Bimatoprost 0.03% (Latisse) applied to eyebrows has shown significant growth in published case series, and off-label minoxidil is the more affordable alternative. Both treatments take 2-4 months to produce visible changes. Without structured tracking, subtle improvements in eyebrow density are easy to miss, and you may abandon an effective treatment too early or continue a useless one too long.
This guide covers the two main treatment options for eyebrow thinning, sets up a photo tracking protocol specific to the eyebrow area, and explains what timeline to expect.
Why Eyebrows Thin
Eyebrow thinning has several common causes:
- Over-plucking or waxing: Repeated removal can permanently damage follicles over years
- Aging: Eyebrow hairs gradually miniaturize and thin with age, particularly after 40
- Alopecia areata: Autoimmune attack on follicles can target eyebrows specifically
- Thyroid dysfunction: Both hypo- and hyperthyroidism can cause eyebrow thinning, especially the outer third (tail)
- Nutritional deficiency: Iron, zinc, and biotin deficiency can affect eyebrow density
- Dermatitis or eczema: Chronic inflammation around the brow can damage follicles
- Chemotherapy recovery: Eyebrows may grow back thinner or patchier after treatment
Identifying the cause matters because it determines the best treatment approach and sets realistic expectations for recovery.
Treatment Options for Eyebrow Growth
Bimatoprost 0.03% (Latisse)
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Prostaglandin analog (prescription) |
| FDA-approved for | Eyelash growth (Latisse); eyebrow use is off-label |
| Mechanism | Extends the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle |
| Application | Once daily, applied with a fine brush to the brow area |
| Onset | 4-8 weeks for initial growth; full results at 3-4 months |
| Cost | $100-175/month (brand); $30-60/month (generic bimatoprost) |
| Key side effect | Potential skin darkening (hyperpigmentation) around application site |
Bimatoprost has the stronger evidence base for eyebrow growth. Multiple published case series and small clinical trials have documented increased brow fullness after 3-4 months of consistent use.
Minoxidil (Off-Label)
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Vasodilator (over-the-counter) |
| FDA-approved for | Scalp hair loss only; eyebrow use is off-label |
| Mechanism | Increases blood flow to follicles, extends anagen phase |
| Application | Once or twice daily, small amount on brow area |
| Onset | 2-4 months for visible improvement |
| Cost | $10-30/month |
| Key side effect | Skin dryness and irritation; unwanted hair growth if product spreads |
Minoxidil has less published data specifically for eyebrows than bimatoprost, but clinical experience and case reports suggest it is effective. Its lower cost makes it a practical first-line option.
Setting Up Your Eyebrow Tracking Protocol
Step 1: Standardize Your Photography
Eyebrow tracking demands more precision than scalp tracking because the area is smaller and changes are more subtle.
Lighting: Natural daylight, same window, same time of day. Front-facing light (window behind the camera, facing you) minimizes shadows that could obscure brow hairs.
Distance: 20cm from your phone camera to the brow area. At this distance, individual hairs are visible and countable in the resulting photo.
Angles: Take three photos per session:
- Both brows straight-on (entire face visible for symmetry comparison)
- Left brow close-up (brow fills the frame)
- Right brow close-up (brow fills the frame)
Preparation: Remove all brow makeup, tinting, pencil, or powder. Photograph on clean, dry skin. If you have microblading, note the date of your last touch-up, as fading microblading can make underlying density changes harder to assess.
Step 2: Capture Your Baseline
Before starting treatment, take a complete set of photos. In your close-up shots, pay attention to:
- Head of the brow (inner third, near the nose): Usually the densest section
- Body of the brow (middle third): Where thinning often begins
- Tail of the brow (outer third): Most common area for loss, especially with thyroid-related thinning
Note which sections are sparse. These are your target zones for monitoring improvement.
Step 3: Begin Treatment
Choose one treatment (bimatoprost or minoxidil) and apply consistently:
For bimatoprost: Apply once daily at bedtime using a fine eyeliner brush or the applicator provided. A very small amount goes a long way. Avoid getting product in your eyes (even though Latisse is designed for eyelashes, the eyebrow application area is slightly different).
For minoxidil: Apply a small amount (less than 0.25ml) to each brow once or twice daily. Use a cotton swab or clean fingertip. Avoid spreading product to areas where you do not want hair growth. Wash hands thoroughly after application.
Step 4: Monthly Photo Comparison
Each month, replicate your baseline photos exactly. Compare:
- Overall brow fullness (straight-on view)
- New hairs in target zones (close-up views)
- Hair quality (are new hairs vellus/fine or terminal/thick?)
Because each eyebrow contains only 250-500 hairs, the addition of even 10-20 new hairs is visually noticeable. This means treatment response is often easier to detect in eyebrows than on the scalp.
Step 5: Evaluate at Month 4 and Month 6
Month 4 assessment:
- Visible new growth (vellus or terminal): Treatment is working. Continue.
- No visible change: Continue to month 6 before concluding. Some responses start slowly.
Month 6 assessment:
- Clear density improvement: Continue until month 9-12 for maximum benefit. Consider maintenance dosing.
- Minimal or no improvement: Discuss alternatives with a dermatologist. If one treatment failed, the other (switching from minoxidil to bimatoprost or vice versa) may succeed since they work through different mechanisms.
- Improvement but still insufficient: If topical treatments produce partial results but you want fuller brows, an eyebrow hair transplant is a more permanent solution using FUE technique (90-95% graft survival, 50-300 grafts per brow).
Tracking Eyebrows Alongside Scalp Hair
If you are treating both scalp hair loss and eyebrow thinning simultaneously, maintain separate tracking records. Scalp tracking with myhairline.ai measures density in FU/cm2 across defined zones. Eyebrow tracking uses close-up photography and visual comparison.
The same minoxidil product (5% topical) can be applied to both areas, but response rates and timelines differ. Scalp minoxidil produces 40-60% regrowth over 4-6 months. Eyebrow response may be faster because the area is smaller and receives a relatively higher concentration of product.
For more on minoxidil for facial hair applications, including beard and sideburn tracking, see our dedicated guide.
Start Tracking Your Eyebrow Response
Take your baseline eyebrow photos today using the protocol above. For your scalp, capture a free AI density scan at myhairline.ai/analyze. Separate tracking for each area ensures you get clean data on what is working where, so you can make informed decisions at each monthly check-in.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Bimatoprost is a prescription medication with potential side effects including skin hyperpigmentation and eye irritation. Minoxidil for eyebrow use is off-label. Consult a board-certified dermatologist or ophthalmologist before starting eyebrow growth treatments.