Some people online are saying that crying helps your lashes grow longer. Others say it’s just something people made up. Maybe you’ve looked in the mirror after crying and thought your lashes seemed darker or thicker. But what’s really going on? It might look like they’ve grown, but this is just a trick of how wet lashes reflect light. Crying doesn’t actually help your eyelashes grow.
Let’s break down why they might look different—and what really works if you want longer lashes.
- Why People Think Tears Make Lashes Longer
- What Tears Are Made Of
- What Actually Controls Lash Growth?
- Do Tears Have Any Lash Health Benefits?
- When Crying Can Damage Your Lashes
- Why Some People Lose Their Eyelashes Over Time
- The Only Real Way to Make Lashes Grow
- What to Do After Crying to Protect Your Lashes
- So… Does Crying Make Your Eyelashes Longer?
Why People Think Tears Make Lashes Longer
When your lashes are wet, they clump together and shine more under light. This can make them look longer and darker. That’s called temporary lash prominence. It’s just how the light hits them, not actual growth.
People might also feel better emotionally after crying, thanks to an emotional release and a boost of endorphins. This can make them notice small things in their face, like their lashes.
That mix of mood and appearance leads some to think crying changed their lashes—but nothing deep in the skin or hair root has changed.
What Tears Are Made Of
Tears come from glands just above your eyes. You make different kinds of tears throughout the day:
- Reflex tears help when smoke, wind, or onions bother your eyes.
- Basal tears (or continuous tears) keep your eyes moist all the time.
- Emotional tears appear when you’re happy, sad, scared, or overwhelmed.
All tears carry water, fatty lipids, proteins, electrolytes, and enzymes. Some emotional tears may even carry cortisol, the stress hormone. The tear mix spreads over your eye in three layers: a mucous layer, an aqueous layer, and an oily layer. These protect your eyes but don’t reach deep enough to touch the part where lashes grow.
What Actually Controls Lash Growth?
Your lashes grow from little pockets under your skin called hair follicles. The way they grow follows a cycle:
- The anagen phase is when the lash grows.
- The catagen phase is when it stops growing and rests.
- The telogen phase is when the lash falls out and a new one starts.
Tears don’t change this cycle. They clean and hydrate the surface of your lashes, but they don’t touch the follicle. So they can’t cause lash follicle growth or trigger growth phase stimulation.
If your lashes grow, it’s usually because something is affecting the follicles—like peptides, biotin, or prostaglandin analogs found in lash serums. These ingredients feed the root of the hair and make lashes grow longer, stronger, and sometimes darker.
Do Tears Have Any Lash Health Benefits?
Crying might have a few small upsides for your lash area:
- It can wash away old mascara, dust, or dirt. That’s called a tear cleansing effect.
- It keeps the eye area moist, adding a little lash-friendly hydration.
- It might help reduce short-term itchiness or redness around your lashes.
These things might make your lashes look better in the moment, but they don’t make them thicker or help them grow longer. Once the tears dry, your lashes go back to how they were.
When Crying Can Damage Your Lashes
Crying itself isn’t the problem—it’s what people do while crying. Most of us rub our eyes or press them with tissues. That can pull on lashes and damage the roots. It can also cause lash thinning or even break lashes off at the base.
Wearing lash extensions? Crying right after getting them done can cause fallout after crying with lash extensions. The moisture breaks down the glue before it fully sets. Even natural lashes can fall out if you rub too much.
Why Some People Lose Their Eyelashes Over Time
Your lashes might get thinner or shorter for many reasons that have nothing to do with crying. These include:
- Hormonal shifts, especially around menopause or puberty
- Thyroid-related lash loss from medical conditions
- Lack of nutrients like zinc, iron, or biotin
- Stress or certain medications
- Genetic traits that run in families
All these things can affect how long your lashes stay in the growth cycle before they fall out.
The Only Real Way to Make Lashes Grow
If you really want longer lashes, crying isn’t the answer. What works are products and routines that help at the root:
- Lash serums made with peptides and biotin help strengthen your lashes and keep them in the growth phase longer.
- Latisse, a prescription product with bimatoprost, is the only FDA-approved lash growth treatment. It helps lashes grow longer, thicker, and darker over time.
- Over-the-counter lash enhancers use natural extracts, mild prostaglandin analogs, and vitamins to support lashes safely.
Even giving your lashes a break from makeup—called a mascara break—can help them recover and avoid breakage. Using a lash conditioner keeps them strong and soft.
What to Do After Crying to Protect Your Lashes
If you’ve just cried, be gentle. Don’t rub or tug your eyes. Instead, pat your face dry and let your lashes air-dry. If they’re clumped, use a clean spoolie to brush them out. Avoid cotton pads or anything that might catch on your lashes.
If you wear lash extensions, avoid crying for the first 24 hours to protect the glue. Crying too soon can lead to the lashes falling out early. That’s true even for DIY extensions done at home.
So… Does Crying Make Your Eyelashes Longer?
No. It may moisturize and clean the lash area, and wet lashes may appear straighter, shinier, and more defined—but there’s no lash growth stimulation happening. There’s no evidence that crying promotes lash growth. Any change you notice is just temporary and only on the outside. Real growth takes time, care, and the right ingredients. If you’re serious about longer lashes, skip the myths and stick to what actually works.