How Can I Help Thinning Eyebrows?

Blink and you’ll miss it! Eyebrow trends come and go faster than we can keep up here at AC HQ.

From the pencil-thin brows of the 90s to the fluffy, laminated look of today, eyebrow styles define eras (along with your face structure). Even beyond the trends, eyebrows frame the face and give onlookers a glimpse into how we’re really feeling. Furrowed brows, we’re looking at you! 

If you notice your eyebrows are looking on the slightly sparse side, it’s nothing to worry about. To help you with all your burning eyebrow thinning queries, we spoke to Eva Proudman, our expert trichologist, about why your eyebrows might be thinning, as well as ways to combat eyebrow hair loss.

Let’s get into everything on thinning eyebrows, below.

Why are my eyebrows thinning?

We get it, it’s stressful to look in the mirror and see your once-bold brows starting to thin. ‘Why are my eyebrows falling out!?’, we may hear you cry out from the bathroom.

Well, don’t worry, you’re not alone! There are many potential causes of thinning eyebrows – some more subtle than others – so we’ve broken down the most common causes, below:

• Ageing and the menopause: Getting older and going through the menopause plays a huge role in hair loss – both on your head and with balding eyebrows. In particular, the decrease of oestrogen (which helps keep hair in that ‘growing phase’) during the menopause is a common cause for eyebrows getting thinner.

• Not getting enough vitamins: Just like your skin, your hair and eyebrows need certain vitamins and minerals to thrive. For example, if you’re not getting enough vitamin D, selenium, and zinc, it can contribute to thinning eyebrows. That’s why it’s important to maintain a balanced diet or take vitamin supplements to minimise losing hair on your eyebrows. 

• Lots of stress: Stress can send your body into overdrive – and when it’s busy dealing with all that tension, hair growth is neglected. So, if life’s a bit too overwhelming, you could start to experience thinning eyebrows as a result. Eyebrow plucking is also a common reaction to stressful situations, so leave those tweezers in the bathroom cupboard!

• Skin conditions: Thinning eyebrows are not just influenced by hair health, certain skin conditions can also affect growth. For example, the likes of eczema, psoriasis, or simply just dry skin can impact the skin around your brows, making it harder for the hair to grow back.

Of course, if you’re worried about what might be causing your eyebrow hair loss, we’d recommend speaking to GP for a second opinion. 

4 ways to fix thinning eyebrows

1. Leave your eyebrows alone

First things first – if you’re dealing with eyebrow hair loss, step away from the tweezers! 

Seriously, as tempting as it is to pluck those stray hairs, they might not grow back over time. In fact, one of the most common reasons for thinning or balding eyebrows is a lifetime of over-plucking. 

Fun fact: your brows aren’t just for making those dramatic expressions. Those little hairs actually help keep sweat, dirt, and all sorts of debris from making a beeline directly for your eyebrows. That’s why it’s so important to take proper care to avoid thinning eyebrows. 

2. Eat a healthy and balanced diet

The key to combatting eyebrow hair loss could lie in your supermarket shopping trolley. That’s right, the foods we eat (or don’t eat) can have a huge impact on hair health!

For example, when it comes to keeping the growth and shedding cycle on track, protein is your hair’s best friend. So, be sure to indulge in protein-rich foods, such as lean meats, fish, and beans, which all help to provide the all-important keratin that your hair is made of. 

Vitamin D is also super important if you’re losing hair on your eyebrows. Found in fish, red meat, and egg yolks (as well as, of course, the sun!), this vitamin encourages new follicles to flourish and helps to regulate your immune system. 

You can also take certain supplements to further support your hair follicle functions and help with balding eyebrows. For example, by taking a daily liquid collagen supplement, you can provide the essential amino acids that your body needs to build keratin and help thinning eyebrows.

3. Try topical treatments

The beauty aisle in the supermarket is absolutely teeming with brow and lash serums that promise to work wonders with thinning eyebrows. But how many of them can actually provide the help you’re looking for?

Well, here’s a little tip when shopping for serums, keep an eye out for the three magic ingredients: keratin, peptides, and soy protein. Keratin is the same protein that makes your hair strong and shiny, while peptides encourage your hair follicles to grow. And soy protein? It’s the nourishing boost that can put an end to worries about eyebrows getting thin. 

However, bear in mind that there is no absolute guarantee, even with these ingredients. And, in our opinion, it’s more important to eat a balanced diet and take supplements to get those essential nutrients to help balding eyebrows. 

4. Top up with makeup

And finally, don’t shy away from using a little touch of makeup to give your brows a boost while you combat your thinning eyebrows. 

Eyebrow pencils, for example, are perfect for creating the illusion of fuller, more defined brows. They’re also easy to find, and you don’t need to break the bank to get a good one, either. Just add soft strokes to fill in any sparse spots where your eyebrows are getting thin.

You can also try a volumizing brow gel, which helps to thicken those brow hairs, providing that fuller, more polished look in no time. 

For more ways to help your thinning eyebrows and to give your overall hair health a boost, head over to our blog for more guides and articles. Alternatively, if you’re ready to begin your Absolute Collagen journey today, start shopping for our daily liquid collagen supplements or browse our Collagen Complex Hair Thickening range.