How to Grow Longer, Thicker Eyelashes with Castor Oil

Few things are more feminine and alluring than long, thick eyelashes. In fact, eyelashes are so closely associated with femininity that drawing longer eyelashes is one of the main ways that cartoonist distinguish between female and male cartoon characters.

Unfortunately, not all of us are graced with naturally long eyelashes. Some of us are born with short, stubby or thin lashes. Even if you were lucky enough to be born with great lashes, as you begin to age you may find that your eyelashes are getting shorter and thinner than when you were young. Sometimes thinning eyelashes can even be caused by nutritional deficiencies or underlying medical or hormonal conditions.

Recently new prescription medications like Latisse® have come out that promise to help with growing longer lashes. Although these medications sound good on the surface, there are actually some underlying problems with them that can have a dramatic impact on your appearance. Most notably, Latisse® can actually increase the brown pigmentation in your eyes. That means that if you have blue eyes, green or gray eyes it can actually create brown spots in your eyes and change the color of them. The worst part is that this change is not reversible.

Luckily, medications like Latisse® are not your only option for growing longer, thicker lashes. Instead, you can opt for using castor oil to encourage lash growth. It costs a fraction of the price, can be found at any drug store, is safe and has no side effects. Best of all, though, it really works. Here's how to grow long, thick eyelashes using castor oil.

1. Buy a bottle of castor oil. You can find castor oil at any drug store. It is usually kept with either the laxatives or near the mineral oil. A bottle typically costs anywhere from around $3.00-$4.00 and will last you for a very, very long time.

2. Before you go to bed at night apply a thin coating of castor oil to your eyelash area, using care not to get it in your eyes. I personally just tip the bottle up to my fingertips to get a little on my fingers and then dab it on my eye area. Other people apply it with cotton balls or q-tips. Still others use a clean mascara wand dipped in the castor oil to apply it. Leave it on and go to bed.

3. When you get up in the morning wash your face and apply your makeup as usual.

Repeat this process every night and you will very quickly begin to see results. I personally have been using castor oil on my lashes for about 2 months now and there is a very noticeable change in both the length and thickness of my lashes. I also apply it to my eyebrows because I had over plucked them years ago. My brows have also begun to grow in again.

A word of caution. Be sure to wash your hands after applying the castor oil and avoid swallowing it since it used to induce vomiting and ease constipation. Applying it to your skin will not have this effect. However, taking it internally will so it is important that you don't eat it unless you want to be spending a lot of time in the bathroom.

I hope this helps you get long, beautiful lashes without the risk of changing your eye color and without breaking the bank. Good luck!