Lash It Up: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Lashes for Extensions

You’re finally at the stepping-off point. After years of devotion to volumizing mascara and questionable lash serum ingredients, you’re ready to take a chance on lash extensions. There’s just one problem: there are so many options. 

Lash extension decisions can be as stress-inducing as deciding where to eat dinner, and if you find yourself overwhelmed by curl shapes, lash lengths, and fiber materials, we can help. The team at Lashify® can tell you everything you need to know to make the best decision for your new look.

What Are the Basic Types of Lash Extensions?

Before you book an appointment with a lash tech or grab some lash strips from the store, you need to know what’s available in Lash Land. 

There are several different types of lash extensions available: 

Classic Lash Extensions

These lash extensions are the OGs of lash enhancement. They are applied to your natural lashes in a 1:1 ratio. 

That means for every individual natural lash, an individual lash extension will be applied. Classic lashes are thicker and heavier than other types of lash extensions and are typically more focused on lengthening your lashes rather than adding volume.

Volume Lash Extensions 

Also known as Russian Doll or Russian Volume lash extensions, these extensions add serious full-volume drama to your lash line. These are applied on a several-to-one ratio. 

Each individual extension is a bundle of several lash fibers that are bound together at the base. The base is then attached to an individual, natural lash fiber. 

These are thinner, wispier, and lighter than classic lash extensions, making them more comfortable to wear. 

Hybrid Lash Extensions

If you’re thinking you want a combination of classic and volume lashes, you’re in luck. Hybrid lash extensions are a mix of both. Many people opt for hybrid lash extensions because they produce a more natural look that is similar to natural lashes. 

At-Home Types of Eyelash Extensions 

While it’s possible to get at-home lash extension kits that allow you to apply an individual lash extension or bundle to an individual, natural eyelash, it’s incredibly tedious work and probably not something a novice would want to attempt. 

There are different types of lash extensions available for at-home use. 

Strip Lashes

Lashes on a single strip are probably the most familiar-looking false eyelashes available. These lashes come in a one-size-fits-all shape, which you’ll probably need to trim to fit your own eye shape and eye length. 

Strip lashes have a bad rap for being hard to apply, not looking natural, and detaching from your lash line quickly. Although they’ve evolved, and the lash bands are thinner than they used to be, they still have a lot of the same problems. 

Magnetic Lashes

Another at-home option is magnetic lashes. These false lashes adhere to your lash line with the power of magnets attached to the lash band and the power of iron-oxide eyeliner. 

While these might be a good fit for some users, they typically feel heavier because of the magnets. It’s also important to note that you’ll need to be able to use liquid eyeliner to apply them. 

This might not be a viable option if you’re not incredibly adept with your eye makeup skills. 

Cluster Lashes

The Lashify® system uses cluster lashes for our Gossamer® lash extensions. Cluster lashes are tiny groups of lashes (usually between 20-30) attached to a weightless spine. 

The spine then attaches to several of your natural lashes, helping distribute the weight of the lashes evenly across multiple lashes for a comfortable and featherlight feel. Cluster lashes are an easy way to get a full set of lashes that look natural and feel comfortable. They’re easy for beginners and don’t require much upkeep. 

What Are the Different Lash Materials?

Once you’ve decided on the type of lashes you want, you can decide on the material. The most popular materials are mink, silk, and polyester. 

Mink Lashes

Celebrities love them, and they’re considered one of the best eyelash extension fibers you can use, but are mink lashes worth the animal involvement? According to experts, that’s a hard no. 

Mink lashes are never actually cruelty-free, even if the manufacturer claims that the fibers are taken from fur that is combed or brushed from the animals’ bodies. The fact remains that the animals (which were meant to live in the wild) are kept caged and raised solely for the consumption of their fur. 

Polyester or Synthetic Lashes

These types of lashes are typically very low-end. They are cheap to make and feel heavy and hot when worn. Polyester lashes might be cruelty-free, but they aren’t the type of falsies you want on your lash line. 

Silk

Silk lashes seem like a good, cruelty-free alternative to mink, but the silkworm would disagree. Tons of silkworms are killed in the collection and processing of their silk cocoons, which makes silk an option that is also not entirely cruelty-free or vegan. 

Korean PBT Silk 

A solution to the cruelty problem is Korean PBT Silk. These are sometimes marketed as faux mink lashes because the material so closely resembles mink. 

Korean PBT silk is a type of plastic that is durable and more resistant to moisture than animal fur. It’s also extremely lightweight, making it comfortable for the wearer. 

All Lashify Gossamer lashes are made from Korean PBT Silk, making our lashes cruelty-free, vegan, and weightless. 

Choosing Your Style

You’ve got the type and material down; now comes the fun part. There are so many lash styles available it can be hard to choose. We’ll break down the options by curl type, length, and shape. 

Curl Types

The curl type refers to how much of a curl your lashes have. There are numerous different types of curls, but the most popular are the C curl, D Curl, and J Curl. 

• J Curl. The J curl is the most natural curl available. It isn’t very curly and provides a more natural, elongated look. 

• C Curl. The C curl is a favorite of lash artists and lash wearers. It gives you the kind of curl you’d get if you used a lash curler. It’s tighter than the J curl but not the tightest curl available. 

• D Curl. This is a more dramatic curl and is used for creating a dramatic look. Some wearers might find this uncomfortable because D curls can sometimes touch the upper eyelids if the length isn’t measured correctly. 

Lengths

Most lash extensions are available in lengths that are measured in millimeters. The range varies from about 6-8mm to 14-16mm (and beyond). 

If you have extremely short natural lashes, you might automatically think that longer is better, but your natural lashes may not be able to support incredibly long lash extensions. You may want to save that type of length for special occasions. 

Shape

The shape of your lash extensions will help you get a finalized look. If you’re working with Gossamer lashes, you can even use lash maps to help get new looks and unexpected shapes. Some of the most popular shapes are cat eye, doll-like, and even colored lashes. 

Making the Decision Easy

If you decide to go to a lash salon to get your lashes done, you’ll have less control over your lashes, and you’ll also be locked into the style you pick until you have those lashes professionally removed. 

The Lashify DIY Lash Extension™ system gives you full control over your lash wardrobe and the tools you need to get great, salon-quality lashes at home. All you need to get started is the Control Kit™. 

Each Control Kit comes with: 

• Two sets of Gossamer lashes. Pick your curl style, length, color, and shape from our Amplify, Bold, and Curl collections. 

• Fuse Control® Wand. This tool makes application a breeze and saves you from the frustration of trying to use tweezers to apply your lash extensions. 

• One set of Wandoms®. Lashify Bonds don’t fully cure, which means they’ll get tacky during application. Wandoms help you avoid getting Gossamer lashes stuck to your Fuse Control Wand. 

• Whisper Light Bond™. Lashify doesn’t use harsh, chemically laden lash glue. We use Bonds, which contain nourishing biotin and lavender. These Bonds never fully cure, which helps them keep your natural lashes safe and your Gossamer lashes properly attached. 

• Glass Finishing Coat. Seal your Bonds and keep your Gossamers in place with Glass Finishing Coat. It will give you a great shine and help remove any residual stickiness you might have from your application. 

• Samples. You’ll get a sample of both Pre-Cleanse and Melt Away in your Control Kit. Pre Cleanse helps remove dirt and oil from your natural lashes and doubles as a face cleanser. Meltway is our dual-phase, oil-based makeup remover that makes Gossamer removal a breeze. 

Everything you need comes in one easy, convenient, and hard case to keep your tools and Gossamer lashes safe.

The Choice Is Easy: It’s Lashify

Don’t waste any more time on the decision to try lash extensions. Lashify lets you DIY your lashes at home without risking injury to your natural lashes or spending a ton of time and money at a salon. It’s an easy choice for lash enhancement you’ll love. 

Sources:

Mink Eyelashes Exposed: What Salons Won't Tell You | PETA

Is Eyelash Glue Toxic? | Poison Control

Biotin | Health Professional Fact Sheet

Lashify Review: The Pros and Cons of These DIY Eyelash Extensions | Cosmopolitan