It seems like each decade brings a new trend for eyebrows. From the plucked thin brows in the 90s to the fluffy, thick brows of the 2020s – they always change and morph with the times.
However, there is one thing that does not change, and that’s the fact that as we age, our eyebrows will slowly but surely start to grow upwards.
So, why do your eyebrows grow upwards? There are a number of factors that can contribute to this – genetics, age, sun damage, and even smoking. Most commonly, people are just born with eyebrows that grow in the wrong direction.
Trimming your eyebrows regularly can help to keep them in check and stop them from getting too unruly. You can also use a shaping gel to help keep them in place.
Ultimately, though, there is no guaranteed way to prevent your eyebrows from growing upwards as you age. However, taking good care of your skin and using products that can condition your eyebrow hair can help to slow down the process.
In this post, we will explore the reasons why your eyebrows may grow upwards as you age, some tips on how to keep them in check, and some general information on eyebrow care so that you can have beautiful and healthy brows.
Eyebrow Hair Growing In The Wrong Direction
Feeling a bit like Einstein in that photo where his hair and eyebrows are pointing in all directions?
It’s not just you – a lot of people have this problem. As we age, our skin loses elasticity and our eyebrow hairs start to grow in all sorts of directions.
Here are some common reasons why your eyebrow hairs might be growing in the wrong direction, whether that’s up, down, or in multiple directions at once.
Sun Damage
The sun can damage your skin in all sorts of ways – one of which is causing the loss of elasticity. This means that your skin isn’t as able to bounce back into shape, which can cause your eyebrow hairs to start growing in different directions.
As your eyebrow hairs grow, they will grow in whatever direction the hair follicle is pointing. If your skin is no longer as strong or elastic as it used to be, it won’t be able to direct the hair in the right direction.
Smoking
Smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your skin. It dries it out, wrinkles it, and can even cause your hair to fall out. So it’s no surprise that smoking can also cause your eyebrow hairs to grow in the wrong direction.
Similar to sun damage, smoking makes your skin weaker and prevents it from properly directing your eyebrow hairs as they grow.
Smoking can also make your eyebrows thinner because it causes some hair loss. Thinning eyebrows can start growing in different directions because they don’t have enough eyebrow hairs to fall back on.
If you want to keep your eyebrows looking their best, it’s time to quit smoking.
Genetics
Sometimes, the direction your eyebrow hairs grow in is completely out of your control. If your parents or grandparents had unruly eyebrows, chances are you will too.
There’s not much you can do about genetics. We will discuss some strategies you can use to tame your eyebrows in a moment.
But you can’t really affect the direction your eyebrows grow if you were born with them. For example, a lot of people naturally have eyebrows that grow upwards in the area closest to the nose. This is difficult to change but it can be styled in a way that temporarily makes the hairs point a different way.
How To Get Eyebrows To Lay Flat
Regardless of why your eyebrows are not growing in the direction you wish they did, there are a few things you can do to get them to behave:
Fill Them In
If your eyebrows are naturally sparse, fill them in with a pencil (we love this one from Anastasia Beverly Hills) or powder that matches your hair color. This will help to create the illusion of a fuller, more shapely brow.
While you’re filling them in, make sure to use short quick brush strokes to create the illusion of hairs, pointing in the direction you want. This can really offset the fact that your natural brows grow in the wrong direction and make them appear more polished.
Use A Shaping Gel
If you want to keep your brows in place all day long, opt for a brow gel (again, Anastasia Beverly Hills seems to have some of the best brow gels). This will help to hold the hairs in place and can also help to give the illusion of a fuller brow.
Shaping gels are available in both clear and tinted formulas, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
If you have very light hair, opt for a clear gel to avoid any color transfer. If you have dark hair, however, a tinted gel can help to give your brows more definition and make them appear fuller.
A brow gel is powerful enough to hold your eyebrow hairs in place in whatever direction you brush them. It’s one of the best ways to temporarily correct unruly eyebrows that grow in the wrong directions.
Trim Them Regularly
Another great way to make your eyebrows look nicer when they’re growing upwards is to trim them. This doesn’t mean you should go crazy with a pair of scissors – just lightly trim any long hairs that are sticking up above the rest.
You can do this with a small pair of nail scissors, or even just a regular hair trimmer if you have one. Just be careful not to take off too much, as you can always trim more.
Trimming works especially well for those long upward-growing eyebrow hairs you might have growing closest to your nose. When you trim them, they will no longer stick out so dramatically, and your eyebrows will appear neater overall.
Trimming also works really well on eyebrow hairs that stubbornly point downwards. It’s a great solution that can really clean up the shape of your brows.
How To Tame Eyebrows That Stick Out
We’ve discussed a few quick-fix solutions that can help your eyebrows lay flat temporarily. But what else can you do to tame your brows naturally?
There are a few things you can do to keep your eyebrows healthy and tame, which can help them stick out less over time:
Condition
Conditioning your eyebrow hairs might seem like a weird thing to do, but if you do it on your head hair, why not try it on your eyebrows?
To condition your eyebrow hairs, you can use castor oil or special eyebrow serums (if you’re willing to invest in your brows, this one by Revitalash is incredibly effective). They will make your eyebrow hairs healthier and softer, which can help them lay down flat.
As a bonus, you can brush your eyebrows with a spoolie brush while applying the conditioning treatment to your brows. Do this every night before bed to allow the conditioning oils to work their magic all night long. This will help shape them and direct their growth.
Skincare
The condition of your skin is closely related to the way your eyebrows look. The skin underneath your brows is very delicate and prone to aging early.
So, if you want to keep your eyebrows looking good for as long as possible, make sure to take care of the skin around them. Use a gentle cleanser and apply a hydrating moisturizer every day. You can also use an eye cream to help the skin around your eyebrows remain young and healthy.
Using creams and serums that contain collagen can be especially helpful, because collagen helps retain elasticity in your skin, allowing it to direct the growth of your eyebrows better.
And of course, don’t forget to wear sunscreen every day! This will help prevent sun damage, which can contribute to the loss of elasticity in your skin.
Can You Train Your Eyebrows To Grow In The Right Direction?
If your eyebrows have a mind of their own and just won’t stay put, you may be wondering if there’s anything you can do to train them to grow in the right direction.
Unfortunately, there’s no guaranteed way to do this. However, taking better care of them and the skin around them can help them be at their best.
If your eyebrows were always growing in wonky directions, the issue is probably genetic and there isn’t any way you can re-train them. Your best bet is to follow some of our styling tips and shape them each day.
Final Thoughts
Our eyebrows play a big role in our overall facial appearance. As we age, it’s not uncommon for them to start growing upwards due to the loss of elasticity in the skin. However, there are things we can do to help them look better, including trimming them or using a shaping gel.
While there is no guaranteed way to change the direction in which they grow, you can always make them look healthy and neat. Embrace your natural eyebrow texture and find ways to love it despite its quirks!
We hope you found these tips helpful in maintaining beautiful brows throughout the years!
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