You could say we’re lash-obsessed, and honestly, you’d be right. We love the look of full, voluminous lashes that are cloud-light and fluffy. The problem is we weren’t born with them, and traditional lash enhancement techniques can be tricky, expensive, and damaging to our natural lashes.
Don’t worry; the team at Lashify® has your back (and your lash line). We’ll explain everything you should know about your natural lashes and tell you which false eyelash products will keep them safe while giving you fluttery, flirty lashes.
Eyelash Basics
Eyelashes grow like the hair on your head. There are four different growth phases, and the entire life cycle of an eyelash can last up to 11 weeks or as short as four. Each person’s lashes grow differently, but in general, most people have lashes that measure about the same length (10mm).
Whether you have lengthy, full lashes or sparse, barely visible lashes, there are ways you can support their ability to grow strong and healthy.
What Damages Natural Lashes
Your natural lashes can be damaged by some of the very products designed to make them look longer and fuller. Mascara is one of the number one offenders. Most mascaras contain drying, harsh ingredients like alcohol or even formaldehyde (gross).
These ingredients can cause your lashes to become dehydrated and brittle and encourage breakage and lash loss. Like mascara, some fake eyelash glues (most fake eyelash glues) contain the same lash-damaging ingredients.
Even if you have professional lash extensions, there’s still a chance you could damage your natural lashes. If they aren’t applied correctly, or if they’re applied with glue that contains abrasive ingredients, you could end up losing your natural lashes (and the extension attached to them) even faster.
How To Support Healthy Lashes
Just like your hair products include ingredients that nourish your hair, the products you use on your eyelashes should support the growth of your natural lashes. Two ingredients we love are biotin and lavandula.
These ingredients help nourish the roots of your natural lashes and support lash growth. That’s why you’ll find both ingredients in each of our Lashify bonds. Our bonds also allow a flexible hold that moves along with your natural lashes instead of creating a rigid finish that can promote lash loss.
Different Types of Lash Products
You’ve got options when it comes to lash enhancement. The best part is that there are numerous different ways to get the lashes you love right at home.
Eyelash Strips
Strip eyelashes are long strips of lashes that are attached to your upper lash line, behind your natural lashes, with either glue or a sticker-like adhesive. These might seem like the easiest way to get the glam lashes you love, but there are a few details to remember.
- Unfortunately, strips aren’t really one-size-fits-all, even though that’s how they come packaged. To get a good fit, you’d probably need to cut them down to fit the length of your eyelid. Otherwise, you could end up with lashes that extend onto your temples.
- The glues and adhesives aren’t usually long-lasting, meaning you could end up with an awkward, sagging lash line right in the middle of your date with (literally) the first right-swipe-worthy person you’ve matched within months.
- There could be harsh ingredients in the glues and adhesives that come with these types of lashes which could be irritating to delicate eyelid skin and even cause eye sensitivity.
Strip lashes take a lot more skill to apply to achieve a natural look, and sometimes, it’s impossible for even the seasoned professional to make that happen.
Clusters and Single Fibers
Unlike strip lashes, cluster lashes and single-fiber lashes work more like salon lash extensions. Using an adhesive, you’ll apply individual fibers or small clusters of lash fibers to your natural lashes.
This is a much better way to get a natural look and avoid any unwanted lash “incidents.”
The Best DIY Lashes for Beginners
If you start off with high-quality, easy-to-use products, you’ll set the stage for being able to apply your lashes like a true professional. In the long run, you’ll save yourself:
- Time. Because salon lash extensions can take hours to apply and fill.
- Money. It’s no secret: lash extensions are expensive. You can expect to pay between $100-250 for the initial set and about $50 per fill, which you’ll need at least every two to three weeks, depending on how fast your natural lashes grow.
- Frustration. Starting with strip lashes can completely ruin your lash enhancement experience, especially if you suffer a lash-tastrophe like a strip that comes loose at the worst time or sensitivity to the glue.
- Your natural lashes. Salon lash extensions can damage your natural lashes. Read it again. Depending on the glue that is used and whether or not your lash pro is applying them properly, you could end up causing your natural lashes to fall out sooner than they should.
The Lashify DIY Lash Extension™ System was designed to give power back to the people! No more long appointments, no more icky, sticky glues, and no more embarrassing lash stories. If it’s voluminous lashes you want without damaging your natural lashes, we’ve got you.
Beginner Mode
The best part about DIY lashes is that you can literally create a different lash look each day (if you want to) or even each hour. Lashify Gossamers® are built to last for up to ten days, but they’re also sealed to your lashes with a safe, flexible bond that allows you to change it up if you’re feeling a little non-committal. No judgment here.
Before you start, there are a few concepts to keep in mind.
- Tools. Before you begin, you need the right tools for the job. Instead of leaving you to your own devices (like tweezers or lint-filled cotton swabs), we created a customized kit that is built to work ergonomically with your face, lashes, and our Gossamers. You can grab one here. Once you have your Control Kit in hand, it’s good to get acquainted.
- Practice. Practice using the Fuse Control Wand™. The wand was developed to easily move over the curves of your cheekbone and eyelid so you can easily get your Gossamers in place without a lot of fuss.
There are a few different ways you can use the Fuse Control™ Wand. You should use the particular fuse style that feels most comfortable to you.
- Get to know your Gossamers. Practice taking them out of the cartridge, holding them with your wand, and “pretending” to apply them to the underside of your lashes.
- Watch the tutorials. We have a ton of tutorials to help you apply your Gossamers easily. Consider it like preparing for a test.
Now that you’ve completed the obligatory get-to-know-you phase, you can move on to serious eyelash relationship goals by building your very own lash wardrobe and playing with different styles and lengths.
Tips and Tricks
Every relationship has its ups and downs, and even though your relationship with your lashes is brand new, there can be bumps. Here’s how to navigate them.
- Keep your head down. Unlike other types of lashes, Gossamers are applied to the underside of your natural lash line. When you’re applying them, look down at your mirror to get the perfect placement.
- Sometimes, the romance is short-lived. Even though Gossamers are designed to last up to ten days, they may only last two to three the first few times you apply them. That’s okay. The more you practice, the better your bonds will be, and the longevity of your application will increase.
- Don’t pull away if things get sticky. If your Gossamers stick to your wand, don’t pull the wand away, which can damage your natural lashes and your Gossamers. Instead, gently blink it free and try again.
- Be patient with the non-dominant eye. Just like that left eyebrow never wants to do right by you, applying Gossamers to your non-dominant eye may be more challenging. Practice will make it seem like second nature.
- Don’t sleep on technique. Before you decide to go to bed with your Gossamers, make sure you’ve practiced the application at least three times. This can give you a better fuse and make you don’t wake up with a lash on your pillow.
Just like riding a bike, it takes time to get it right, but once you learn, you’ll be able to apply your Gossamers quickly for a fuse that lasts as long as possible.
Which Gossamer Lashes Are Best for Beginners?
While we love all of our Gossamers, there are a few options that we recommend for first-time Lashify users (and spoiler alert, these are the options that you’ll get to choose from in your Control Kit).
First, you’ll choose from our Amplify, Curl, and Bold collections. Here’s the scoop on them:
- Amplify: These are our most natural, soft lashes. They’ll give you a gorgeous, natural look.
- Bold: If volume is what you’re after, our Bold lashes utilize thicker fibers to give you that piecey look.
- Curl: If you want the best of both worlds, our Curl Gossamers are as delicate as Amplify lashes and as curled as Bold lashes.
Then, you can choose from a few different lengths. Get ready to get hooked.
Ready, Set, Lashify
For lashes that look like you went to the salon without all the time and damage to your natural lashes, there’s no better choice than the Lashify DIY Lash Extension™ System. Used by professionals but easy enough for beginners, you’ll love the results you get. We also have a practice lash extension pack to help you get comfortable! Welcome to your new lash obsession.
Sources:
Eyelash Extension Facts and Safety | American Academy of Ophthalmology
