Debunking The Crying-Makes-Your-Eyelashes-Longer Myth

Human tears consist of a type of stress hormone, and researchers believe that the experience is somehow related to how it affects the hair follicles. The release of these stress hormones may increase growth, but they are unlikely to help achievelonger eyelashes.

When you are crying, tears flow down to your eyelashes. Some people believe that the tears are helping your lashes grow longer because it is being constantly washed out with water. This claim, however, has no evidence to support it.

Some claim it will take a few weeks for this effect to occur, but if you’re curious, try crying for a few weeks and see if anything changes! This is just a simple observation, and is not scientifically proven.

If you’re wondering, no, crying does not ruin eyelash extensions. Tears will not affect the extensions since they are applied to the natural lash.

Benefits of Crying

It turns out that the main benefits of crying may be more psychological than physical, as anyone who has had to deal with red, puffy eyes after an intense crying session is well aware. The main perk is the decreased stress levels you may feel after a good sob.

You are realising emotions and removing irritants as you cry, such as debris and makeup.

Different Types of Tears

You may think humans only cry over joy and pain, there are, in fact, several other reasons for crying.

Basal Tears

Basal tears aren’t the usual tears you’re familiar with. Instead, it’s a protein-rich antibacterial liquid that helps moisturise your eyes whenever you blink.

These tears serve as a protective barrier to shield your cornea from dirt. They remain in your eyes throughout the day to keep them nourished and lubricated.

Reflex Tears

Reflex or irritant tears are caused primarily by irritant substances such as perfume, spray, onion fumes, wind, smoke, or dust. Say you’re sensitive to these substances, you are likely to experience irritant tears.

Tears of Sorrow

Humans naturally cry in response to intense emotions. These tears are often caused by sadness, pain, and/or grief.

The good side of crying out these tears, however, is that it can be self-soothing and pain-reliving.

Tears of Joy

Sadness aside, humans cry over happiness. Tears usually drop from our eyes when we are overjoyed and exhilarated.

Does Vaseline Stimulate Eyelash Growth?

Vaseline is a beauty ol’ reliable: the ace up everyone’s sleeve. Sadly, despite all its other benefits, it will not encourage lash growth. Petroleum jelly is a thick, greasy substance that is intended to be used to moisturize and replenish dry skin. Its effects can be similar for lashes that are considerably dry or brittle as it can bring them (and lock-in) moisture, giving you short-term beautiful lashes.

As a result, the Vaseline can make your eyelashes look darker and more full. Furthermore, contrary to the claims of many Youtubers and others, Vaseline will not make your eyelashes grow in 30 days, and especially not in a single night. There is no evidence to support these claims scientifically.

While many individuals have vouched for its reliability in the past, you definitely should not get your hopes up. To use Vaseline as a moisturizer for your eyelashes, you can gather a small amount of the product on a clean Q-tip (a rice-sized amount) and gently brush it along the lash line, like how you would when applying mascara.

Sounds easy enough, right? The most important thing to remember is to rinse it off at the end of the day (or, if on overnight: in the morning). Skipping out on rinsing out the petroleum jelly can lead to complications, including the development of an eye infection, the growth of a stye, or causing irritation.

Is It Possible for Eyelashes to Grow Overnight?

It is with great regret that there is currently no miracle serum that can have your eyelashes grow overnight. As with most natural processes, hair growth happens in very small increments over an extended period of time.

You will likely notice the changes only after they have been going on for sometime. Saying that, there are beauty hacks and products that can give you the appearance of longer lashes without actually growing them.

A popular hack that has taken the beauty community by storm is gently heating your eyelash curler with a hairdryer prior to use; other individuals have taken a clean spoolie brush and applied cotton fibers from a cotton ball to their single-mascara-coated eyelashes.

Both methods are capable of giving you longer appearing lashes through different means. Meanwhile, there are fiber mascara products that declare their efficacy in providing long lashes for long periods. These products will usually advertise their ability to give your lashes length and fullness that is most comparable to falsies or eyelash extensions.

Also, if you are feeling bold, there is the option to perm your eyelashes. Doing so would mean chemically lifting them upwards from the base to curl them. This would then give you longer looking eyelashes without the upkeep of extensions (eyelash perms can last 4 to 12 weeks).

How to Make Your Eyelashes Longer?

Let’s get to the real question. How can you make your eyelashes longer without crying and putting yourself through all the intense emotions?

• Use an eyelash curler: Curling your lashes with a heated eyelash curler before you apply mascara will help them look longer.

• Apply a lengthening mascara: There are several mascaras on the market that are designed to make your lashes look longer.

• Try a primer: A primer can help your lashes look longer by providing a base for your mascara to adhere to.

• Wear false eyelashes instead of mascara: This will give your lashes a longer look while still making them appear thicker. Check out 20 of our favourite magnetic lashes that work wonderfully on all eyes.

• Use lash growth serums: Eyelash serums are formulated with active ingredients such as biotin and bimatoprost, which can not only increase your natural lash length but also stimulate growth in hair follicles that aren’t currently producing lashes. It’s also important to opt for an FDA-approved lash serum to avoid potential complications.

• Opt for natural oils: There are naturally-derived plant oils that can can make your eyelashes longer, including olive oil, almond oil, coconut oil, castor oil. They help strengthen and hydrate your lashes. However, these oils may cause redness, sensitivity, and irritation. If this happens, check if your lash line has any signs of infection or blockage, and stop using the oil immediately.

• Choose a cruelty-free mascara: Some people use cruelty-free products because they believe that animal testing is wrong, while others may simply want to find a product that does not contain any animal-derived ingredients. Whatever your reason, there are plenty of great cruelty-free mascaras to choose from.
• Take eyelash growth supplements: Several supplements exist that can help you grow your lashes and simultaneously, carry ample health benefits to boost your immune system. One is biotin, which is a vitamin that is often taken to help grow hair. Another option is fish oil, which adds healthy fats to your hair follicles. Finally, there is folate, which is found in leafy greens and beans.

Clarifying the Myth Once & For All

While a good cry helps relieve stress, it won’t make your eyelashes longer. They do appear longer when you cry, but the effect is only temporary. Chances are, the opposite may be true – extended periods of crying could lead to lash loss. When you cry next, notice how your eyelashes look and try it on for size. So while you may feel better after a good cry, don’t expect your lashes to magically grow longer. Instead, attempt the above alternatives that doesn’t involve crying if you want longer, fuller lashes.