As I filled in my eyebrows recently, I just got so pissed off. (I know you are thinking, “she sure is pissed off a lot lately!”) First of all, it’s hard to color them in when you can’t see. When you put on your glasses, they get in the way of the process. The struggle is real! As if watching your face fall wasn’t enough. We must lose the brows too. And for my male subscribers and readers, I know you can relate to hair loss. Eyebrows might not seem like a big deal when you’ve lost all the hair on your head! I feel you. At one point, after a stylist I visited away from home decided I needed chemicals put in my hair, it came out. It broke off. My regular stylist referred to my hair as dead, as she chopped the rest of it off. I was devastated. Loss of your hair isn’t easy. Although I must admit, once it was cut off, I loved it! These disappearing brows are a totally different story! Short hair is cute. Missing eyebrows? Not so much.
Seems like a stupid thing to concern yourself with, but it’s not. Eyebrows are essential to the face. They make us look more youthful and attractive. They also help us to express nonverbal communication! They enhance our facial expressions. Eyebrows say a lot, as does lack of eyebrows.
My tails are missing. That’s what they call them. The outer third. When this happens, it’s typically hormonal in nature. The thyroid gland in the neck, (That is also starting to sag…gobble, gobble!) produces hormones that regulate metabolism. When there’s too much or too little, it disrupts a lot of S#%T, including hair growth. Typically, hypothyroidism is to blame. That means, insufficient thyroid hormones. This hormone S#%T is just no joke. As we age, our hormones get out of whack and can wreak havoc on us physically and emotionally. (Including our physical appearances and as a result, our emotions!)
Hormonal balance is the one of the most important aspects of a properly functioning body. Hormones like insulin and estrogen are the chemical messengers that tell your body what to do. When unbalanced, the results range from weight gain, to depression, fatigue, insomnia, low libido and, you guessed it! Hair loss!
Without my glasses on it just looks like I have half an eyebrow. Not cute. Some of the remaining hairs are gray which makes it look like there are bald patches. Also, not cute.
It really does feel stupid to freak out over eyebrows, but eyebrows are important. They frame our eyes the way art is framed. They give your face a balanced and natural lift. Skimpy browns make us look tired and old. The loss of them is reminder. You’re getting old and your hormones are imbalanced.
So, because I am so obsessed with the return of my brows, I did a little research. Prostaglandin, the hormone that tells my eyebrows to grow isn’t doing its job. As we age, production of prostaglandin declines. Ah, those unbalanced hormones. There can be other contributing factors. Could be nutritional deficiencies, environmental stress and just stress in general.
So, what can I do? As usual, diet and lifestyle offer some solutions. High-fiber, anti-inflammatory diets, exercise and managing stress.
You also have to give those brows the nutrients they need to grow. Green leafy veggies, lean protein, eggs, foods rich in A, E, and B vitamins. Essential fatty acids from healthy fats like wild salmon, olive oil, almonds and flax seeds will also benefit those brows. Increase intake of anti-inflammatory spices like ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, and parsley. Increase magnesium-rich foods like cruciferous veggies, bananas, sweet potatoes, and avocados. Eat more foods high in zinc, like pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, and spinach! Consuming green teas can help to regulate hormone levels.
And finally, for the bonus round, SEX! People will judge me when I make the next statement, but I TRULY BELIEVE when we stop getting it on the regular, we age rapidly! SEX can increase prostaglandin production by stimulating the uterus. Semen also contains prostaglandins, so do with it what you must! (I mean this info.) Insert big-eyed emoji here!
I’m just saying.