Remember when you could just pop into your favourite salon and walk out with lashes that would make a giraffe jealous? (If you didn’t already know giraffes have amazing lashes for some reason). But lockdown has changed alot of things that we used to do. For some it’s been a liberating chance to go bare faced. For others staring hopelessly at those last few lash extensions holding on for dear life, it’s been a struggle.
lockdown means no maintenance
Lockdown has put a glaring spotlight on the maintenance required to actually ‘wake up like this’. Lash extensions need to be refilled every 2-3 weeks, otherwise you risk looking like you’re missing half your lashes. This upkeep is also expensive, with refills costing anywhere from $50 to $150 every couple of weeks. Those that are forced to let their extensions grow out during lockdown may be horrorfied to see the damage that has been done to their natural lashes. In a recent Byrdie article, 23 year old Anoushka said she was “devastated to see how much damage they had done despite being so diligent with caring for them”.
lash lifts are maintenance free
Enter the lash hero for lockdown - the lash lift. Those lucky enough to have had their lashes lifted before lockdown could expect up to two MONTHS of gorgeously lifted lashes. The beauty of a lash lift is that it doesn’t require any upkeep. After being lifted, lashes start to eventually drop on their own as new lashes start to grow in. So even though you might be wanting another lash lift by now after nearly 2 months in iso, at least your lashes still look normal and not half missing like if you’d had extensions!
the longest lasting lash lift uses cysteine
If you were a really lucky lady, you had a ‘Cysteine’ keratin lash lift before lockdown. This type of lash lift is basically the queen of all lash lifts. Using Cysteine to lift lashes instead of harsh Thioglycolic Acid means there is absolutely zero damage to your lashes. This means your lash lift will last as long as humanly possible. Normal lash lifts using Thio Acid can leave lashes starting to get a bit frizzed and dehydrated at around the three week mark, sometimes earlier. The Cysteine lash lift keeps on trucking with results lasting as long as your natural lash cycle; anywhere from 4 - 8 weeks. The ‘keratin’ part of the Cysteine lash lift is the other bonus. It strengthens your lashes which helps your lash lift last even longer.
See 'How Long Do Lash Lifts Last'.
let go of the extensions in lockdown
If you’re regretting your lash extensions during lockdown, now is the time to finally say goodbye! They’re hard to let go of I know. Like Pringles, once you pop you can’t stop. But we’re now being forced to re-examine our once cherished beauty routines and wonder if the maintenance is really worth it. There’s enough to worry about right now, without adding lashes to the list!
Find out more about the Keratin Lash Lift using Cysteine at Elise Louise here.
Elise Louise is the client certified 'brow wizard'. Seriously, she has the certificate her client made her to prove it.
Find her in her Melbourne salon, specialising in the Soft Powder Brow Tattoo, the Keratin Lash Lift and expert brow services.
Check out more of her blog here.