If I’m being honest, I had no idea what lash extensions were, let alone DIY lash extensions. My younger brother was graced with miles-long eyelashes. I, however, inherited my mother’s short eye curtains. When I was younger, I used to lament the unfair distribution of our genetics, but today, people are coming up with new ways to enhance our natural beauty, including the quest for longer lashes.
Living in a world where people are constantly inventing and reimagining solutions to everyday life is great, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. There are endless versions of mascara, lash lift services, false lashes and lash extensions; differentiating between the four can help to understand better what option works the best for you.
Mascara
If you wear make-up, you’ve been extending your eyelashes for years. Personally, mascara is always my last step in my routine; there’s just something about that last flick of the wand that puts the finishing touches to my make-up, signaling it’s time to start my day. I’ve tried several brands over the years and have started combining my favorites to give my lashes a temporary lift.
Lash Lifts
AKA, 80s-fying your eyelashes. Lash lifts are perms for your lashes; no, seriously, they are. This semi-permanent option curls your lashes and, in doing so, lifts them, making them appear lusher and longer. This lash enhancement is done at a salon equipped and trained in the process. If you Google some before and after pictures of lash lifts, it’s pretty wild. Who knew the same idea for the hairstyle of the 80s would make lashes so dramatic?
False Lashes
False lashes are temporary single-use or multi-use strips of faux-eyelashes that attach to the eyelid right by your lash line. During my clubbing days, I’d apply these on the weekends when I went all out with my eye make-up. But, as my party days were short-lived, I never reached the level of pro-false-eyelash-applicator, and my friend would inevitably have to put them on me. Thank God for our girly girlfriends; they’re the real MVPs.
Lash Extensions
Remember when I said I didn’t know what lash extensions were? Well, I meant it because I thought lash extensions and false lashes were the same. *Hold for a symphony of horrified gasps.*
Thankfully, I’ve taken the necessary steps to educate myself on the subject and have recorded my results for your study and experimentation below. But, all kidding aside, there’s much more to eyelash extensions than meets the eye (pun intended; I promise that’s my last joke).
How do they work?
The extension is made up of individual lash finders that are secured together with a highly advanced bonding agent. Depending on the brand, the lashes are made of synthetic, faux mink or silk fibers. The strands are bonded together with a highly durable and flexible adhesive. Depending on the brand, you can have individual clusters, or bigger strips applied directly to the lash line. After using an applicator to affix the lashes, a finishing coat is applied to keep them in place.
So, lash extensions are a little more in-depth than false lashes. Another plus is they last longer than false lashes thanks to the strength of the extension glue and its precision application directly to your eyelash line and not above it. Some brands’ adhesives are so strong that you can wash your face without removing them or worrying about them falling off.
However, while DIY lash extensions are by far the best option for enhancing your lashes yourself, they are definitely not the easiest (here’s looking at you, mascara). But what in life that’s worth it doesn’t take some practice? My favorite lash extension brand made learning the process really easy; the kit I purchased had everything I needed (applicator, lashes, glue, finishing coat), and the brand made videos walking me through the process. It took a couple of tries to get them the way I wanted the first few times, but now it’s just a part of my daily routine.
But one more thing.
With all the different options for turning your lash game up to 11, let’s not lose focus of this truth: you’re beautiful without them. That’s the beautiful thing about temporary solutions like lash extensions – it’s not permanent. It can be used in self-expression, self-empowerment and creativity, but never to make you feel like you need it to be attractive or live up to society’s standards of beauty.
You are beautiful the way you are, and these fun image-enhancing products are supposed to be just that: fun. So celebrate and enhance the entire you, in whatever way speaks to your soul the best! And if lash extensions are a part of that expression, go for it!
