How to make your eyebrows thicker

If you were a teenager or a fully blown adult during the nineties, chances are, your eyebrows didn't make it through the era unharmed. Because while the eighties saw the boom of the power brow, by the decade following, razor thin stripes became the de-facto norm for face-framers.

Cosmetic companies market pencils, gels, and other products that can help make your eyebrows look thicker. But is there a way to grow thicker eyebrows without relying on makeup?

Whether you have hair loss or just naturally thin brows, there are numerous home remedies you can try if you want thicker eyebrows. See what the research has to say.

1. Coconut oil

Coconut oil has been increasing in popularity as both a cooking oil and a dietary supplement. It’s also touted as beneficial to the hair and skin when used topically.

While the oil has been studied extensively for general health concerns, such as weight loss and dementia, there’s no widespread scientific data backing up the use of coconut oil to increase hair thickness.

Still, the buzz about coconut oil for hair health continues in the natural health market.

To use it: Simply warm up a small amount of oil in your hands and massage it into the eyebrow area. You can leave the oil on overnight and wash it off in the morning.

2. Tea tree oil

Like coconut oil, tea tree oil purportedly stimulates eyebrow growth and thickness by creating a moisturizing barrier for cellular and follicular health.

Historically used for cuts and other injuries, tea tree oil is a skin treatment. It’s available in numerous over-the-counter products, but you can also find tea tree oil extracts to apply directly to your eyebrows.

While tea tree oil may be lauded as an alternative treatment for growing thicker eyebrows, there aren’t any scientific studies that back up these claims.

As the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)Trusted Source reports, few studies have been conducted with humans. Of these, the only promising outcomes for tea tree oil include treatments for acne and fungal infections.

To use it: Apply daily to your brows and leave on overnight.

While research suggests there are health benefits, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t monitor or regulate the purity or quality of essential oils. It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional before you begin using essential oils and be sure to research the quality of a brand’s products. Always do a patch test before trying a new essential oil and dilute any essential oil with a carrier oil so it doesn’t burn your skin.

3. Lavender oil

Lavender oil is perhaps best known for its calming effects. When applied topically, it’s also thought to combat hair loss.

In terms of scientific studies, lavender seems to show promise only in treating stress. While not generally considered harmful as a hair loss treatment, no quality studies back up the effectiveness of this usage.

To use it: Massage lavender extracts into the brow area daily for a relaxing ritual. You should also test the oil on another part of your skin, as it can cause rashes in some people.

4. Saw palmetto

Saw palmetto is a supplement that’s sometimes used to treat hair loss.

Some people eat the berries, while others use extracts, capsules, or tea. These forms are taken daily as oral supplements. Saw palmetto usually isn’t applied topically.

While saw palmetto has been studied extensively for prostate problems and urinary tract infections, the NCCIHTrusted Source notes that few studies exist for other uses. This means that research about the safety and effectiveness for eyebrow hair growth is limited.

5. Smart grooming

In some cases, achieving thicker eyebrows may simply be dependent on proper grooming techniques. Be sure to follow these tips:

Avoid overplucking your brows.

Always remove unwanted hairs in dull lighting only. Working in bright lighting tends to lead to overplucking.

Avoid pressing too hard on the area with brow pencils.

Brush your eyebrows with an eyebrow brush or spoolie daily.

After several weeks, good grooming habits will likely pay off. If you still aren’t seeing results, talk with a dermatologist about more intense interventions.

Surgical grafting may be used in cases of significant hair loss or follicle damage. This method is recommended for cases of trauma or widespread hair loss.

6. De-stress

When people under stress utter tongue-in-cheek statements, like “I think I’m going to lose my hair,” they may be onto something.

A 2021 study Trusted Source of mice suggested that the stress hormone corticosterone can affect hair growth.

stress can lead to a condition called telogen effluvium, which changes the hair growth cycle. Though often thought of as a cause for scalp hair loss.

Trichotillomania, or a tendency to pull hair, including when stressed, can also affect the brows.

Finding ways to de-stress can help reduce eyebrow hair loss. For instance, meditation may help.

A 2021 study of more than 300 individuals indicated that engaging in meditation-based mental health training may lower the amount of the stress hormone cortisol in hair.

7. Topical cream with bimatoprost

Eyebrow madarosis is a condition that involves a lack of growth or loss of eyebrow hair. Bimatoprost, a medication initially approved by the FDA for eyelash regrowth, may help.

A 2018 case studyTrusted Source of a 60-year-old woman with the condition suggested that daily use of a bimatoprost 0.03 percent solution may help people achieve sustained hair growth.

There was only one participant, and the evidence on eyebrow regrowth is still anecdotal. The product is not approved for eyebrow hair growth or regrowth.

8. Olive oil

You can find olive oil in products aimed at hydrating your locks. But can it help with hair growth, particularly around the eyebrows?

A 2015 studyTrusted Source of mice indicated that applying ingredients derived from olive trees could trigger hair growth.

There’s little data to support topical use of olive oil to grow eyebrow hair.

9. Massage

An eyebrow massage may not only feel good, but there’s also a chance it could naturally stimulate growth.

A 2016 studyTrusted Source of nine men suggested scalp massages could increase hair thickness.

The study was small, only included men, and focused on scalp hair growth. There’s no similar data to support massage to stimulate eyebrow hair growth, but it doesn’t hurt to try it in moderation.