Makeup Tips for Trichotillomania

There’s all different kinds of estimates for how many people have trichotillomania. 

3.5%, 6/1000, 1/50.

The exact number of people with trichotillomania is difficult to pinpoint because people with trich can use makeup to cover up any bald spots or gaps they may create. While this hides their condition from the public eye, it also creates a huge boost of confidence, especially since nearly 75% of people who pull are women.  

In particular, there are countless products on the market for covering up any gaps in the eyelashes and eyebrows. Here are our best recommendations and tips on how to apply them: 

1. Ecobrow Defining Wax

2. Covergirl Liquid Eyeliner

3. Lancome Le Crayon Khol Eyeliner Pencil

Ecobrow Defining Wax = Eyebrows

The reason the defining wax is so amazing is that it is water and sweat proof. It will remain on your face during even the most active of beach days or gym workouts. When applying it, take a thin makeup brush that is so thin it will mimic hair strands. The wax is extremely thick, so less is more. Just tap the brush on the surface of the wax and that will be enough to make a natural look. 

When applying any eyebrow makeup, it’s important to follow the natural shape of the eyebrow. Start at the beginning of the eyebrow closest to the nose.

1. 5-10 brush strokes one finger width from the beginning of the eyebrow: Use the makeup brush to make brush strokes straight up, as this is how the hair naturally grows in this area. 

2. Between this area and the top of the eyebrow arch: Brush strokes that are going up diagonally. 

3. At the top of the arch to the end of the eyebrow: The rest of the strokes will be diagonal facing downwards. 

Since ecobrow is an eyebrow wax, it typically will stay on for about a week in roughly the same shape you applied it. Each morning, use your brush for little touch ups to fill in any places where the makeup may have smudged off over night.

Cover Girl Liquid Eyeliner = Top Eyelashes 

Liquid eyeliner is perfect for eyelashes with gaps from trichotillomania because it’s so thick. The black line created from eyeliner applied close to the lash line looks like a natural extension of the lashes and can even help make your eye color pop! Typically, a cat eye looks great. Here’s how to do it: 

1. Start where your lash line begins to tilt downwards a little bit after the middle of your lash line. Take your eyeliner, tilt it sideways to get the thickest part of the applicator, and slide it from this part of your eye all the way to just a tad past where your lashes end. When you get beyond the lash line, make the line straight and thinner. 

2. To begin the cat eye, look at the line you just created past your lash line. Now take your applicator and draw a straight line from the bottom of your eye, and connect it with the line you just created. It should look like a diagonal line. 

3. Then fill in the tiny triangle this created, and do a swoop of the applicator to add the cat eye point. 

4. Go back to the beginning of your eyelash line, and fill it diagonally going up from the beginning of the lash line to where it arches 

5. Lastly fill in the top of the arch to connect to the first line you created in step one

Liquid eyeliner typically only lasts one day, so take it off each night and reapply it as needed! Wearing eye makeup that is so dark and delicate can also help reduce pulling as touching your eyes throughout the day can make them smudge. 

Le Crayon Khol Eyeliner Pencil = Bottom Eyelashes 

This is the quick part! Applying makeup to your bottom lash line can help hide any gaps where you’ve pulled any lashes in this area by adding the touch of black color or shadowing that is naturally there. 

1. Apply the pencil to your lash line: Reveal the waterline of your eye by using your hand to pull down the skin just beneath your eye. Next take the pencil and trace the inside of your water line. And you’re done! 

A pencil is better for this than any liquid eyeliner because you are getting so close to your eye and there is more control. Bottom lash line makeup typically stays on for about half the day, but it’s a good add if you’re going out to dinner or taking photos! 

Above all, it is important to remember that your beauty or self-worth is not dependent on how many hairs are on your head. Show yourself love as you apply any makeup, tell yourself you’re beautiful and release any self judgment you may have. Do whatever you need to do to feel confident!

And if you’re looking for a virtual support to help you become more aware and reduce your pulling behaviors, check out Pluck! Pluck offers immediate intervention for people with trichotillomania by using the laptop webcam to detect when you are pulling, offer a replacement behavior and an affirmation to encourage this new response. Click the link to learn more and to join our waitlist to be notified when we launch: https://www.thepluckapp.com/