Beyond their attraction, eyelashes are structures that are convoluted with essential roles that they play in the health and protection of your eyes. The delicate hair follicles eyelashes have don’t just define beauty but they act as guardians, protecting your eyes from dust and debris. Every flit serves as a defense, keeping any irritants at bay and safeguarding your vision. Eyelashes are more than just beautiful features; they provide protection to the eyes from any potential harm.
The lash cycle is captivating. It involves different stages of growth, from shredding to transitioning this process is essential regularly to ensure that the eyelashes maintain their functions. The cycle consists of three different main stages: the active growth known as the anagen phase., the transition known as the catagen phase and, and the resting and shredding known as the telogen phase. Having an understanding of these stages contributes hugely to the improvement of your eyelash health and appearance through treatments and routines
LASH BIOLOGY 101
Anatomical Structure – eyelashes are distinctive hairs that grow along your eyelid’s edge, consisting of keratin, which is a structural fibrous protein. Eyelashes stem from individual follicles and each lash is different. Their sole function is being frontline defenders they protect your eyes from any dust and decrease potential infections and irritation. Our eyelashes have sensory expertise that make them capable of triggering our blink reflexes at the slightest touch, providing protection to our eyes from any sort of harm. The slight curve your eyelashes contain as well as the pigment they have, serve as a shield for our vision from the harsh sunrays.
Physical Characteristics – eyelashes, being the most highly pigmented hairs on your body, serve an important role in protecting your eyes from sunlight. The upper eyelid carries around 90 – 150 lashes, while the lower eyelid carries about 70 – 80 lashes. As mentioned above your eyelashes have a slight curve that intensifies their protective function. This distinctive curve, along side the pigment your eyelashes contain makes them attractive and captivating among other body hairs. This unique feature serves a lot of functions in maintaining your eyelash well-being and health.
Blood Supply and Nourishment – blood vessels on each follicle base give vital nutrients for eyelash growth and maintenance. The nourishment your eyelashes get from your blood vessels is important for the upkeep of your lash health and appearance. Eyelashes have the same needs as normal hairs; they rely on a balanced flow of nutrients and oxygen from the blood to flourish. No nourishment leads to breakage.
Sensory Function – the nerve endings at the eyelash base, give you eyelashes a protective blink. This is a protective mechanism that safeguards the eyes, it ensures our eyes are protected from harm in various environments.
3 Phases of the Lash Growth Cycle
Anagen (Active Growth) Phase
The initiation of the lash growth cycle is marked by the anagen (active growth) phase. This is a period that lasts 4-6 weeks. In the duration of this phase, eyelashes vigorously grow due to the blood supply your eyelash base supply. This stage would be an ideal time to apply serums that provide nourishment. Eyelash serums provide the important nutrients that hydrate and strengthen your eyelashes which leads to having healthier eyelashes with volume. This is stage set the tone for healthy eyelash growth and is an important period for achieving full, lengthy eyelashes.
Catagen (Transition) Phase
During the catagen phase, which comes after the anagen phase (active growth) and lasts about 2-3 weeks, your eyelash growth comes to a halt. This phase signals the end of any active eyelash hair growth, and the individual hair follicles are cut from the blood supply and the cells that produce the new hair that they get in the anagen phase. During this phase it is important to handle your lashes with care to prevent premature loss. Having a general understanding of the eyelash growth cycle can help prevent you from causing unnecessary fallouts. Handling your eyelashes with care is essential during this stage to help preserve the beauty and health of your eyelashes in this stage
Telogen (Resting and Shedding) Phase
The third and final stage is known as the resting and shredding (telogen) phase. This phase last 3-4 months. In this stage your lashes remain in their follicles but are not actively growing in any way. The lashes gradually shed to make way for new growth – the shedding process is essential for renewal of lashes. Lashes should not the shedding excessively, that indicates an underlying problem.
Understanding each stage of each phase of the eyelash growth cycle is important for sustaining hydrated, well-nourished lashes with volume. Each phase serves a unique purpose within the growth cycle of your eyelashes. Having an understanding of these stages can help you tailor your eyelash care routine to provide better support and growth for your eyelashes.
How Long Is An Eyelash Growth Cycle?
We are all differently created individuals. The way in which our eyelashes grow and the way in which our eyelashes react and look will not always bee the same. Hence the length of an eyelash growth cycle isn’t the same for everyone. It can last from 4 – 11 months it solely depends on the individual. Your genetics play a huge role, lashes length can very significantly from one individual to another. Your routine also a huge contributing factor as well as your diet. Understanding that everyone’s lash growth cycle differs can help you work your way around what works for you easily.
Conditions That Cause Your Eyelashes to Fall Out
When your eyelashes start playing a game of hide and disappear – it can be worrying. Having the Knowledge of what usually contributes to your eyelashes falling out can help prevent them from falling out. Here are some contributing factors to your eyelashes falling out.
Misuse of Beauty Tools
If you are not careful when using tools such as eyelash curlers, they can damage your eyelashes. After using curlers for a long time, they need to be replaced when necessary. Any form of heat going onto your eyelashes is not good for them, that is if you use the heating kind of curlers. Always be gentle when using curlers to protect your lashes from any damage.
Harsh Makeup Removal
The way in which you remove your make up plays a significant role in the health of your eyelashes. Mascara can be removed in a manner that doesn’t need for you to be too rough. Taking off mascara in a rough manner can lead to your eyelashes falling out in the moment and can cause breakage. Using a gentle make up remover with a soft touch goes a long way.
Impact of Eyelash Extensions
Eyelash extension give us the confidence we need for long eyelashes with volume – but at what cost? Lash extensions that are heavy can strain your natural eyelashes leading to them experiencing breakage. You need to make sure that you apply eyelash extensions by a professional as the lash extensions are applied poorly they can cause problems for you thereafter.
LASH GROWTH AS YOU AGE
As normal, when people age their bodies go through various changes, eyelashes are included. The Growth cycle can be affected by your age. Having an understanding that aging has a huge impact on lash growth is important so that you can be able to adjust and be able to maintain your eyelashes at any age that you are.
There are various effects that ageing has on eyelash growth such growth at a slower pace during the anagen (active growth) phase. Thinning of eyelashes due to lack of the important proteins that are needed to aid eyelash growth and lastly a decrease in denseness; this is a huge one as a number of hair follicles reduce highly as you age.
How Long Does the Lash Shedding Season Last?
There is a period in which you undergo an increase in eyelash loss. This period is known as the shredding period, this period usually last 2 – 4 weeks. This cycle naturally occurs and is influenced by environmental shifts or hormonal changes, the shedding if the eyelashes are temporary your eyelashes will always grow back and in a better form.
Final Thoughts
Eyelash growth is an interesting process, it isn’t too complicated. Each phase of the process is just as important as the other, each phase plays an important role in the growth of your healthy and luscious eyelashes. Our eyelashes regularly undergo this cycle for restoration and renewal, understanding what happens during these phases will give you a helping hand in taking better care for your eyelashes. Don’t be phased if you see that a couple of your eyelashes have fallen to your face, it should bring joy in knowing that your lashes are undergoing a renewal cycle.
