary effect. “Crying does not make the eyelashes grow but the eyelashes may appear darker or straighter as tears lubricate the lashes,” Garshick says.