Picture this: you’ve had a day. Your boss was micromanaging, traffic on the way home was nauseating, and yet another day has gone without Beyoncé dropping the visuals. In the words of the great Solange Knowles: “I’ve got a lot to be mad about.” After coming home, devouring a comfort meal, and surrendering to a good cry, you take a look in the mirror. You notice how cute your nose looks when it’s red, that you seriously need to set an eyebrow threading appointment, and— that your lashes are suddenly thriving? Did crying make your eyelashes longer?
It’s a phenomenon we’ve all experienced: eyelashes looking twice as long after a sob sesh. It’s why crying selfies are always secretly the cutest! But, are there actually any lasting, long term effects? With the sudden drastic change in thickness and length, the emo girls are dying to know: does crying make your eyelashes longer?
The internet is riddled with methods of nurturing lash growth, and while many are tried and true, it’d be helpful to know if we had immediate access to nature’s most cost effective serum. After all, if you’re going to shed the tears anyway, it might be worth getting something out of it.
Debunking The Myth
Let’s first take a look at the science. Containing enzymes and electrolytes, tears are made of water, fatty lipids, electrolytes, proteins, and mucin, which together combine into three layers: the mucous layer, the aqueous layer and the oily layer. Could these possibly be the secret ingredients necessary for long lashes?
Well, here comes the bad news.
Unfortunately, there’s (currently!) no scientific evidence to prove that crying actually prompts eyelash growth, at least not anything beyond temporarily. While they certainly look longer after a good crying session, it’s only because they appear darker and straighter as tears lubricate the lashes.
So What Can You Do?
Okay, so tears aren’t going to do it. Luckily, all hope is not lost! There are plenty of other methods to accentuate your lash look, from serums to prescriptions. Here are some other ways you can get longer, stronger, thicker lashes that will last longer than a late night cry sesh.
Serums
There are plenty of serums on the market that promise to promote lash growth. Amongst some of the best include Lashfood’s Eyelash Enhancing Serum, which promises significant change in just four weeks. While it sits at a heftier price point, raving reviews from those who claim significant before and after results are an easy sell.
Home Remedies
Sometimes, the best remedies aren’t the ones that come prepackaged, but rather, the ones passed down from word of mouth or our grandmothers’ girlhood. For example, dipping an old, clean mascara brush into a bottle of castor oil and coating your lashes with it can do wonders for length and thickness. Aloe vera can also hydrate brittle lashes, a moisturizing balm known to boost collagen.
Medications
Yup, you heard right. There are actual medications for lash growth! Beyond incorporating foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids like fish, leafy greens, or avocado to get thicker lashes, there are medications available to help speed up the process. As the first FDA-approved lash growth product, a Latisse prescription will have everyone constantly wondering if you’re rocking falsies.
False Eyelashes
From magnetic lashes to gluing on full strips, when all else fails, falsies are the way to go. Some quality lashes can be expensive, but with proper care, you can reuse them for many nights out. In fact, it’s been said that lashes are supposed to last up to 12 nights out, so don’t be shy about getting good mileage out of your investment.
Don’t Stop The Flow
If you’ve found yourself after an emotional night asking “Wait, does crying make my eyelashes longer,” don’t be too disappointed by the sobering truth. Your tears may not be providing any long term results, but they’re still pretty cathartic for purging any pent up emotions, plus your lashes will still look fresh and full in the moment, even if you’ve got a Kim K cry.