A majority of women yearn for long and luscious eyelashes that will make their eyes noticeable within a crowd. Unfortunately, many are relegated to fragile, sparse lashes that can barely reach any length. Nevertheless, with understanding and loving care, this can all be changed!
Ponder how much time you invest in taking care of your hair, fingernails or complexion, then consider the attention given to your lashes, which desperately require solicitude for them to stay healthy, tough, and glowing.
Most eyelash products on the market today are simply and enhancing makeup designed to enhance the appearance but adding no nutritional benefit whatsoever so lets look at the facts and see just how we can best care for eyelashes.
All About Eyes
The goal of this article is to transparently explain the purpose of eyelashes, what they are, and how they work to safeguard and preserve eye health.
The eyes are delicate and vital organs which require routine upkeep and shielding. Guarding them are ludicrously thin layers of skin, otherwise referred to as eyelids. At the margins of the eyelids is where tear glands stretch across, steadily secreting a dampening solution.
The purpose of the eyelid is to safeguard the delicate eyes, as well as maintain lubrication across them by spreading tears and other secretions uniformly. That way, the eyes and particularly, the cornea are continuously moisten and not permitted to dehydrate.
A cluster of small muscles within the eyelids make it possible for them to open and close reflexively, a process known as blinking. This automatic reaction guards the eyes from potential harm such as dust, bugs, and other objects. Meanwhile, it causes the eyelids to shut and reopen recurrently in order to evenly distribute the tear glands’ lubricant throughout the eye’s full surface area for maintaining moisture and health.
The involuntary blinking response occurs involuntarily, while the voluntary reaction helps facilitate this process by allowing us to blink whenever we feel the urge to do so.
Eyelids of both the upper and lower sort contain lines of hairs known as eyelashes that can have up to five layers connected to them. Typically, an adult’s upper lid will possess between 100 and 150 lashes while the lower lid holds from 75 to 100. The top lashes tend to grow marginally longer than those on the bottom, measuring about 8mm in length. The higher ones usually curve upwards and the lower ones downwards so that they offer maximum capability.
The anatomy of eyelashes is alike to other human hairs; they protrude from follicles on the eyelids, with roots to keep them secure and a comparable cell structure to that of other hairs. Made up of 10% water and 90% proteins such as keratin and melanin, which provides the lashes with color, they reflect the genetic traits of their bearer.
All About Eyelashes
Not only are eyelashes used to make someone’s face appear more beautiful, they also act as protective barriers against bright light, dust, and other potential harmful substances entering the eyes. Generally, each upper lid contains around 150 lashes; this number does not increase with age since the density of hair follicles present at birth remains consistent. Many individuals are blessed to have thick lower lashes too, although the number of lashes on this lid is usually only half the amount located on top.
Scalp hair and eyelashes have similarities, as they are both terminal hairs, resulting in increased pigmentation and coarseness compared to other body hairs. However, eyelashes will never become gray like scalp hair, they don’t contain an arrector pili muscle, and they won’t be changed by androgens.
Human hair, including eyelashes, grows in an asynchronous pattern. This implies that follicles do not thrive or become dormant at the same time. The lifecycle consists of three phases: anagen, catagen, and telogen. According to where the hair is situated on the body, each phase has different cycle lengths. For the eyelashes, its full cycle might take from five to eleven months in duration.
A few facts:
- An eyelash is one single hair.
- Eyelashes are there for a purpose – to protect our eyes from dust and other airborne irritants.
- Eyelashes naturally fall out but also grow back again.
- Eyelashes have a maximum length that they don’t grow beyond.
The growth cycle of an eyelash consists of 3 distinct phases:
The Anagen phase, otherwise known as the growth phase, generally continues for thirty to forty-five days. Throughout this period, the eyelashes reach their maximum length of growth.
After the growth phase has completed, the catagen or transition phase will start and will last approximately two to three weeks. During this time, the growth of eyelashes ceases and the hair follicles start to get smaller.
Telogen or Resting Phase: For around 100 days the lashes “rest” before naturally falling out.
The cycle then begins again taking an average of 8 weeks to replace an eyelash.
There are various vitamins, nutrients and supplements that can help keep the lashes in top condition and that support eyelash growth:
Look for foods with a lot of Vitamin B3 or niacin in them. This aids in preventing dry and frail eyelashes; it boosts the circulation of blood to the roots, reproduces cells, and subsequently prevents lashes from being lost too soon. Moreover, improving blood flow encourages the body’s natural rate of keratin production. Keratin is an essential protein when it comes to hair growth. To get your fix of Vitamin B3 – choose from liver, salmon, tuna, sunflower seeds, peanuts, mushrooms and asparagus.
Vitmain C is an antioxidant renowned for reinforcing the immune system. Regarding lashes, it helps protect against illnesses, toxins and disease, as well as fixing eroded, diseased or sensitive follicles. Furthermore, Vitamin C helps with collagen development and lowers the chance of broken lashes. Clearly then, Vitamin C is eminently necessary when it comes to eyelashes; make sure you eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables such as oranges, grapefruits, strawberries, cranberries, cauliflower, broccoli and tomatoes.
Vitamin E is an additional antioxidant that aids in protecting the eyelash follicles from dangerous free-radicals and maintaining a functioning immune system. Additionally, Vitamin E has many advantages like improving circulation and transporting oxygen to the hair follicles, enhancing Hair regrowth, sustaining lashes hydrated and healthy, healing broken follicles and minimizing inflammation. Further, it can be found in items such as almonds, hazelnuts, kale, spinach, sunflower seeds, safflower oil, blueberries, peanut butter and avocados.
Vitamin H, also known as Biotin, has been proven to stimulate eyelash growth by increasing blood circulation to the lash follicles, leading to thicker lashes with more hydration. Furthermore, it assists the body in absorbing important nutrients such as fats, amino acids and carbohydrates which are essential for good lash health. Examples of these necessary foods are soybeans, bananas, mushrooms, sardines, eggs, walnuts, beans and peanut butter.
Calcium is not only celebrated for creating robust and healthy teeth, bones and nails – it also has the same effect on eyelashes. It encourages lash growth, making them longer and well-protected from damage. Dairy products like cheese and yogurt are one of the most outstanding sources of calcium.
