Brandishing your mascara wand or applying false lashes every time you go out can be time-consuming — especially when your lashes get clumpy or your eyes get irritated! Change your beauty routine for the better and keep reading to explore eyelash enhancement options for sweeping lashes that last longer.
Eyelashes Can Transform Your Eyes and Face
Before anything else, you may be thinking: What’s the point of voluminous eyelashes?
As the old adage goes, the eyes are the windows to the soul. And eyelashes draw attention to them! Lashes that are full and lengthy highlight the whites of your eyes and define your irises. This contrast makes the eyes look wider, resulting in a brighter appearance. Plus, fluttering them will be easy on the eyes — your own, and perhaps someone else’s!
Now that we’ve discussed some benefits of voluminous lashes, let’s dive into a brief overview of eyelash enhancement treatments to consider if you’re searching for something long term.
Eyelash Enhancement Options
Eyelash Extensions
If you’re familiar with hair extensions, eyelash extensions are similar. The process involves gluing synthetic, silk, or mink fibers onto natural eyelashes. The material adds extra length and fullness to the lash fringe. Not to mention, extensions are customizable, so you can choose a fiber to achieve the look you want. If you’re into a more natural look, try silk or mink. Want something bolder? Synthetic, which is thicker and darker, may suit your style. Beyond the type of fiber, lash technicians also provide various extension lengths, curl intensities, and tints to personalize your experience even more.
The time span of the treatment depends on how many extensions you decide to get, as each fiber is applied onto each individual eyelash. Typically, it will take up to two hours with your eyes closed the entire time. The extensions should stay on for three to four weeks, until they shed along with your natural lashes. During the shedding period, you can choose to refill empty patches to keep your lash line full. While this process sounds simple, extensions come with a few risks, including infection of or trauma to the eyelid or cornea, an allergic reaction to the specially formulated glue (e.g., itchiness, pain, swelling), or even temporary/permanent eyelash loss. Ultimately, if you decide extensions are for you, be sure the studio and technician you visit are safe, clean, and reputable.
Lash Lifts
Lash lifts involve placing a silicone shield on your eyelids, brushing a chemical solution on your lashes, and allowing them to mold over the shield’s curve. The shield’s curve mimicks a curling rod. This process curls and hence, lifts the eyelashes, making them appear longer and voluminous. It’s simpler, quicker, and more affordable than extensions; you’re just modifying your natural lashes instead of adding extra material. The procedure typically lasts 45 minutes to an hour, and the results last about four to six weeks, depending on your lashes and type of lash lift.
There are two types of lash lifts. The first is called length, volume, and lift (LVL). The second uses keratin. LVL uses lifting balm, volumizer, and tint on your lashes. Meanwhile, keratin uses a keratin solution, which is healthy for hair and skin, to boost your lashes from base to tip. However, like with many cosmetic treatments, risks can come from lash lifts, the biggest one being skin irritation and side effects such as blisters, redness, watery eyes, and more. Again, it’s always best to seek out a licensed professional for safe, seamless results. So, if you’re all for the natural look but your lashes are a bit too straight for your liking, consider lash lifts to take your eyelashes to the next level with less fuss.
Eyelash Growth Serums
Eyelash growth serums are filled with nourishing and strengthening peptides (small chains of amino acids that produce collagen). For people with weaker, delicate eyelashes, serums may be a good solution. Going straight to the source, serums make eyelashes grow longer, thicker, and stronger. You can choose between two primary types: Latisse and over the counter (OTC). Typically applied two to three times a day, serums are a great choice for people who want to boost their eyelash health and beauty without undergoing a drastic procedure. Instead, you can easily implement them as another step of your daily beauty routine. Over-the-counter serums may vary, but Latisse serums take about four months to fully kick in.
Latisse, which is currently the only FDA-approved lash growth serum, can make lashes longer, thicker, and darker. In fact, studies reported 78 percent of participants’ eyelash prominence increased after using the solution. However, consider the potential risks to consider, such as red, irritated eyes; dark eyelid skin; or darkened irises. Plus, you need a prescription.
On the other hand, OTC serums are not FDA-approved but claim to have similar growth as Latisse. Because they aren’t tested, their risks aren’t known, so be sure to research and err on the side of caution if you’re considering OTC serums.
Eyelash Tinting
One of the subtler treatments of the four, eyelash tinting is simply a semi-permanent dye job for your lashes. Coloring your lashes can make them appear darker and fuller. It’s a good option for people with lighter-colored lashes, but it may not make a significant difference for those with a darker complexion. Since tinting is based on an illusion of more voluminous lashes, it’s quicker than other enhancement options, as a practitioner brushes your lashes with color. It takes around 15 minutes and lasts about three to six weeks.
While tinting’s simplicity makes it worthwhile, it does come with risks. Currently, there aren’t many FDA-approved dyes for lash tinting, so it’s important to seek a professional for these types of cosmetic treatments. If not, tinting may result in eye injuries, blindness, infection, and allergies. Make sure the practitioner is using dye that’s safe for eyebrows and eyelashes, not hair dye, which is much harsher. Overall, eyelash tinting is essentially a longer lasting mascara that’s less invasive with subtle, yet impactful, results.
Conclusion
Mascara, falsies, and your eyelash curler can prepare your lashes for any outing. But if you don’t have the time for those traditional methods in your beauty routine, consider eyelash enhancement options for longer, darker, more voluminous lashes that can last longer.