What Is The Difference Between A Lash Lift And Lash Extensions?
If you’re looking for a way to level up your lashes as we move into the new year, you might be exploring your options around either lash lifts or lash extensions. But do you know the difference between the two – and which option is right for you?
What is a lash lift?
A lash lift is essentially like a perm for your eyelashes. The idea is to curl them into the kind of shape you’d normally get by using an eyelash curler and wearing mascara. However, the upside of a lash lift is that your lashes will remain in that position for weeks.
If you’re having a lash lift in Shoreditch, your therapist will apply a special formula to your lashes and curl them around a rounded mould. It’s a relatively quick treatment that usually takes under an hour.
Many people choose to have a lash tint at the same time as a lash lift. This darkens your eyelashes and adds more definition to them. A lash lift is generally considered to provide a more natural look than lash extensions.
Best for: people who have naturally long, healthy eyelashes. A lash lift enhances what you already have, so if you have shorter eyelashes, this might not be the best choice for you.
What are lash extensions?
As their name suggests, lash extensions are additional lashes that are applied to your existing eyelashes.
However, don’t confuse this treatment with the one-piece artificial eyelashes you can buy in a shop. When a trained therapist applies lash extensions, they glue each extension onto your existing eyelashes individually or in small clusters.
This means that the treatment takes a lot longer than a lash lift, often around two hours.
One great part of eyelash extensions is that you can customise them to suit your desired look both in terms of their length and the curl that’s applied. There are various options available and your therapist will talk to you about the look you’d like to achieve before getting started.
Lash extensions tend to provide a more dramatic look than lash lifts, because they are making your eyelashes longer. As with a lift and tint, the lashes will be dark in colour, which means you won’t need to apply your own mascara while you’re wearing the lash extensions.
Best for: people who have shorter or sparser eyelashes. Lash extensions are a good option if your lashes aren’t naturally long.
How long do lash lifts and lash extensions last for?
A lash lift typically lasts for four to six weeks. The effects of the lift (and tint if you had one) will gradually fade over time as your natural eyelashes fall out and are replaced. This generally happens in a four to six week cycle.
Lash extensions, on the other hand, typically last around three weeks before they begin to come out. At this point, you may want to get infills to maintain your look.
There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to lash lifts or lash extensions. Which works best will depend on your natural eyelashes, as well as how much maintenance you want in your beauty routine.