Have you ever noticed a lash fall out for seemingly no reason, while others around it stay put for months? That’s not bad luck. It’s simply your lashes following their own natural rhythm, known as the eyelash growth cycle.
Whether you’re curious about your natural lashes, or wondering how this cycle affects your lash extensions or lash lift, understanding this process can help you know what to expect and how to care for your lashes along the way.
The Three Phases of the Eyelash Growth Cycle
Each of your eyelashes moves through three stages on its own timeline, which is why you never lose all your lashes at once.
Eyelash Growth Cycle
1. Growth Phase (Anagen)
・This is when the lash is actively growing from the root
・It tends to last around 30 to 45 days
・At any given time, roughly 40% of your lashes are in this phase
2. Transition Phase (Catagen)
・A short pause of about 2 to 3 weeks where growth stops
・The follicle starts to shrink as the lash prepares to shed
・Lashes in this phase are more likely to fall out if they’re put under extra strain, for example from very heavy extensions or repeated rubbing
3. Resting Phase (Telogen)
- The lash rests in the follicle before shedding naturally
- This phase can last anywhere from around 4 months up to several months, and varies quite a bit from person to person
- Once it ends, a new lash begins growing to take its place
💡 Good to know: a single lash’s full journey, from new growth to natural shedding, generally takes somewhere between 4 months and up to about a year. Because each lash is on its own schedule, your lash line always looks full even as individual lashes come and go.
A clinical review published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology confirms this phase typically lasts several months before a new lash begins to grow
Why Your Eyelash Growth Cycle Matters
Genetics, age, overall health and nutrition all play a role in how long your personal cycle runs. It’s also common for the cycle to shorten a little as we get older, and hormonal changes, such as those from thyroid changes or menopause, can affect it too.
How Lash Extensions and Lash Lifts Fit Into Your Eyelash Growth Cycle
It’s a common misconception that treatments disrupt your natural lash cycle. In most cases, that’s not quite right.
Lash Extensions
When applied correctly and with an appropriate weight and length for your natural lashes, extensions shouldn’t interfere with your growth cycle. If a natural lash falls out while wearing an extension, it’s usually just that lash reaching the end of its own resting phase, not the extension causing damage.
Lash Lift
A lash lift generally doesn’t affect your natural growth cycle either. Very frequent lifts, however, can leave lashes feeling drier or more brittle over time, which is why spacing treatments out and using proper aftercare both matter. We’ve covered the risks and how to prevent them in more detail here.
Why Our Master Lash Artist’s Experience Makes a Real Difference
Our master lash artist at Mai Lashes Brisbane has worked closely with thousands of clients over the years, and that experience often means we can spot a natural lash that’s close to the end of its resting phase, sometimes before it’s obvious to anyone else. When a lash looks like it’s about to shed, we’ll typically skip the extension on that particular lash, allowing it to fall out naturally rather than taking a costly extension down with it.
This kind of judgement isn’t something you can learn from a manual. It comes from paying close attention to lash health, one client at a time, over many years of practice.
It’s one of the reasons why the skill and experience of your lash artist can matter just as much as the products being used.
Caring for Your Lashes Through Every Phase
・Be gentle when removing makeup, especially around the lash line
・Avoid rubbing or pulling at your lashes
・Keep up with a nourishing lash serum as part of your daily routine (see our full guide to lash serums)
・A balanced diet also supports healthy lash growth
Noticing More Shedding in Spring or Autumn?
If you feel like you’re losing more lashes at certain times of year, you’re not imagining it. Seasonal shedding is a real, temporary phenomenon many people notice around the change of seasons, and it usually settles back down naturally after a few weeks.
Curious About Your Own Lash Cycle?
Every set of lashes is a little different, and that’s exactly why a consultation with a lash artist can help. We can take a look at your natural lashes and talk through what might suit them best, whether that’s extensions, a lash lift, or simply a good daily care routine.
Visit us at one of our three Brisbane locations:
・Toowong
・Woolloongabba
・Brisbane CBD
Mai Lashes Brisbane is a lash and brow salon based in Brisbane, Australia.
The owner, Mai, is an active lash artist who has placed and won awards at multiple international competitions. She is also actively involved in training beginner artists and developing future lash professionals.
We continue working every day with the goal of becoming the salon people think of when they say,
“If you’re looking for lash extensions or lash lifts in Australia, it has to be Mai Lashes Brisbane.”
