Do your lashes sometimes stay put for weeks, while other times they seem to fall out quickly? This largely depends on your natural eyelash growth cycle and its phases. Let’s clear up which phase your lashes are currently in and how to ensure they always look fresh. ✨

What Is the Eyelash Growth Cycle and Why Does It Matter?

Your eyelashes don’t all grow at once, nor do they fall out simultaneously. Each hair is in an independent cycle, ensuring we are never left completely lashless. According to research, the complete eyelash growth cycle lasts 4–11 months and consists of three main phases.

Here are the phases you should know about:

• Anagen (Growth Phase): This is the active growth period, lasting about 30–45 days. Approximately 40% of your upper lashes are in this phase at any given time. During this time, the lashes are strong and actively growing in length.
• Catagen (Transition Phase): A short period lasting 2–3 weeks, where the hair follicle shrinks and the lash stops growing. If a lash in this phase is pulled out, a new one won’t grow back immediately, but rather only at the end of the cycle.
• Telogen (Resting Phase): This is the longest phase, lasting about 100 days. The eyelash is at its full length and is waiting to shed so that a new hair can take its place.

Studies show that the daily growth rate of eyelashes is approximately 0.12–0.14 mm. This explains why permanent extensions or a *lash lift* might look grown-out and uneven after a few weeks.

Busting Myths: Why Do Eyelashes Fall Out?

Many people get startled when they see a few eyelashes on their pillow in the morning or while removing makeup. In reality, this is completely normal. On average, a person loses 1–5 eyelashes per day. It is a natural replacement process.

If you wear salon-installed eyelash extensions, the shedding is more noticeable because the dark and long artificial lash falls out together with your own lash. This often creates large gaps in the lash line that are hard to hide before your next maintenance appointment. This is where home solutions come to the rescue. Our lash clusters are designed so you can fill these gaps yourself in just a few minutes, without having to wait for an expensive salon appointment.

How Does the Growth Cycle Affect Different Methods?

The appearance of your lashes depends largely on which phase most of your hairs are in.

• Salon Eyelash Extensions: If the technician attaches an extension to a lash that is in the Anagen (growth) phase, it will grow out with the lash and may start to droop or twist due to the weight. If the extension is placed on a lash in the Telogen phase, it may fall out after just a few days when the natural hair decides to shed.
• Lash Clusters (DIY): Since our lash clusters are attached comfortably and last for 5–7 days, the shedding of a single hair doesn’t drastically affect the overall look. This makes them the most forgiving and carefree choice. Read more about our comparison on why to prefer lash clusters over lash extensions to better understand the differences.
• Lash Lift: The growth cycle is the biggest enemy of a lash lift. New straight lashes grow in between the curled ones, creating a “messy” effect after a few weeks.

Practical Tips for Eyelash Care

Regardless of which phase your lashes are in, there is a lot you can do yourself to keep them healthy and beautiful.

• Be gentle when cleaning: Especially in the Telogen phase, lashes are more loosely attached. Rubbing can cause premature shedding. Use a dedicated product – check out our guide on how to clean lash clusters to do it safely.
• Avoid eyelash curlers: Mechanical curling can break fragile lashes in the Catagen phase. Instead, choose a lash cluster style with the right curl, which gives the effect without damaging your own lashes.
• Support growth: A healthy diet and sufficient sleep help lashes in the Anagen phase grow stronger. Hormonal changes and stress can affect the duration of the cycle, so general well-being is the foundation of beautiful lashes.

Why Are Lash Clusters the Best Choice Regarding the Growth Cycle?

Fighting the natural growth cycle is expensive and time-consuming, especially if you have to visit a salon for maintenance every 2–3 weeks. Afterglow lash clusters offer a smart alternative here.

• Flexibility: Since lash clusters last 5–7 days, you replace them before the grow-out of your natural lashes becomes annoying.
• Quick Fix: If you notice that you’ve lost a couple of natural lashes and a small gap has appeared, you can apply a new cluster in 15 minutes at home. Find out how long lash clusters last and how to maximize their lifespan.
• Cost-effectiveness: You don’t have to pay for the replacement of every single fallen hair. One of our boxes contains 144 lash clusters, which is enough for months. This is many times cheaper than permanent salon lash maintenance.

Choose a Smarter Way to Beautiful Lashes

The eyelash growth cycle is a natural process we cannot change, but we can choose the method that fits it best. Lash clusters give you the freedom to always have a perfect lash line, regardless of whether your natural lashes are currently growing or shedding.

If you want to try how simple it is to achieve a salon-worthy result at home, take a look at our e-store and find your favorite style.

View products and start your journey here 👇