Eyelash Extensions Write For Us

The beauty business has seen it all when it comes to lashes – enlarging mascaras, “miracle” growth serums, heated curlers – you name it. But no trend polarizes like eyelash extensions. When extensions came into the mainstream market, they seemed like a relatively painless way to achieve wispy, fluttering lashes without the hassle of fakes or mascara. But as with any new beauty service, eyelash extensions quickly showed downsides. First, some states have not regulated the service, leading to irritation, infection, and damaged natural lashes due to poor hygiene and technique. The process is also quite expensive, costing you hundreds of dollars and hours of your personal time. But is it worth waking up to flawless semi-permanent lashes every day? We asked the experts.

What Are Lash Extensions?

Eyelash extensions are semi-permanent fibres devoted to your natural lashes to make your lash line look longer, fuller and darker. Individual eyelash extensions are applied to each of your natural lashes (one extension per natural lash) using semi-permanent adhesive.

The material differs from studio to studio, but eyelash extensions can be made of synthetic fibres, mink, faux mink or silk. Most studios offer a diversity of extension lengths, curl patterns, and shades to allow clients to customize their look.

Types of Eyelash Extensions

Eyelash artists use three different types of eyelash extension materials: mink, silk, and synthetic. Some studios also offer “faux mink” extensions, which are technically just synthetic extensions that mimic mink extensions. Most eyelash salons have their preference for the type of eyelash extensions they use and will not constantly ask you if you have a preference. So if you are a fruitarian or have a cat allergy, ask not to use mink eyelash extensions on you. No type of eyelash extension lasts longer than the other, but mink and silk lashes tend to look more natural, while synthetic lashes can be thicker and darker, which works better for those who want a bolder look.

Within these three categories (mink, silk and synthetic), there are different lengths and degrees of curl. Typically, your lash artist will use multiple curl lengths and thicknesses to create a wide-eyed effect, placing longer lashes at the outer corners of your eyes and shorter lashes at the inner corners of your eyes.