Once upon a time, I had a brief (but passionate) love affair with eyelash extensions. I was hooked on waking up with full, fluttering eyelashes, but not without paying the price (literally). Not only was I shelling out $75-$100 every other week for touch-up appointments, but the service made over half of my eyelashes fall out—and the ones that survived were left brittle and broken. Show
After a month or two of skipping mascara and using a lash conditioning serum, my lashes did eventually grow back, but by then, I had sworn off lash treatments for good. That is until an esthetician told me about keratin lash lifts (often referred to as a lash “perm”)— a service that lifts, lengthens, and curls your natural lashes without damage. Skeptical, I booked an appointment myself at Envious Lashes in New York City and asked the studio’s founder all of my burning questions. Ahead, everything you need to know about getting a keratin lash lift—plus, a brutally honest recount of my personal experience. Meet the Expert Clementina Richardson is an esthetician and the founder of Envious Lashes, with locations in Manhattan, NY, Long Island, NY, and Miami, FL. She has more than 10 years of experience in lash artistry, with celebrity clientele including Naomi Campbell, Mary J Blige, and more. What Is a Keratin Lash Lift?A keratin lash lift is a cosmetic service where an esthetician uses a chemical solution to “lift” and curl your lashes from base to tip. This process lets you see the full length of the lash, creating the appearance of longer, fuller, more curled lashes without extensions—it’s 100 percent your natural lashes. Keratin lash lifts are also commonly referred to as “lash perms,” but these terms aren’t as interchangeable among lash artists and established studios. That’s because a lash perm technically uses an alkaline solution to push the lashes into a curled position, while a keratin lash lift uses, well, keratin. Both services typically produce a similar (if not identical) result, but a keratin lash lift should be less damaging than a perm. Your hair, including your eyelashes, is made of keratin, which means this formula is meant to help protect the integrity of your lashes while undergoing the treatment. Most lash studios no longer offer traditional “perms” using alkaline, so if you make an appointment for a lash perm, you’ve probably been booked for a keratin lash lift. While undergoing the lifting treatment, most clients also opt to add in a lash tint, which darkens your lashes for a more noticeable effect. Getty Images / Cristina CianciWhat’s the Process Like?On average, the entire process—which usually includes a lash tint in addition to the lift—lasts between 45 minutes to an hour. Your keratin lash lift will be performed by an esthetician or lash specialist (I had mine done by Tina at Envious Lashes). The exact process varies from location to location, but the below steps explain the basic process of what you can expect. Tip: Make sure to take your contacts out before this treatment.
My ResultsWhen my esthetician handed me the mirror after my service was complete, I was genuinely shocked. My blonde, sparse, short lashes were completely transformed in just 45 minutes. See for yourself: Byrdie/Cristina CianciDoes It Hurt?The short answer: Not usually. “We rarely have clients complain about stinging,” says Richardson. “It’s crucial to keep your eyes closed during the process and not let the formula get in contact with the eye itself, as that could cause a reaction If you open your eyes.” If you read reviews of keratin lash lifts online, you’ll see that most people don’t experience any pain at all (although it can be a different, non-painful kind of discomfort to sit with your eyes closed for up to an hour). But with that being said, I turned out to be one of a few people who found the process to be slightly painful. After the keratin formula had been applied and my esthetician was letting my lashes absorb it (step five above), I felt a burning sensation along my upper lash line and eyelid. It was tolerable, but it wasn’t exactly comfortable either. I liken it to the feeling of getting a little bit of moisturizer in your eye on accident (the keratin formula wasn’t actually in my eyes, I just have a sensitive lash line). I told my esthetician that I was experiencing this pain and she helped soothe the area by cleansing my eyelids with a cool, damp tissue, which really did help ease the pain. My lash line also only felt this stinging sensation for the last two minutes of the setting time (which is around 10 minutes total), so even if you do experience discomfort (which, according to Richardson, is more common for people with fair skin, light eyes, and a history of having a sensitive eye area), it doesn’t last long. The most important thing is to communicate with your esthetician, who is specifically trained on what to do if you feel pain. A week before your appointment, stop all use of topical retinoids, chemical exfoliators, spot treatments, harsh cleansers, and facial scrubs around the eye area, as these formulas can make your skin more sensitive to the keratin formula. The more sensitive your skin, the more likely you are to experience a stinging sensation during your treatment. Who Is a Candidate For a Keratin Lash Lift?Almost anyone can get a keratin lash lift, although we recommend getting the go-ahead from your dermatologist before booking an appointment. Some studios (like Envious Lashes) require your lashes be a minimum length of four millimeters to receive the service, a rule that’s all in the name of protecting your lashes. If you’ve had lash extensions before, you shouldn’t expect a lash lift to produce the same dramatic, fluttery result. “Lash Lifts are ideal for those who don’t want the maintenance or added volume of extensions,” says Richardson.” You don’t need to come in as frequently for touch-ups as with extensions.” With that being said, a keratin lash lift looks much more natural than extensions (it’s your natural lashes, after all), so if you want the look of falsies, this likely isn’t the right service for you. How Long Does It Last?Results vary based on the length and porosity of your lashes, but generally speaking the results from your keratin lash lift lasts for four to six weeks before your lashes will start to lower (and the tint begins to fade). Personally, I’m four weeks in since my lash lift and haven’t noticed a difference in the curl or tint. My bare lashes look exactly the same now as when I walked out of Envious Lashes a month ago, although I wear mascara when I’m going for more of a glam look. Here’s what that looks like: @HollyrhueAftercare & Extending The Life of Your Treatment
Envious Lashes Luxuriating Lash Conditioning Serum $75.00 $45.00 Shop The CostIn New York City, a keratin lash lift will set you back anywhere between $100-$200. If you’re paying less than that, you should be skeptical of your salon. Elsewhere in the country, the service costs around $75-$150. (And in full transparency, Envious Lashes gifted me my treatment so I could write this story.) The TakeawayAlthough the terms are interchangeable among clients, traditional lash “perms” don’t really exist anymore, and have taken new life as “keratin lash lifts.” For most people, a keratin lash lift is a fast, painless way to completely transform your lashes in under an hour, making them appear longer, fuller, and curled. Most lash studios offer the option to tint your lashes during the process, which produces a more noticeable effect than a lash lift alone (the lift curls your lashes, and the tint dyes them a darker brown or black). With proper care, you can go mascara-free for an average of four to six weeks. But the most important thing is to research your lash studio and esthetician, looking for lash artists who are licensed, not just certified. (I recommend Tina at Envious Lashes if you’re in New York City). When in doubt, search for salons that focus onlash services to get the best, safest result possible. And as always, you should talk to your dermatologist before receiving a lash service. How often can you get Keratin lash Lift?if you have had a lash lift within the last 6 weeks. this is because it takes ABOUT 6-8 weeks for a lash lift to grow out so doing another one too soon WILL damage your lashes. for the health of your lashes, it is better to just wait and SCHEDULE your appointment for after this period.
Are Keratin lash lifts good for your lashes?A regular Lash Lift can result in dry, unhealthy lashes. A Keratin-Infused Lash Lift service is chemical-free causing no harm. In fact, Keratin is a good protein for our hair and skin leaving them strong and healthy.
Do lash lifts damage your eyelashes?No, lash lifts should not damage your lashes. Even if you end up with a lash lift that goes a little wrong, the effects of the procedure are only semi-permanent. Eyelashes naturally fall out and regrow every 4 to 6 weeks, so you won't have to worry about damaging your lashes long term.
What is the difference between a lash lift and a keratin lash lift?Both the Keratin Lash Lift and the regular Lash lift are a semi-permanent procedure using your natural lashes. The difference between the two is that the regular lift takes approximately 1 hour and last 3-4 weeks. The Keratin lash lift takes approximately 40 minutes and lasts up to 9 weeks.
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