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Lash Lift Pros and Cons, According to Beauty Expert

The Pros and Cons of Getting a Lash Lift, According to a Beauty Expert

May 17 2023

  • Lash lifts enhance the appearance of your lashes while maintaining a natural look.
  • Lash lifts require very little maintenance and last around two months, though this chemical treatment requires a break in between sessions to avoid damage.
  • Lash lifts are usually less expensive than lash extensions and the process is a lot quicker..

Confession time: for five years I wore a pair of false eyelashes, normally the Ardell Demi Wispies, every single day. Catching me without a pair of strip lashes was unheard of, even if I was only popping to the shop for some milk. But, as I've grown older (and wiser depending on who you talk to), I've tried to embrace my natural look.

Born with short, straight, and thin eyelashes, they've always been an insecurity of mine. While false eyelashes temporarily boosted my confidence through school and my early twenties, it became an extra step in my makeup routine that I could really do with skipping once I entered the busy world of full-time work.

So, I started to look at options to replace my falsies with something a little more permanent and low-maintenance. After searching "How to curl my lashes permanently" it was clear there were two popular options: Lash Lift or Lash Extensions.

A lash lift is a service in which a chemical solution is applied to your lashes to keep them curled for up to two months. However, lash extensions are individual false lashes, which are applied to the natural lash line using a bonding glue and last for around 2-3 weeks at a time.

After years of wearing falsies, I didn't think my lash line needed more glue, so I opted for the lash lift and I've honestly never looked back. Lash lifts transform my natural lashes into the thick, voluminous ones I've been trying to replicate for years.

If you're in the process of deciding whether a lash lift is right for you, Caroline Linford, owner and lash technician at NEIKID beauty in London, tells POPSUGAR of the pros and cons of the treatment. Keep reading to learn more about the lash lifts and whether they could be a better option for you than lash extensions.

Image Source: Getty / miljko

Lash Lift Pro: The Process is Quicker Than Extensions

"Lash lifts enhance your natural lashes, giving the illusion of longer lashes, without the use of glue or extensions," explains Linford.

"The whole process usually only takes an hour and it lasts up to 8 weeks," Linford adds. Another bonus is that straight after the treatment, you can treat your lashes just as you usually would.

Lash Lift Con: Some Lash Types Can Be Trickier

"All lash types can lift, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise, it's just that some may be trickier than others," Linford says.

If you have particularly thick and straight lashes, it's important to find an experienced lash technician who has a good understand of the different level of chemical solutions.

Lash Lift Pro: It Makes Your Eyes Look More Open

One complaint I had about lash extensions was that, depending on your tech, your lashes can end up looking heavy and separated into clumps, if too many extensions are placed, it can weigh down the lashes. With a lash lift, your natural lashes are enhanced to look longer because they are curled upward.

Extensions provide a similar effect, but with lifts, you don't have to worry about heavy, clumpy lashes. This curled effect is especially great for the outer corners of your lash line, which can also create an overall lifted look for your eye.

Lash Lift Con: You Need to Go to a Professional

Like with lash extensions, you need to see a professional who has had a lot of practice.

"Lash lifts enhance your natural lashes without the use of glue or extensions but we do use different shaped shields and strength lifting solutions so it's important your technician knows exactly which products will work on each client," Linford explains.

I get my lash lifts every three or so months — my lashes hold the curl well — but I notice that if I don't wait long enough, the treatment can make the tips of my lashes brittle. It is a chemical service, after all. My technician is very careful, and once she noticed this, she has advised me to wait and give my lashes a rest, because as you probably could guess, this treatment is addictive.

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Lash Lift Pro: You Don't Need to Change Your Beauty Routine

When you have eyelash extensions, you typically have to change a lot about your skin-care routine at first. You're not supposed to apply aggressive cleansers to the eye area or rub, which can make wearing liner and eyeshadow a production when it comes to removing it at the end of the day. Many extension techs suggest turning your face away from the shower head and not submerging your face in water. Many of you have also probably learned how to pat your face with a towel instead of the aggressive rubbing the way you might have done in the past.

With lash lifts, you just have to keep your lashes from getting wet for 24 hours. Be prepared to shower before your appointment and go in sans makeup.

Lash Lift Con: You Cannot Get Extensions With a Lash Lift

If you love extensions, you'll have to pick one or the other. The reason you can't get both is due to the extensions shedding drastically as the natural lashes will be too curly to attach the extensions.

Lash Lift Con: You Have to Wait Two Months Between Appointments

Linford recommends waiting until "all your lifted lashes have fallen out and new lashes are present". The life cycle of your lashes is about two months, so it does mean waiting at last eight weeks between lash lifts.

"Re-lifting a lash, which has already undergone a lash lift, will cause the lash to become very brittle and possibly snap due to the chemicals involved," she adds.

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