Sparse eyebrows making you feel self-conscious? You’re not alone. Many people are habitual overpluckers, while others have naturally sparse brow hairs. Some eyebrow hair loss (also known as madarosis) is down to autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata.
Our eyebrows are more than just a cosmetic concern. They play a significant role in social signalling and communication, so it’s important that you feel confident in the appearance of your brows [1-2]. Here, you’ll learn:
There are lots of different reasons people have sparse eyebrows, including:
It’s common for brow hairs to fall out when they’re rubbed often or with too much force, as the traction can dislodge even well-rooted hairs.
However, if your eyebrow hairs seem to fall out very easily, you may be affected by another condition such as alopecia areata. TV presenter Louis Theroux has recently opened up about shaving off his eyebrows due to patchy eyebrow hair loss caused by alopecia.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Louis Theroux (@officiallouistheroux)
A post shared by Louis Theroux (@officiallouistheroux)
If your sparse eyebrows are caused by an underlying condition like malnutrition, stress, or illness, it’s important to address the root cause. Doing this should restore your eyebrows to their natural thickness. Speak to your GP or a trichologist to get an assessment of your eyebrow hair loss.
But there are plenty of cosmetic eyebrow treatments you can use to fix sparse eyebrows too. Here are 10 effective ways to tackle thin eyebrows.
The simplest way to fix sparse eyebrows is with makeup. Brow pencils are affordable and readily available; ask at the makeup counter for colour match and product recommendations if you’re unsure.
While makeup is only a temporary fix, it gives you flexibility you don’t get with other methods. You can change the thickness of your brows on a daily basis if you want to.
When removing makeup at the end of the day, wipe your brows gently with a cloth or makeup remover wipe. Don’t rub aggressively as this can cause more hairs to fall out.
Brow tinting is a salon-based procedure that involves applying vegetable-based dyes or henna to the eyebrows. The dye tints the fine hairs around your eyebrows as well as the brow hairs themselves, adding width and the illusion of fullness.
Tinted brows start to fade after just a few weeks (normally lasting no longer than two months) so you’ll need regular tinting sessions to keep your brows looking full. Brow tinting costs around £15 per session, so you can expect to pay between £90 and £180 per year to maintain tinted eyebrows.
Microblading is a type of permanent makeup, and it’s a semi-invasive eyebrow treatment that involves scoring tiny lines in the skin and filling them with pigment, creating the illusion of additional eyebrow hairs. It’s carried out under a mild local anaesthetic.
Microblading is growing in popularity as more people seek thicker eyebrows. But bear in mind that despite the semi-invasive nature of this procedure, it’s carried out by a beauty therapist rather than a medical professional. You’re likely to see some swelling, redness, and oversaturation across the brows for a few days after the procedure.
Microblading lasts for around 18 months before it needs refreshing. Each procedure costs around £200 to £450, so the long-term costs will add up.
Powder brows, also known as ombre brows, are another type of permanent makeup. The procedure is similar to microblading, except that instead of scoring lines to simulate eyebrow hairs, the pigment is set into tiny dots. This technique also uses mineral-based pigments rather than inks, creating a softer, more subtle effect than microblading, while giving you fuller brows.
Powder brows cost around £150 to £300 per session, and you’ll need regular top-ups to prevent fading.
If you want to make your eyebrows appear thicker without colouring them, brow lamination is a good option. Brow lamination involves applying a chemical solution to soften the hair follicles, then redirecting the hairs so they appear fuller, neater, and more defined.
Brow lamination probably won’t increase the thickness of your eyebrows as dramatically as other solutions, so it’s more suited to those with minimal eyebrow thinning. The chemical may also irritate sensitive skin, so ask for a patch test before your first treatment.
Brow lamination costs around £30 to £50, and can last for up to six weeks.
If you want to focus on increasing eyebrow hair density rather than cosmetically enhancing your brows, Minoxidil may be the right solution for you. Minoxidil is an approved treatment for scalp hair regrowth in the UK, and multiple studies have shown that regular applications of Minoxidil can promote eyebrow hair growth too [3-4].
There are certain side effects of Minoxidil to be aware of, including Minoxidil shedding and skin irritation. To minimise the risk of side effects, start with a lower concentration such as 2% Minoxidil.
Minoxidil encourages eyebrow regrowth, giving you very natural results. But the treatment takes around 2-4 months to kick in, so it’s not a quick fix. You’ll also need to continue applying Minoxidil every day to maintain your eyebrow regrowth.
Eyebrow tattoos are a permanent fix for sparse eyebrows. In this procedure, your tattooist uses a needle to apply pigment into the second layer of your skin, allowing the colour to penetrate deeper for longer lasting results.
Eyebrow tattooing typically costs between £300 to £700. And since this is a facial tattoo, you don’t want to scrimp and get a subpar result. So this sparse eyebrow treatment can be expensive, and won’t look as natural as an eyebrow transplant.
Like any tattoo, eyebrow tattoos can fade and discolour, so you may still need top-up treatments over time.
If topical treatments fail to fix your sparse eyebrows, an eyebrow transplant is the only way to create thick, natural-looking brows. Eyebrow transplant costs are relatively high, but it’s a surefire way to get beautiful, low-maintenance eyebrows you can style however you like.
In this procedure, hair follicles are extracted from another area (usually behind your ear) and transplanted along your natural brow line. As the follicles begin to produce hair, your eyebrows will become fuller and less sparse. Eyebrow transplants can fix most types of permanent eyebrow hair loss.
Eyebrow transplants start at £3,499 at the Wimpole Clinic. Book a consultation with our team today to find out if you’re a candidate for eyebrow transplantation.
Bimatoprost is a glaucoma medicine that has been shown to promote eyelash and eyebrow growth [5-6]. While it’s not generally prescribed for cosmetic purposes, a trichologist may offer bimatoprost off-label if it’s deemed the best solution for your eyebrow hair loss.
More research is needed to establish the safety and long-term effects of using bimatoprost for eyebrow growth, but early signs are promising.
Eyebrow extensions create length and fullness in your existing brow hairs, enhancing their appearance. Your beauty therapist will match the extensions to your natural brows, then use a transparent adhesive to attach them. These last around five to ten days and the cost varies depending on the length of your existing lashes and the extension length needed.
Eyebrow extensions are best if you want a short-term brow boost, such as for a wedding or another special occasion.
Yes — getting an eyebrow transplant is a proven way to get permanent brow growth to fix sparse, thin eyebrows. Learn how long it takes for eyebrows to grow back after a hair transplant.
Eyebrow tattoos are a cheaper permanent alternative, although they can fade over time and tend to look less natural.
Get permanent, natural-looking eyebrows with an eyebrow transplant at the Wimpole Clinic. With a patient-centred approach and a team of experienced surgeons and clinicians to support you, we’ll create perfectly shaped brows you can be proud of.
“From consultation to the procedure everything was perfect & I cannot thank the guys at the Wimpole Clinic enough. Marie was amazing every step of the way & there was no such thing as too many questions. Dr Sciacca was such a lovely man and explained everything perfectly, the amazing duo really put me at ease the whole time. I cannot recommend them enough!”
— Jessica, Wimpole Clinic eyebrow transplant patient
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