Ageing, menopause, chemotherapy — and what to know about each
Your lashes and brows do so much more than frame your face. They protect your eyes, express your emotions, and quietly reflect what’s happening inside your body. Which is why, when they start to thin or fall, it can feel deeply unsettling — even if no one else notices.
At Elliegance, we believe the more you understand your body, the more gently you can care for it. So let’s talk honestly about what actually causes lash and brow changes and what you can do.
Ageing & Menopause
Many people notice a gradual change in their lashes and brows from their late thirties onwards, and it tends to accelerate during perimenopause and menopause. This isn’t your imagination it’s biology.
As oestrogen and progesterone levels decline, hair follicles across the body become less efficient. The active growth phase (Anagen) shortens. Follicles spend more time resting and less time growing. Each new lash that does emerge may be finer, shorter, and lighter than before. Over time, the cumulative effect is noticeable thinning, patchiness, and a loss of the density you once took for granted.
For brows specifically, years of over-plucking can compound this. Repeatedly removing hairs from the same follicle can, over decades, permanently reduce its ability to regrow. Which is why the full, natural brow look so many people want back requires both patience and proper follicle support.
“Your follicles don’t just stop working — they need more support, more consistently, as your body changes.” — Elliegance
The good news is that many follicles are dormant rather than dead. With the right conditioning, a shortened growth phase can be gently supported, and the quality of each hair that does grow can be improved — stronger from the root, more resistant to breakage, and more visible at the lash line.
Chemotherapy — Why the Timing Can Surprise You
This is something many people — including those going through treatment — don’t expect. And it’s one of the reasons Elliegance exists.
Why lashes and brows often don’t fall during treatment
Chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells — which is why it affects hair. But lash and brow follicles have a much slower cycle than scalp hair, and at any given moment the majority are in the resting Telogen phase. Scalp hair tends to begin shedding from around day 10–14 of treatment.
Lashes and brows, however, often fall after treatment ends — sometimes weeks or even months later. The lashes that appear intact during treatment may already have been affected; it simply takes longer to become visible.
This timing can feel cruel. Just as someone has finished treatment and is beginning to feel hopeful, their lashes and brows may begin to thin. Understanding why this happens doesn’t make it easier, but it does help to know it isn’t a sign something has gone wrong.
Why Not Everyone Loses Their Lashes
Lash and brow loss during or after chemotherapy is not universal. It depends on the type of chemotherapy agents used, the dosage, the treatment schedule, and each person’s own follicle biology. Some regimens are far more likely to cause lash loss than others. Some people experience complete loss; others notice mild thinning; some see no visible change at all.
This variability can cause confusion. People who don’t lose their lashes may wonder if their treatment is as strong. Those who do lose them may feel unexpectedly unprepared if their healthcare team didn’t mention it. Both experiences are valid — and both deserve care and support.
For those who do experience loss, regrowth typically begins 4–6 weeks after the final treatment cycle, though the full return of density can take considerably longer. The hairs that grow back first are often finer or a different texture — this is normal. With consistent nourishment, the follicle can recover and produce stronger, healthier growth over time.
A Word From Us
Elliegance was created because Ellie and Hannah both lived through the experience of lash and brow changes — through illness, through treatment, through recovery. They knew firsthand that the emotional impact of losing something so visible goes far beyond aesthetics. They also knew that what was available on the market wasn’t designed with people like them in mind.
EnHance isn’t just a serum. It’s an act of care — for anyone whose lashes and brows have changed because of age, menopause, treatment, or simply time.
If you have questions about whether EnHance is right for your situation, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch directly at elliegance.uk — we’re always here.
DEVELOPED BY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN THERE
Meet EnHance Lash & Brow Serum
A prostaglandin-free conditioning serum formulated with a multi-peptide complex, Keratin, Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol, and six soothing botanicals. Designed to support every phase of the growth cycle.
10ml · Dual-ended applicator · £38 · Prostaglandin-free