What do you do about losing eyebrows and eyelashes?

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Permalink Reply by iAMrj on April 7, 2008 at 6:32pm

Heather, click here for a YouTube video about applying cosmetics with alopecia. It focuses on eyebrows and eyelashes in particular.

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Permalink Reply by Liz on April 15, 2008 at 3:46pm

Oh my gosh, I love this video! It's completely changed the way I draw on my eyebrows and I am so much happier with the results. Thank you for posting this!

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Permalink Reply by Orbit on April 7, 2008 at 7:10pm

Heather, I've drawn on my eyebrows forever, and I have to admit there is a bit of a learning curve until you get the knack of it. For me the challenging part is getting them symmetrical, but with practice it can easily be done. Once I've drawn them on I usually use a little bit of translucent powder to "set" them in place, especially in the hot humid summers!

In addition to drawing them on I've tried the temporary eyebrow tattoos, however I never found them very natural looking, and I tried about 12 styles. One last thing I wear occasionally are these faux eyebrows that are real hair set in a clear flexible membrane, very realistic looking. A little tricky to work with, but again when you get the hang of it, its easy. I will try to did up a picture of them for you to see.

As far as lashes go, that is very frustrating, I'm always getting stuff in my eyes and long for the protection of lashes. Sometimes I fumble around with fake lashes (either the strip kind or individual lashes), but I'm still learning the best way to make them stick and stay. I pretty much just use a dark brown liquid liner and do my top lid to give the "illusion" of lashes. That's what I think of myself sometimes, A Master Illusionist! :-D

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Permalink Reply by Orbit on April 7, 2008 at 7:27pm

I should mention that the temp tattoos I tried, mainly it was just the colour that wasn't right, I was looking for something in the auburn/red range and they all looked orange on my see through pale skin. I've read about some other ladies that have had great success with them, so please don't let my review deter you in any way, I'm sure the darker tones must look better.

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Permalink Reply by Daria on April 7, 2008 at 7:33pm

Well, I'm actually going for a permanent cosmetics (brow tattoo) consultation tomorrow, but for the past few months I've been using the following routine: (1) start with Savvy Brow Powder in Blond (Sally Beauty Supply, really cheap). This come in a little pot with a stencil and a brush. This brushes on and off really easy in case you make a mistake drawing it on. Once I get my brows the way I like them, I (2) go over the powder with my Indelible Eye Liner Pencil in Brunette. I got this off of the Headcovers Unltd website which I found in the NAAF website marketplace. The pencil has a brush on one end (kind of like a mascara brush). I use this to lightly brush over my lines so they're not completely solid and fake looking. Finally, I (3) finish them off with She-Laq by Benefit cosmetics which I got at Sephora.com. I heard about the She-Laq at a Bald Girls Do Lunch get-together and I am SO GLAD I did. The stuff is amazing. I use it on my brows and my eyeliner. It's a clear liquid, comes in a little bottle with a whole set of make-up brushes, and you just brush it on wherever you don't want your make-up to smudge or wipe off. Your make-up will not come off until you wash it off.

As for the lashes, I usually just do like Orbit does and go heavy on the upper lid eyeliner. I usually use a dark chocolate brown. When the eyes are lined, you dont' notice the lashes so much. If I've got something special to do, then I use false eyelashes (strip kind, not individual ones) from Sally Beauty Supply. They cost less than $5 and are surprisingly easy to use and comfortable to wear.

I have to admit, losing the lashes and brows has been the worst part of alopecia for me. I always tell my firends that I would LOVE it if I lost all the hair from the neck down....but I wish I could keep from neck up!!! LOL Take care!

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Permalink Reply by Katie on April 8, 2008 at 3:18am

It's not easy losing your eyebrows and eyelashes. It really changed my appearance quite a bit. The first time my eyebrows and eyelashes fell out I didn't attempt to draw them in. I thought it would be too complicated and time consuming. They eventually grew back and fell out again. The second time they fell out I decided to take matters into my own hands and figure out a way to draw them on. I had a really hard time getting the eyebrows to look the same on each side, but found it helpful to use stencils. I bought them online at www.eyebrowz.com. Four eyebrow stencil shapes cost $14.95 and the powder/brush cost $4.95. I used the stencils for a couple of months and then decided to get my eyebrows and eyeliner tattooed. I just didn't like drawing them on each day or going through the day wondering if my eyebrows were still in place. Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by kastababy on April 8, 2008 at 7:06am

I guess I've been fortunate enough to have only lost my eyebrows once, and they grew back in so quickly that I never really paid it any attention. My eyelashes are a different story. I tried wearing the false eyelashes, but after a while they get so itchy and irritating that I just had to pull them off. Now I mostly don't have any eyelashes and I just line my eyes and keep going, but for formal occasions and Halloween (as part of my costume of course) I just put on a pair of fakes and keep on going. I've heard of too many allergic reactions to the ink in permanent cosmetics, plus they fade over time, so that is not an option for me.

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Permalink Reply by Vicktoria (Katya's mom) on April 8, 2008 at 9:03am

My daughter (12 yo) draws hers in or uses the silicone based fakes. At 12 appearance really starts to matter. With bangs, the fakes look amazingly real. Even without bangs, I think they'd look pretty good even though you'd have to work harder to cover the edges. We get the eyebrows at headcovers.com. Also, she sometimes wears fake lashes, they don't seem to bother her. I just have to put them on for her. Other times it's brown eyeliner. With a 12 year old, the challange is making her look as if she is not made up. We are getting there, but it''s taken some time. Also, with drawing in eyebrows, I think having some bangs helps. That way you just need some color to have depth in your face, and the bangs take attention away from the fakiness.

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Permalink Reply by Maidie on April 8, 2008 at 3:29pm

For me losing my eyebrows and eye lashes was in some ways a lot harder than losing all of the hair on my head. It was just so shocking to me because I "assumed" the hair loss process was over. At first, I used a stencil to sort of color them in with eye shadow, then I went to the temporary tattoos (which I thought looked pretty natural when I could line them up well) but I have been happiest with getting my eyebrows done in permanent make up. By far, it is the easiest solution--now I always have eyebrows. I am also in the process of getting permanent eyeliner--one application done, one to go. I agree with Orbit that you don't notice the lashes (or lack thereof) with a well defined eye. And I do use false eyelashes (professionally applied) for black tie events. Hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by welshcakes on April 8, 2008 at 4:08pm

This post is slightly long but hope the advice is helpful! For my eyebrows I stand back from a wall mirror and I can see where the brow line is and where the hair should be - draw a fine line with an eyebrow pencil, then go back to your hand mirror and thicken, fill in as necessary! (see the advice below also)

Eyebrows

If you have a lack of hairs on your eyebrows you could try an eyebrow pencil. Draw in short soft lines where your eyebrow used to be to give the appearance of natural hair. Don't draw just one line. It is advisable to practice on the back of your hand to get the curve right, using little strokes to imitate eyebrow hairs. To some extent the less perfect the better.

When drawing the eyebrow, use the bone above the eye socket as a guide for the shape of the eyebrow. Try to use a colour similar to your natural eyebrow colour and failing this go lighter and not darker as this is likely to look more natural.

Using hairspray over eyebrow pencil makes it last longer and will also make it more resistant to perspiration, and life in general.

If eyebrow pencil does not suit you, you can buy fake eyebrows which come in a variety of colours, shapes and lengths. They are self adhesive, can last up to three days and are waterproof.


Applying eyebrows with make-up

Find an eyebrow or eyeliner pencil that is similar in colour to your hair/wig hair colour. Test the colour and definition of the pencil on the back of your hand, checking that it is easily applied without being too thick or harsh.

Step 1
Sharpen the pencil so that you can apply fine strokes. Take a good look at the line of your brow bone in the mirror and consider the shape of eyebrow you would like to create in relation to your eye. Your eyebrow should generally follow your brow bone and not extend beyond the length of your eye. If you are a beginner and have no eyebrow hair remaining, you may find it helpful to very lightly mark out with small dots the shape of the eyebrow to be applied. You could have a look at an old photograph of yourself if you would like a reminder on how to recreate your old eyebrow shape.

Step 2
Concentrate on one eye at a time. Beginning from the inner part of the eyebrow, start to draw short strokes with the pencil to simulate hair within the shape of the eyebrow you are creating as this will look far more natural than a block of colour (see Picture 2). This may sound difficult but is very easy with practice. Any mistakes can be easily corrected by simply removing the pencil marks with tissue paper and reapplying. Once you are happy with the shape and colour of your eyebrow, repeat the process with the other eyebrow. Your eyebrows do not need to look perfect, natural eyebrows are not!

Other tips
If after lots of practice you find it difficult to apply eyebrows as above, you could consider purchasing temporary tattoos of eyebrows that last a couple of days after application and come in lots of different shapes, sizes and colours. Temporary tattoos can be bought on the internet. A longer term solution is semi-permanent tattoos which generally last 3 to 5 years but may require some touching up each year.


Eyelashes

False eyelashes made of both synthetic and real hair are widely available on-line and in high street chemists. They can be quite tricky to apply to start with but can look very realistic with a bit of effort. With fake eyelashes try using eyeliner and mascara for a more realistic look. Start with simple eyelashes, don’t go too over the top as they will look less natural.

If you feel uncomfortable with fake eyelashes but would like to draw more attention to your eyes, eye liner and eye shadow can both be used. It is best to avoid black and use medium brown. Use a fine line for definition. Wiping cotton buds over the line helps to take away the harshness.


Applying false eyelashes

False eyelashes can be bought in most large chemist stores, some boutiques and on the internet. Have a good look around to find some that suit you and that have a natural look. You may have to experiment with a couple of different styles before finding the ones that are right for you. Eyelashes are applied with glue usually supplied with the eyelashes (although you can buy the glue separately) or can be bought pre-glued.

Find an eyeliner pencil to create definition around your eyes. Experiment with different colours to see what suits you, and it does not necessarily need to be black or brown, which could be a little harsh. Pencils generally give a softer look, while liquid liners can be a little harsher but tend to last longer through the day. As with eyebrow pencils, try out different products on the back of your hand to check that they are easily applied and that the colour is suitable. Without any eyelashes the eyeliner does not have any hairs to cling to and as the skin around the eye is delicate, you need to find a pencil or liquid liner that gives a strong colour without having to apply too much pressure.

Step 1
Using a sharpened pencil or liquid liner, apply a line along the edge of the eyelid and also on the bottom lid (see Picture 3). You may find it difficult to apply to the top lid without blinking, so just relax and with practice you will get used to keeping your eye lids still.

Step 2
When you take the eyelashes from the packet, they will be shaped so that one is for the right and one for the left eye. Hold them up against your eyelids to check whether they need shortening. If so, cut the appropriate amount from the end of the eyelashes where the lashes are longest.

Step 3
Apply a small amount of glue along the band of one of the eyelashes. Wait a few seconds until the glue becomes tacky (you can blow lightly on the lashes to speed the process). Apply the eyelashes to the eyelid on top of the eyeliner (using your fingers or a pair of tweezers, whichever you find easiest), pressing slightly if needed with a finger nail or small finger on the eyelash band across the lid (see Picture 4). Repeat the process for the second eye.

Tips
If you wish, the eyelashes should stay on all day and evening. It is a good idea to keep some spare glue with you so that if they come unstuck, you can reapply some glue. Some types of false eyelashes do not react well to water or moisture, so avoid applying mascara and weepy films!

Removing your false eyelashes
When you are ready to take off your eyelashes, carefully peel away the eyelashes by holding between your thumb and forefinger, gripping the outer part of the eyelashes. Remove the layer of glue by carefully pulling away with your fingers, smoothing out the eyelash band between your thumb and forefinger before placing back in the box or somewhere safe. With careful use, your eyelashes should last up to a week or possibly longer.

It is a good idea to remove all traces of eyeliner and glue using your usual cleanser or make-up remover to avoid irritation. You should also regularly use an eyebath to cleanse your eyes with an eye wash to remove all those dust particles which would otherwise be avoided if you had natural eyelashes.

Alternatives
If you find it difficult to apply glue to the lashes, you may find it easier to use the pre-glued eyelashes, but they may not last as long. Another alternative is individual lashes but these take longer to apply. There are also different eyelash glues on the market and it may be worth trying a different one if you eyelids become sensitive to a particular product.

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Permalink Reply by Karina on April 9, 2008 at 12:27am

I have tattoed eyebrows and I would really recommend them - I love not having to draw them in every day only to have them wear off by lunchtime. I won't lie, it did hurt getting them done but I think it was worth it.

I am not brave enough to get my eyeliner tattoed, not sure I could handle it being so close to my eyes. I use eyeliner to give the illusion of a lash line and have tried false eyelashes but find them too fiddly for day-to-day use. The thing is though, people really don't notice that i don't have eyelashes unless i point it out - it seems people are really very unobservant!

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Permalink Reply by Lee on April 9, 2008 at 3:25am

hello...I agree with everyone else that if you use liner, people will not notice your lack of lashes. Ive actually put one on and had one off and I saw absolutly no difference. I only wear them if Im going somewhere special. When I first got AU, I wore them everyday because I was so self concious.
As for the brows, I have mine tattood...it hurt...but it was well worth it! I just dont have to worry about them..and thats nice. This is by far the toughest part of Alopecia : ( But you can do it!! Take your time with the lashes though..it takes a lot of practice. Check out mylash.com...best lashes I have found so far.

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