Did you know your eyelashes have a life cycle just like the hair on your head? Or that they respond to winter weather in ways most of us never even notice – until a rogue lash lands on your cheek every other day or your mascara stops behaving? Most of us obsess over hair oils, scalp health, even brow laminations… but eyelashes aren’t really the priority.
And yet, as Expert Lash and Brow Artist Emmy Clayton points out, they’re “living, evolving, regenerating,” and they deserve the same level of attention we give everything else in our beauty routine.
Between icy outdoor air and moisture-stripping central heating inside, winter creates the perfect storm for lash dryness, so it’s even more crucial to take care of them during the cold months. Here’s everything you need to keep your lashes long, strong and hydrated, according to Glow For It’s lash experts.
First things first: How Many lashes do we even have?
Most people guess somewhere between “a few dozen” and “a lot,” but the real number is surprisingly specific. According to Emmy, we have 90–200 lashes on the top lid and 70–100 on the bottom, each following its own independent rhythm. And yes, you lose lashes every day – 1–5 per eye is completely normal. Because each lash grows, rests and sheds at its own pace, your lash line never goes fully bare. It’s a constantly rotating cast rather than a mass exodus.
The full eyelash growth cycle
Every lash you have is cycling through three stages:
1. Anagen – The “born again” phase (30–45 days)
Anagen is the active growth stage – the period when each lash is being supplied with nutrients through the follicle and steadily lengthening. This phase typically lasts around one to one-and-a-half months, but like all parts of the lash cycle, the exact duration varies from person to person. The longer a lash remains in Anagen, the longer it can ultimately grow, which is why supporting the follicle during this window can make a noticeable difference over time.
2. Catagen – The reset phase (2–3 weeks)
During this phase, the follicle begins to shrink and detach from its blood supply, which means the lash can no longer lengthen. It isn’t actively growing or shedding; it’s simply stabilising before the next phase begins. Because the follicle is more fragile at this point, any premature tension (from rubbing your eyes, rough makeup removal, or over-curling) can cause the lash to fall out before it’s ready.
3. Telogen – The resting phase (Up to 3 months)
Telogen is essentially your lash’s downtime – the period when the follicle isn’t producing new length but is preparing for the next growth cycle. The lash remains attached but inactive, while a new hair begins forming beneath the surface. This stage can last anywhere from a few weeks to around three months, which is why shedding often feels irregular or unpredictable. When the new lash is ready to emerge, the old one naturally releases and falls away.
So… Does winter actually affect lash health?
Short answer: yes. Emmy explains that winter exposes lashes to cold air outdoors and dry central heating indoors, a combination that causes dehydration and increased shedding. The transition between seasons, in particular, tends to trigger more lash fallout. But shedding isn’t automatically a crisis. “Seasonal shedding doesn’t mean lashes are unhealthy – it means their cycle is active.” Basically: don’t panic, but do pay attention.
How to take care of your lashes in winter (and every season)
The experts behind the beauty brand Glow For It (which has the most popular lash serum on TikTok Shop UK), along with the brand’s own founder and CEO Daisy Kelly, frame healthy lash care around four core pillars:
1. Gentle cleansing
If you’ve ever found yourself scrubbing at stubborn mascara at the end of the day, this step is especially important. Repeated tugging or rubbing puts stress on the follicles and can lead to premature lash loss, particularly in winter when the hairs are already more prone to dryness.
Glow For It recommends melting away makeup with a soft balm, which breaks down mascara effectively while allowing you to gently sweep it away without pulling on delicate fibres.
2. Daily conditioning
Just as the colder months can leave your hair feeling dry and brittle, your lashes experience the same loss of moisture. Incorporating a leave-in lash conditioner helps keep the fibres hydrated and supple throughout the day and night.
3. Protective practices
These are the day-to-day basics that do make all the difference. Ease up on over-curling, avoid wearing heavy or waterproof mascaras daily, and never – ever – share eye makeup.
4. Overnight repair
Night time is when the follicle does most of its regeneration, so supporting the process is essential. Glow For It CEO and founder Daisy Kelly recommends a simple, consistent night routine: After cleansing, apply a lash growth serum (Glow For It’s viral serum uses a peptide formula designed to nourish, strengthen, and stimulate hair follicles to promote longer), healthier lash growth – without the use of prostaglandin analogues.
You can follow it with the brand’s new Lash Recharge (retailing for £23.99) for extra nourishment and repair. It contains five complexes of hyaluronic acid, along with peptides and panthenol to hydrate and condition each lash (the before and after pictures are incredible).
Do you really need a lash serum?
If you’re happy with your natural length and thickness, then strictly speaking, no – but if your lashes feel brittle, sparse, prone to shedding, or especially stressed in winter, a growth serum can absolutely support the renewal process.
The key is consistency. Because of the 3-stage lash cycle, you won’t see changes overnight – you’re influencing future lashes as much as current ones. That’s why serums are best used continually through winter, when dryness and temperature swings speed up lash fatigue.
According to Emmy, the most responsive moment is the Anagen phase – the period when the lash is actively growing. A well-formulated serum feeds the follicle at precisely the moment it can use it.
Other tips to note
A few lash-friendly habits make a big difference:
• Remove mascara gently – don’t rub or drag.
• Switch to nourishing formulas when the air turns dry.
• Avoid lash curlers on brittle lashes.
• Give them serum-based hydration nightly.
• Keep hands off your eyes (winter dryness makes everyone more rub-prone).
• And don’t be alarmed by seasonal shedding — it’s a sign the cycle is working.
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