Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu, clinical advisor at The College of Optometrists, has issued an urgent warning to men participating in a viral social media trend of shaving off their eyelashes in pursuit of a more masculine appearance.
The trend gained traction after a TikTok video racked up more than 36 million views, featuring a man removing his eyelashes while claiming they are feminine. The clip has since fueled copycat behavior across platforms, with participants apparently unaware of the serious health consequences.
Bilkhu broke down the protective functions eyelashes perform. “Eyelashes serve several key functions to keep your eyes healthy – they help prevent dirt and debris, including dead skin cells and sweat, from entering the eyes to keep them comfortable and reduce the risk of infection; and help reduce exposure of the eye surfaces to harmful UV light,” he explained.
The physical act of removal carries its own immediate dangers. BBC Science noted that one slip with a shaver or scissors near the eye is all it would take to damage the cornea or tear film, the liquid layer that lubricates the soft tissue beneath.
Bilkhu expanded on the blink reflex mechanism that shaved lashes would eliminate. “As they are highly sensitive to touch, this helps to trigger the blink reflex which protects the eyes when an object or threat approaches the eyes,” he said. “In addition, using shavers near the eyes can result in cuts and nicks to the sensitive skin, or even penetrating injuries where scissors are used.”
He delivered a blunt assessment of the overall risk: “By removing, trimming or attempting to remove/trim your eyelashes, you are risking real harm to your eyes.”
For those who have already gone through with the procedure, Bilkhu offered some reassurance alongside practical guidance. “If you have already removed or trimmed your eyelashes, the good news is they should grow back – but this may take many months,” he shared. “During this period, you should take extra care when washing, grooming or applying make-up to avoid products entering the eyes; and consider wearing eye protection when in dusty or outdoor environments.”
The eyelash-shaving phenomenon sits within the broader “looksmaxxing” movement, an online subculture focused on appearance optimization that has gained significant traction among young men. Documentarian Louis Theroux explored related corners of male internet culture in his Netflix documentary on the Manosphere, released earlier this year.
Some looksmaxxing practices, such as exercise and self-improvement reading, carry genuine benefits. The eyelash trend, however, aligns more closely with dangerous extremities like bone-smashing, a practice involving deliberate facial trauma to reshape bone structure.
The original viral TikTok that sparked the trend featured a man explicitly framing his natural eyelashes as a feminine trait requiring elimination, reflecting a recurring theme in certain online male communities where traditionally neutral or attractive features become targets for gendered elimination.
Medical professionals continue to monitor the spread of such trends as social media accelerates both their reach and their normalization among impressionable audiences seeking belonging within masculine online spaces.