Eyelashes or simple eyelashes are one of the hairs that grow on the edge of the eyelid. It grows in three layers on the edge of the eyelid. Eyelashes can protect the eyes from debris, dust and small particles, and have the same function as the whiskers of a cat or mouse. In a sense, eyelashes are easy to touch, so they can warn objects (such as insects) near the eyes (and then turn off reflexively).

The ancient Greek for eyelashes is blepharon, which is considered the root of biological terms such as blephara.

The eyelashes of human embryos develop from the ectoderm between the 22nd and 26th weeks of pregnancy. Natural eyelashes don't grow to a certain length and fall off without trimming. If the lashes are pulled out, it will take about seven to eight weeks for them to grow again, but continuous pulling may cause permanent injury. They may be different in color from their hair, although they are usually dark in people with dark hair and lighter in people with light hair. Eyelashes are not male, so they are not affected by puberty.

The follicles of the eyelashes are associated with many glands, known as chase and Moore glands.

In many cultures, long eyelashes are considered a sign of beauty. As a result, some women try to use Eyelash Extensions to artificially increase the length of their eyelashes. Hadza women, on the other hand, are known for trimming their eyelashes.

Kohl is a black putty (usually antimony sulfide or lead sulfide) that dates back to the bronze age and darkens the edges of the eyelids (at the bottom of the eyelashes). In ancient Egypt, rich people and royalty also used it to beautify their eyes. Modern eye makeup includes mascara, eye liner, eye putty and eye shadow to highlight eyes. In the 20th century, convincing false eyelashes became popular, in the 1960s. Other tools can also be used on eyelashes, such as eyelash curler or mascara (also known as mascara mask or eye makeup assistant).

Even in fairly basic salons, permanent eyelash color and Eyelash Extension have become popular procedures. It is also possible to obtain ciliary transplants, which are essentially similar to hair transplants often performed on the head. Since the hair is transplanted from the head, the new eyelashes will continue to grow like hair and need to be trimmed regularly.

Latisse, launched by Allergan in the first quarter of 2009, is the first FDA approved eyelash growth drug. Latisse is the solution of bimatoprost, which is the active component of lumigan. According to Allergan, significant eyelash growth occurred within 16 weeks. It is reported that growth mainly occurs on the upper lashes. In addition, in the past decade, the development of eyelash conditioner has increased rapidly. These conditioner are designed to increase the health and length of eyelashes. Many use seed extracts, minerals and other chemicals to achieve these results.

Cosmetics companies have recently relied on scientific research on prostaglandins and Wnt / b-catenin signaling pathways to develop eyelash products. Although bimatoprost can effectively promote the growth of healthy eyelashes and accessory hairs, its effectiveness in patients with alopecia areata remains controversial.