Lash Lift Treatments: Are They Worth It

One of the fastest and easiest ways to change how you look without needing to spend hours lying down every 2-4 weeks is a lash lift. It is totally painless, affordable, and quick. After the treatment, your natural lashes will have the lovely curl you’ve been dreaming of.

Imagine, waking up every morning with camera ready lashes without putting any effort fumbling around with a lash curler. No need to curl your lashes every day before going to school or work!

Here is everything you need to know about the lash lift and tint procedure and how they can make your life easier.

What is a lash lift

A lash lift is like a perm for your eyelashes! Silicon rods and perming solution are used to curl your natural lashes upwards, very similar to the results you could achieve with an eyelash curler. A lash lift highlight your eyes by opening them up and making your lashes appear longer.

Lash tinting is often paired with a lash lift service. Special dye is used after a lash lift to darken your natural lashes, giving you the look of mascara covered lashes. The combination of lash lift and tint leaves your eyelashes looking glamorous and picture-ready without wearing any makeup. 

How does a lash lift work

Before any lash service, make sure to do a thorough consultation. This will ensure your expectations are the same and prevent any issues down the road. Consultations are a great time to answer any questions or concerns, as well as, addressing any unrealistic expectations. The last thing you want is to give your client a false idea of what you can achieve with their natural eyelashes. 

Steps for a lash lift treatment 

After the consultation, your lash tech will clean your eye area including your eyelashes. It should be thoroughly cleaned removing any oil, makeup, debris, and dirt. Once cleaned and dried, your bottom lashes will be separated with tape from your top lashes.

Next a silicone rod will be placed right above your lash line and secured using a specially formulated fixing gel. The rod you use will depend on the curl you wish to achieve, as well as, the length of your natural lashes. Once the rod is in place, the fixing gel is then used to adhere the top lashes along the rod.

Each strand is combed straight in an upwards fashion. This process should not be rushed, as the position the lashes are in is how they will look once perming is finished. Then, a 100% eye-safe perming solution will be applied to the natural lashes. This solution will break down the bonds in your eyelashes allowing them to curl and change their shape. 

The solution will be left on anywhere between 10 to 30 minutes. This will depend on the client’s natural lashes and the lash lift brand you are using. When ready the perming solution is carefully removed and the second solution is placed.

The second and final solution is a neutralizing solution, this is used to stop the perming process and kept on for the same duration of time as the perming solution. Once sufficient time has been reached the neutralizing solution is carefully removed.

Many lash lift kits contain a cleansing solution to remove the fixing gel from the client’s natural lashes, but some technicians choose to use warm water to loosen both natural lashes and the silicon rods. 

How long does a lash lift treatment take

A Lash lift takes approximately 40 minutes to an hour from start to finish. How long the treatment takes can depend on the state of your eyelashes and how clean they are initially. If you are wearing waterproof eye makeup, this will take longer because the lash tech needs to remove all the makeup thoroughly.

Some lash salons may require a patch test 48 hours prior to your appointment. A patch test is a great way to test if the chemical solution will not cause any irritation or adverse effects.

How is a lash lift different than lash extensions

Both procedures will make your eyelashes look longer and fuller. However, the whole process and application are different. 

With eyelash extensions, each individual extension is applied and bonded to your natural lashes using a specially formulated lash adhesive. Lash extensions can be more dramatic than a lash lift, as they create the fullness and length you weren’t naturally born with. The whole application can take 1 to 4 hours, depending on the type of extensions and style you want to achieve. 

During a lash lift and tint, your natural lashes are curled using an eye-safe perming solution to shape and curl your lashes. You will leave looking like your eyelashes were curled using an eyelash curler. In most cases the whole process will only take an hour, max. 

When it comes to maintenance, a lash lift is more convenient. A thorough and deep daily aftercare is needed to maintain your eyelash extensions. If it is not well maintained, your lash extensions will be damaged and cause premature shedding. With fill and touch-ups, you will need to go back to your lash tech every 2 to 3 weeks. 

Meanwhile, lash lift maintenance is way easier. You just need to avoid any water, makeup, steam, or makeup remover for 24 hours after the treatment. After that, you treat your eyelashes as you always do.

Clients wishing for more length and fullness can use an eyelash serum during this time. When it comes to touch-ups, you can go back to the lash salon around 6-8 weeks after the treatment, depending on your eyelash cycle. 

Can you use mascara with a lash lift

No mascara for 24 hours after the lash lift and tint treatment. Usually, the lash artists will tell you not to wear any eye makeup, including mascara during this time. Your eyelashes need to be fully and correctly set before using any mascara. 

After 24 hours, you can treat your eyelashes just like you normally do.

Make sure the mascara you are using is not waterproof because removing it can be tedious. Go for protein-rich mascaras with conditioning ingredients. This will be better for your natural eyelashes.

How long does a lash lift last

The lifespan and effectiveness of your lash lift will usually last from 6 to 8 weeks. However, your lifestyle will greatly affect its effectiveness. If you are someone with an active lifestyle who loves to sweat or lives in a place with warm weather, you might need to undergo a lash lift sooner.

Having perfectly curled eyelashes 24/7 for 6 to 8 weeks is really enticing. On top of that, it needs little to no maintenance or special care. You can wear oil-free eye makeup and removers after 24 hours. 

If you are interested in having a lash lift yourself, call your lovely and friendly lash tech and ask for advice. They will surely be happy to help you out.