Wonder of the Day #1062

Why Don’t You Have To Trim Your Eyelashes?

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SCIENCE — Health and Fitness

Have You Ever Wondered...

Why don't you have to trim your eyelashes?
Do eyelashes grow?
What would life be like if your eyelashes grew like your hair?

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Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by WonderTeam. WonderTeam Wonders, “Why don't you have to trim your eyelashes?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, WonderTeam!

We humans have some issues we have to deal with on a regular basis. For example, as mammals, our bodies are covered in hair. Of course, some of us have more hair than others. But we all have it!

We have hair on our heads, arms, legs, and all over. It’s everywhere! There are even hairs on our tongues and inside our noses and ears. Some of these hairs we rarely ever think about, though.

You probably spend time every day taking care of the hair on your head. You wash it. You condition it. You brush it and style it. When it gets too long, you cut it.

But what about the other hair on your face? We all have eyebrows and eyelashes, for example. Do you give them much thought? Have you ever stopped to WONDER about your eyelashes? What would happen if they grew like the hair on your head?

Would it be a pain to have to wash, condition, and style your eyelashes every day? What if they grew too long? Would you be able to see?

Since we usually don’t give our eyelashes too much thought, you might be tempted to think that they don’t grow. After all, you don’t need to cut them like you do the hair on your head, do you?

Eyelashes do indeed grow, though. They help protect your eyes by keeping dust and other debris away. When your eyelashes sense foreign matter that might harm your eyes, they trigger a reflex that makes you blink and close your eyes. This defense mechanism is an important way your eyes stay protected.

Because of this important job they play, it’s a good thing your eyelashes do grow and replace themselves. Hair on your body grows and rests in an ongoing cycle that repeats over and over again as hairs are lost and replaced. Compared to the hair on your head, the growth phase of eyelashes is very short. In fact, it only lasts about 30-45 days.

In addition, the resting (dormant) cycle is much longer. While the hair on your head rests for a while before it falls out and is replaced, your eyelashes rest for a much longer time and aren’t always immediately replaced when they fall out.

This explains why eyelashes seem like they’re not growing at all. When they do grow, they grow for just a short period of time and then they rest for an extended period of time. Compared to the hairs on your head, this makes them seem like they’re not growing at all!

Standards: CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.W.2, CCRA.L.1, CCRA.L.2

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Now that you know more about your own eyelashes, what about animal eyelashes? Can you think of any animals that have eyelashes? Read about the eyelash viper. Does it have real eyelashes? What else did you learn about this interesting animal? Share with a friend or family member.
What if you did have to trim your eyelashes? Have you ever stopped to WONDER about that? If not, do it now! Take a few minutes to daydream and think what life would be like if your eyelashes grew just like the hair on your head.Would you have to go to the barber to get an eyelash cut? Or could you do it at home? Would you style or curl them? What do you think you'd look like if you parted them in the middle? Write a paragraph describing what life would be like if you had to trim your eyelashes.
Some people believe if an eyelash falls out, you should put it on the back of the hand, make a wish, and throw it over your shoulder. If the eyelash flies off your hand, your wish will come true. Other people believe you should simply blow a loose eyelash off your finger to have good luck. Have you heard of any other superstitions? Are there any you believe in? What about your friends and family members? Have some fun comparing the different superstitions people have.

Wonder Sources

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5899008_don_t-eyelashes-grow_.html (accessed 27 Feb. 2020)
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/65212/why-dont-eyelashes-and-eyebrows-grow-long-head-hair (accessed 27 Feb. 2020)

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I loved the airtical

I think that was a cool wonder. peace out!

I like this article but I’m really shy ???

I sometimes pluck them but why do you not trim them?

They don't continue growing like the hair on your head, so there's no need to trim them.

This is very interesting . If your eyelashes grew like hair they would cover your eyes and you would have buy clips to pin your eyelashes on your head. Hehehehehehehehehehehe???

Or risk looking like a sheepdog in need of a haircut! Thanks for being our Wonder Friend, Penellope!

I think it is totally bizarre to trim your eyelashes ,so never do it cause they might not grow back.

Your welcome I love sharing thoughts ?. ??‍?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Ravenne!

I was silly enough to trim my eyelashes when I was like 12. They looked ridiculously after and never grew back till I got a good serum that helped, it was Cherish Lash. Don't repeat my mistakes :-D A very good information, I enjoyed it thnks

Thanks for the info Xena Warrior.

Strange, as when a hair strand is cut, it's usually bound to grow back of the length that has been cut. And hair eventually sheds, although not all at the same time, so they new hair would have grown anyway.

Nice summary! ?

Thanks for sharing, XenaWarrior!

This is fun

Yes it really is fun when u get to figure everything out.

Glad you enjoyed this one, Princess! Thanks for checking out this Wonder of the Day!

I purchased a clear mascara for my eyelashes and the brush of the mascara wand caused my eyelashes on my left eye to break off, not fall off, will they grow back to normal?

Good coment

We hope so, Linda! You might want to do a little more exploring to find the answer to this Wonder. Let us know what you find out!

Something gets me guessing I'm quite older than most people here, but i keep "wondering" nevertheless :). Ok I knew about the shorter growing cycle and longer dormant phase of lashes, eyebrows and most of body hair. But what's surprising is how they grow back soon after being trimmed and exactly back to the same length :). I know by trimming a bit of brow hair to shape them and by having shaved my arms in past. The hair is in dormant phase then it just starts to grow all back once cut. It gets to me hair also has a final length just much longer, reached which, we'd also have a long dormant phase until we cut it shorter again. Bye

Hi, Wonder Friend! We're glad you learned something new from this Wonder. Thanks for WONDERing with us! :)

I want to start donig this can I chat with u

Hello there, Ggh! It's great hearing from you! :)

Oh, thanks to you, but I thought you might explain that as it's quite curious. Could it be a protective mechanism which works via the follicle nerves, similarly to how cat whiskers sense the environment and seem to definitely know their length? I read they grow longer if the cat gets fatter to stay true his size when testing for clearance. They are nothing more than very specialized hairs with very sensitive nerves in their follicles, but our hair or "fur" is also a sensorial organ, to a lesser extent. On the other hand it growing stronger when shaved is just an illusion because it loses its pointy ends and becomes blunt ;).

Welcome back, Wonder Friend! Thanks for sharing the additional information! :)

Ok thanks again, but I ask you: Is it a correct explanation? You are the experts :) Why does hair in general grow back if cut or shaved, and stops at one point when untrimmed?

You're very welcome! Thanks for stopping back by Wonderopolis! Visit again soon! :)

Ok thank you so much! ;)

It sounds like you know a lot about the process of hair growth, Wonder Friend! Learn more about hair growth in Wonder #503: What Makes Hair Grow? Always keep WONDERing! :)

This was cool but the pictures were........ But this helped me a lot and I am 13

I know right

We're glad you thought this Wonder was helpful, too! Thanks for visiting Wonderopolis and joining the discussion! :)

Hi, Aubriona! We're glad you had fun exploring this Wonder! Thanks for visiting! :)

Why do we have to learn this at the age of 10-16? Like for real we have to learn this in the 4th grade ughh how wonderful

Hi, Dionne! Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this Wonder topic! We encourage you to explore the many other Wonders on the site, too! :)

That was kinda cool I guess but theme again I'm only 14 so yea

I'm only 10 and I need to know this.

We're glad you liked this Wonder, Dionne! We hope you're having a WONDER-filled week! :)

Hi, Amanda! We're glad you are WONDERing with us today and that you thought this Wonder was kinda cool! ;-)

Why do we humans need eyebrows and ladies don't

And at least bow both shave their unibrow if needed. Kidding as of course it should be up to individual preferences, and what I like is that despite some different socialization for women and men looks, there's more space for individual expression and looks for both men and women, but on average, now there's a more equal expectation for both to groom themselves.

Andrew, your comment seems well meaning and I didn't notice this question, but I'll try to answer. First off, I say this because I'm almost sure you didn't think about it, or maybe meant to joke, but you said "we humans" and "ladies". You probably meant "gentlemen" or man, males, etc, as men and women are to some extent different, yeah, especially phisically but equally capable and both subset of "people" and... humans! Both guys and girls need eyebrows to a limited extent, to protect eyes from sweat, dust, sunlight, similarly to lashes. Guys were socialized to not touch their eyebrows, women to shape them thin, now the trend goes for both trimming them, men just slightly bigger than women's on average, but they also keep some substantial

Hi, Andrew! Thanks for sharing your question! We don't currently have a Wonder about eyebrow. We encourage you to submit your question to the Wonder Bank! :)

Great Job!!!! I love this!

No it stinks it's the worst thing ever written I hate it it was so horrible it stinked so bad

Hi, Michael! Thanks for sharing your opinion. We're sorry you didn't like this Wonder. We hope you'll check out some of the many other Wonders. We know you'll find one you liked better! :)

Hi, WONDER friend! We love your enthusiasm for WONDERing! It's great when we're LEARNING and having FUN all at the same time! We hope you visit Wonderopolis again soon! :)

why cant you trim your eye lashes their just like hair that keep growning i mean what if it gets to long

Hi Sandra, don't worry, they fortunately are made to never excees that length and stop growing as soon as they reach it. If you trim that, it would just reach back to that point :).

Thanks for joining the conversation, Wonder Friend! We appreciate you sharing the additional information! :)

Hi, Sandra! We often WONDERed the same thing until we read this Wonder. We hope it was helpful! Can you imagine how often we would have to get a haircut if our eyelashes grew as fast our hair? Wow! :)

Well not so much as fast but more like as long ;). I know they are much slower when they are growing back from trimming. But I agree that if they grew too fast, trimming and shaping them would be a choere, lol.

We appreciate you adding on to the discussion, Wonder Friend! Thanks for being a supportive Wonder Friend! :)

I loved this video and how it was in s l ow m o t i o n. :)

Hi Julissa! Thanks for WONDERing with us! We're thrilled you're WONDERing with us! :)

You are so welcome. I love this website! :)

We're so glad, Julissa! :)

You are great Wonderopolis. You are full of great information.

We think you're great too, Sydney! Keep WONDERing! :)

Yeah why don't we have to trim our eyelashes, I watched the video but it doesn't make any sense to me?

Hi Khristian, Jayla, Savannah, and Jade! Thanks for making us smile by WONDERing today! Your comments are great - we appreciate your thoughts about today's Wonder. Even if it wasn't your favorite, we're very glad you visited us! You've done a great job so far and we cannot wait to Wonder with you again soon! :)

That would be so weird to style your eyelashes.

I think eyelashes are important. I think it because they keep nasty and dangerous things out of your eyes.

Thought: I didn't get your video. Connection: I had a connection I have long eyelashes. Prediction: It will be about lighting.

Tought : Where did this water come from and where is he or she at? Connection :I have long eyelashes. Prediction: I think tomorrow's wonder will be about lighting

Hi Arielle, Braden, Damyin, and Melisa! It sure is fun to Wonder with awesome friends like you! :) Thanks for telling us all about what you learned and liked today. We really appreciate your awesome predictions, too! They are very VERY close! We'll see you tomorrow! :)

comment: I don’t get it why was she crying? will tomorrow’s wonder of the day be about static electricity?

I knew that your eyelashes grow but not to 30 or 45 days I thought about 20 days then they regrow new ones.

I didn't know that eyelashes are that important

you're welcome

Are the hairs on our tongues important? Why are they important. P.S. What would it be like if nobody had tongue hairs?

Hi Aberim, Marvin, Connor, and Devon! It's very interesting to imagine our eyelashes growing as long as the hair on our head! We'd have to get our eyelashes trimmed more often than we would have to get haircuts! WOW! :) We are glad you've connected a few different Wonders today, too! We like beginning a Wonder by asking, "What if...?" :)

What would happen if our eyelashes were as long as the hair on our heads? Would we have to cut then a lot or not? Would that do something to you if you cut it would it never grow back?

that was weird.

Can you cut your eyelashes?

I didn't know eyelashes technical name is cilia! B-)

Hello Chett, Kaylen, Tairyn, and Caelah! Eyelashes sure do protect our precious eyes, don't they? They are great at what they do! Thanks for sharing what you learned with us today! We are curious... what are your favorite topics for WONDERing? :)

THOUGHT-I thought that that today we was going to talk about how to make candy. Connection- I did to myself before it felt like a bug was on me. Prediction- I did not like the video was boring. WWOTD- I have a 250 doller golden bracelet for my birthday it broke in two weeks

THOUGHT:I know why we can't trim our eyebrows it's because if water tries to get your eye your eyebrow will keep it out of your eye. CONNECTION:I haven't trimed my eyebrows and I never will trim my eyebrows. WWOTD:There was debris from the tornado on the lawn. P

THOUGHT: are you talking about eyelashes? CONNECTION: I have eyelashes. WWOTD: there was debris from the tornado on the lawn. PREDICTION: electricity.

Thought: That's weird how eyelashes can blink by itself when it sees danger. Connection: I saw dust before and closed my eyes to protect them. WWOTD: debris - there was debris from the earthquake. Prediction: I bet tomorrow's wonder is going to be about a food.

WOOHOO! Alex, Keith, Jacob and Danessa are WONDERing with us today! What a super way to begin the school week! The slow motion Wonder video shows how our eyelashes protect our eyes - isn't it neat to Wonder about? We also compared the length of our eyelashes to the length of hair on our heads... they sure are different! Keep WONDERing! :)

THOUGHT:The video was short and I really didn't get it. CONNECTION:I have eyelashes. PREDICTION:I predict that tomorrow's wonder of the day is about lightning. EXAMPLE:There was debris from the tornado on the lawn. WWOTD: debris

thought: that is gross! connection: she looks old & wrinkly. sorry wwotd: debris, something that's damaged or broken. predict: trains, TRAins, TRAINS.

THOUGHT: I thought her/his eyes were cool. CONNECTION I've dropped water on my eye and it felt weird. WWOTD: debris. There was debris from the tornado in the lawn. PREDICTION: I bet tomorrow's wonder will be about static electricity. ) :) :) :) :) :)

comment: that video was weird question: where did the water come from? wwotd: my brother debris my stuff predicton: I predict that people will grow out their eyelashes

It's great to Wonder with you today, Tiffany, Jenna, Jeremiah, and Deven! We think you are on the right path for tomorrow's Wonder - your guesses are very close! Keep up the great work! Thanks for visiting us today and for sharing your connections. You're great Wonder Friends! :)

THOUGHT;I thought that your eyebrows would grow when you grow then stop at a certain point CONNECTION: My mom gets her eyebrows waxed WWOTD: There was debris everywhere when we opened the old house door PREDICTION: It will be how you get shocked

THOUGHT: I didn't know that. CONNECTION: I have a lot of hair on my head. PREDICTION: I predict that tomorrow's wonder will be about electricity. EXAMPLE: There was debris from the tornado on the lawn. WWOTD: Debris is '' the remains of something that has been damaged or broken up''.

THOUGHT:I liked the video even though it was kind of gross. CONNECTION:I have had that same thing happen to me before in the shower but just not in slow motion. PREDICTION:I think tomorrow's wonder will be about shocking. WWOTD:My mom and I had to clean up the debris in our backyard.

THOUGHT:was that about eyes or was it about eyelashes (the video)? CONNECTION:wow I have a lot of hair. WWOTD: are word today is debris I'm going to use it in a sentence debris is the remaining of something. PREDICTION:tomorrow's is going to be about electricity.

Hi there Destiny, Christopher, and Janiya! It sounds like today's Wonder video wasn't a favorite. Thanks for WONDERing with us anyway! We hope you'll enjoy tomorrow's... and we think you're on the right page with your guesses! It could be "shocking"! :)

By the way the video was not good sorry mainly because I didn't get it

Thought: The video was creepy. Connection: I got sprayed in the eye. Prediction: Is it about telephone wires? WWOTD: There was debris from the crash of the car.

THOUGHT: I think bugs live in eyelashes so I've heard. CONNECTION: I love my eyelashes. WWOTD: There was debris from the tornado on the lawn. PREDICTION: I think tomorrow's wonder will be about shots

THOUGHT: I know that eyelashes grow but I didn't know that eyelashes had anything to do with blinking. CONNECTION: I can see where eyelashes come in handy w/ protecting your eyes. WWOTD: DEBRIS-the remains of something that has been damaged or broken up. EX: there was DEBRIS from the tornado on the lawn. PREDICTION: something exciting.

Our Wonder Friends from Mrs. Liles class are here again! YIPEE! Thanks for sharing your Wonder comments, Tam, Andrea, Elizabeth, and Kylee! You all shared great connections, too! It's cool to learn about the importance of keeping our eyeballs safe - good thing we have eyelashes to help out! :)

THOUGHT:I think this is a good wonder. CONNECTION:I wondered about that before. WWOTD:There was debris from the tornado on the lawn. PREDICTION:I think tomorrow's wonder will be about why you get shocked.

THOUGHT: I thought this video was very weird CONNECTION: I can see that when that teardrop hit her it didn't go in her eyes WWOTD: Debris the remains of something that has been damaged There was a hurricane form the lawn PREDICTION: My prediction is that it is going to be about something that protects you. Mrs.Liles class

THOUGHT: That is weird! My friend Brian kept scratching his eyelashes so it fell out. Then his eyes looked like they where half way shut. CONNECTION: My cousin uses fake eyelashes because she had very little eyelashes. WWOTD: There were debris in the hallway. PREDICTION: I think tomorrow's Wonder is about electricity.

We did not know that eyelashes grow.

We're so very excited to hear that you've learned something new with us today, Mrs. Vance's class! Our body needs vitamins, nutrients, and sleep to stay healthy and strong. It's cool to learn that even our eyelashes can grow, just like hair on the rest of our body! Thanks for sharing your comment today! :)

how do I see your replies?

Hi Aidan, we respond as soon as we can - and they are almost always below your comment (or a group of comments)! :)

I do not understand.

It's great to Wonder with you today, Byancah, Korean, Destiny, and Jasmine! Some folks have long eyelashes that curl, others have eyelashes so light you can hardly see them. No matter what, they play an important role in keeping our eyes safe! :) We hope you enjoyed today's slow motion Wonder video, we think it's cool to learn how our body protects itself! :)

Well the reason I don't dress up my eyelashes is because no one cares how your eyelashes look like. They just look at your hair and if it's perfect.

what if our eyelashes do grow long what do we do ? Might be about nice shoes.

Why do we have to trim our eyelashes?

Why does your hair fall out?

Hi there, Mikayla, Lilly, Aidan, and Cameron! The world would be a different place if we didn't use our eyes to see. However, lots of animals use other senses to get from place to place, including catfish! You can Wonder all about them here: https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-catfish-have-whiskers/ Thanks for sharing your comments and predictions, Wonder Friends! We hope to see you again soon! :)

comment: I don't get it q: why was she crying? p: will tomorrow's wonder of the day be about static electricity?

I think that the video was very cool I like how it was in slow motion I thought it was cool.

Hi lilly

Thanks for being a supportive WONDER friend, Keirsha! :)

If we never had eyes what will the world be like? Is it important to have eyes?

Why do we need eyelashes?

I like this so much

Great, Josh! We're THRILLED you're WONDERing with us! Remember to check out today's WONDER of the Day #1454: Where Is the Eye of the Hurricane? while you're visiting! :)

So many awesome comments from Anna, Elijah, Amelia, and Jasmine today! What a marvelous Monday! :) Today's Wonder video showed how our eyelashes protect our eyeballs - and we saw it all happen in s l o w m o t i o n! Pretty cool! Thanks for WONDERing with us today! :)

Tomorrow's wonder will be about getting shocked.

Where did the water come from?

Love this website!

Me too it's the best website

Hi, Keirsha! We're glad you enjoy WONDERing, too! Thanks for visiting WONDEROpolis. Did you know there are over 1,400 WONDERS to explore and more than 100 categories? Be sure to check them out! :)

What if they're not so long

Hi, Elijah! Sometimes people wear fake eyelashes to make them longer. Thanks for joining the discussion! :)

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