Does Crying Make Your Eyelashes Longer?

Does crying make your eyelashes longer? Unfortunately, no. There is no current scientific evidence that supports this beauty myth. However, crying may make your eyelashes appear fuller and longer.

In fact, what many people could be mistaking for longer lashes is actually the eyelashes clumping together from the moisture, becoming darker, and overall more eye-catchingly noticeable.

However, you should not give up hope. Although obtaining long, enviable lashes is not as simple as shedding some tears, there are other ways you can try to encourage eyelash growth.

Today we will address some common misconceptions about eyelashes, as well as explore accessible options when you are looking for a way to get longer eyelashes.

Why Are My Eyelashes So Short?

Now, some of you may be wondering, why are my eyelashes so short? Genetics play a massive part in how we look, and our eyelashes are no different. For this reason, you can be more inclined to have short lashes if one or both parents have short eyelashes.

Similarly, your genetics also determine the thickness, color, and curl of your eyelashes. If you find yourself asking why your eyelashes are so short, it is likely that it is just a natural part of you. Be that as it may, there are instances where genetics are not a factor.

Instead, there could be a medical reason behind your stunted lash length. This rings especially true if you previously had longer lashes and are finding them falling short of late.

More often than not, this is a direct result of a hormonal imbalance because some of the earliest signs of an imbalance can appear in your hair. Hormonal imbalances can be attributed to aging or going through menopause. Both instances can cause thin, short lashes.

Other factors can include stress, a distinct lack of sleep, a thyroid imbalance, or a poor diet resulting in a vitamin deficiency. Lash expert Carmel Mooney of Opulash points to the abrupt drop of estrogen during menopause as a major culprit in shorter lashes for older women.

For example, estrogen—also known as oestrogen—is the hormone responsible for the regulation of the female reproductive system and the development of physically feminine characteristics.

Estradiol is 1 of 3 naturally produced estrogen hormones that is drastically affected by menopause: Where estradiol can be anywhere between 30 and 400 pg/mL normally, it falls below 30 pg/mL after the start of menopause.

Since estrogen is a major producer of collagen, the sudden drop in its production is jarring to your body, and your skin and hair go on a rapid decline.

Can Crying Make Your Eyelashes Grow Longer?

Although crying does have its own benefits there is no scientific evidence that shedding tears will make your eyelashes grow longer. When you cry cortisol and adrenaline is released; these hormones can cause the heart to pump harder and faster.

The aftermath of the reaction boosts blood flow and may contribute to the common sensation of feeling blood rush to your face when crying. By the same token, crying also releases endorphins that ease both physical and emotional distress.

These endorphins act as a painkiller and are the reason that crying greatly reduces stress levels. Plus, tears can clear your eyes of any irritants or allergens that may be present while also conveniently rehydrating them.

Can Eyelashes Fall Out From Stress?

Stress can cause a slew of adverse effects, including hair loss. This belief of stress causing hair loss has been given credence after researchers guided by Dr. Ya-Chieh Hsu of Harvard University had studied how stress affects hair growth in mice. The research team discovered that the higher levels of corticosterone the mice were exposed to, the less hair regrowth they experienced.

Moreover, when examining the effect of corticosterone on the stem cells of the hair follicle, they noticed that the hormone was not directly linked to the stem cells; rather, the hormone affected the dermal papilla by preventing it to secrete GAS6—a molecule that has a significant effect on activating the stem cells at the follicle.

While still unsure if this reaction is fully applicable to humans (corticosterone in rodents being similar to cortisol in humans), it is credited as being a strong indicator nonetheless. When it comes to eyelash care, it is advised to watch stress levels to thwart any unwanted repercussions that may occur.

However, a more immediate risk of your eyelashes falling out comes from any physical stress placed on your eyes: Rubbing and pulling at your eyelashes can cause loss.

You should refrain from touching your eyes and your lashes excessively, only doing so with clean hands and gentle touches. It should be noted that not all eyelash loss is bad. Similarly, short lashes do not always suggest something negative going on inside your body.

Eyelashes do shed frequently. They have their own growth cycle. It is projected that every day you lose 1-5 eyelashes on average and will lose an overall 20% of your lashes every two weeks. New lashes grow within a few weeks to months after losing them, so while they may seem short or sparse at the moment, they may still be growing in.

More impressively, did you know that your lashes go through peak seasons of loss and growth? During the spring and autumn, you will notice that you lose more eyelashes than usual. Much of it has to do with the general dryness of the season.

Likewise, during wetter months when there is more moisture in the air, your lashes will likely grow faster and stay attached longer. With all this in mind, remember that not everyone experiences eyelash loss and growth phases the same.

As mentioned before, genetics are a large determining factor for the natural state of your lashes, and—while they are more often than not influenced by other outside sources—your eyelashes do not have to be on the same cycle as others.

If you happen to have concerns over hair or eyelash loss it is important to bring them up at your next doctor’s appointment, more so if you think it is related to chronic stress or an imbalance.

Does Vaseline Help Eyelashes Grow?

Vaseline is a beauty ol’ reliable: the ace up everyone’s sleeve. Sadly, despite all its other benefits, it will not encourage lash growth. Petroleum jelly is a thick, greasy substance that is intended to be used to moisturize and replenish dry skin.

Its effects can be similar for lashes that are considerably dry or brittle as it can bring them (and lock in) moisture. As a result, Vaseline can make your eyelashes look darker and more full.

Furthermore, contrary to the claims of many Youtubers and others, Vaseline will not make your eyelashes grow in 30 days, and especially not in a single night. There is no evidence to support these claims scientifically.

While many individuals have vouched for its reliability in the past, you definitely should not get your hopes up. To use Vaseline as a moisturizer for your eyelashes, you can gather a small amount of the product on a clean Q-tip (a rice-sized amount) and gently brush it along the lash line.

Sounds easy enough, right? The most important thing to remember is to rinse it off at the end of the day (or, if on overnight: in the morning). Skipping out on rinsing out the petroleum jelly can lead to complications, including the development of an eye infection or the growth of a stye.

Being a sticky and glossy barrier, petroleum jelly has an unfortunate ability to trap bacteria and dirt around your eyes if you do not apply it with clean hands. Additionally, I would not recommend using Vaseline or other petroleum jelly products if you are already prone to having breakouts.

How Can I Make My Eyelashes Grow Overnight?

It is with great regret that there is currently no miracle serum that can have your eyelashes grow overnight. As with most natural processes, hair growth happens in very small increments over an extended period of time.

You will likely notice the changes only after they have been going on for some time. Saying that, there are beauty hacks and products that can give you the appearance of longer lashes without actually growing them.

A popular hack that has taken the beauty community by storm is gently heating your eyelash curler with a hairdryer prior to use; other individuals have taken a clean spoolie brush and applied cotton fibers from a cotton ball to their single-mascara-coated eyelashes.

Both methods are capable of giving you longer appearing lashes through different means. Meanwhile, there are fiber mascara products that declare their efficacy in providing long lashes for long periods.

These products will usually advertise their ability to give your lashes length and fullness that is most comparable to falsies or extensions. Also, if you are feeling bold, there is the option to perm your eyelashes.

Doing so would mean chemically lifting them upwards from the base to curl them. This would then give you longer looking eyelashes without the upkeep of extensions (eyelash perms can last 4 to 12 weeks).

How Can I Make My Eyelashes Naturally Longer In 7 Days?

There is no surefire way to make your eyelashes grow naturally longer in 7 days, although some swear by natural plant oils! Specifically, Jamaican black castor oil is a very popular choice amongst those looking to gain some lash length.

Other options include olive oil, Argan oil, and almond oil among a variety of others. The key to achieving length through oil application is repetition and consistency: Make it a part of your routine and keep it that way. While oils like castor and olive are believed to work on their own, you can also safely incorporate aloe vera to the oil.

What Can Make Your Eyelashes Grow Longer?

Growing your lashes longer is completely achievable with a bit of time, patience, and TLC! The easiest first step you can take is to comb through your lashes with a clean eyelash brush (an old mascara wand that has been thoroughly cleaned works wonders for this).

You can also find new wands for relatively cheap if you have none on hand. Stimulating the follicles of your lashes is just the same as with the hair on your scalp. One of the reasons scalp and oil massages are so widely recommended when trying to grow your hair is the increase of blood flow that occurs.

Otherwise, natural oils like olive, coconut, and castor oil all have proven benefits for eyelashes though they should not be excessively applied. Much like with Vaseline, you could risk locking in infection-causing debris, bacteria, and dirt.

There are a lot of home remedies out there that provide a unique mix of natural enhancing oils, although many of them are safe to be applied solely. As always, you should do your research and make sure the oil is safe for you and the sensitive skin around your eye. Contrarily, if you are prone to breakouts, you may not want to use these.

There are lash enhancing serums you could use including GrandeLASH-MD Lash Enhancing Serum (rated a 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon), Sugarbear Lashcare Vegan Vitamin Serum (only available to be purchased in a 3 and 6 month supply), and Pacifica Collagen Conditioning Lash Serum + Primer (available at Ulta Beauty with 4.7 stars).

Vitamins like vitamin E, biotin, and fish oil are all sworn by beauty gurus to help improve hair growth. Some additionally would recommend collagen supplements.

Before you make changes to your beauty routine you should speak with your dermatologist to make sure that what you are hoping to incorporate is safe for your skin type. You should review the ingredients of a product before applying it to make sure there are no known allergens or common irritants.

Final Thoughts: Does Crying Make Your Eyelashes Longer?

In all, the big takeaway is that just about everything about your eyelashes is related to your genetics. Therefore, it is unlikely that you will be able to provoke much change from them naturally: Crying will not make your eyelashes longer, nor is it a guarantee that “at-home” remedies incorporating a mix of natural oils will either.

Vitamins and supplements have been proven to help, as they directly affect the body’s natural ability to increase the production of specific hormones that help hair growth. Meanwhile, stress can hamper hair growth and cause hair loss; if possible, it is best to avoid physically and emotionally stressful situations.

If you find yourself at any point concerned about the stunted nature of your eyelashes (and you have reason to believe that it could be medically related) you should speak with your physician.

Lastly, eyelashes take time to grow—you cannot force them to come in overnight, no matter the acclaim of the product used. Although it would be fantastic to be able to grow eyelashes so quickly, there is no harm in letting nature take its course on this one.