Everyone loves long luscious eyelashes and there are plenty of methods to enhance lashes from growth serums and fibre mascara to expensive mink false eyelashes. Eyelash extensions are another method but anyone who has had them knows, they’re expensive and difficult to maintain. An eyelash perm or lift (both similar but slightly different processes) might just be the thing you’re looking for. The good news is they’re much cheaper and easier to maintain than extensions or falsies.
Lash Perm vs Lash Lift
An Eyelash Perm uses a cylindrical rod and perming solution to semi permanently curl the lashes creating beautiful curls that will last for weeks.
The Lash lift is great for those with shorter lashes. Whilst a lash lift uses the same chemical solution as a perm, the effect is created by using a curved device instead of a cylindrical rod. Lash lifts make your lashes appear longer and will last for several weeks.
What happens when you get an eyelash perm?
When going in for an eyelash perm (or lift) it’s best to arrive with naked lashes, it’s not essential but this will make the process quicker as otherwise your beautician will have to remove any mascara you may have applied. Lie down on a comfy massage style table and relax, the process should take about 40 minutes and requires a few steps.
Choose the amount of curl you’d like and the technician will get to work. They start by protecting your bottom lashes with damp cotton pads. Then the eye area is cleaned to remove any dirt or left over mascara. Once you’re prepped, a gel cylinder is affixed above your eyelashes with false eyelash glue and it’s time to start curling.
Next step is to glue your lashes to the cylinder with a gentle adhesive which will set the shape of the desired curl. A cream perming formula is then applied to the lashes starting just above the root. Eyelash perm cream uses the same ingredient as regular hair perming solutions, ammonium thioglycolate, which resets the bonds in your eyelash follicles. Once your lashes are doused in the strong smelling cream it’s left to sit for around five minutes. This is where the beautician needs to be especially careful as leaving the cream on to long may harm the eyelashes.
The perm solution is removed and then a neutralising cream added to finish the process. Plastic wrap is placed over the eyes to lock in the heat and speed up the process which should take around seven minutes.
Once the neutralising process is finished, it’s time carefully remove the cylinders from the lashes and clean the eye area. A final keratin treatment is recommended to nourish and strengthen your lashes and now it’s time for the big reveal.
Eyelash perming is a pretty intensive process but it shouldn’t hurt or make you feel uncomfortable, in fact some people find it extremely relaxing. There shouldn’t be any side-effects though it’s not uncommon for a couple of lashes to fall out. It might be tempting to try and do-it-yourself but the reality is that this is something that is definitely best left to the professionals.
Your permed eyelashes should last about five or six weeks especially if you take care when applying mascara. It’s essential to keep your lashes dry for at least three hours after they’re permed but it’s best to keep them dry overnight to make sure the perm cream won’t be deactivated by any moisture.
In Sydney you can get an eyelash perm or lift from the Lash Studio which will cost around $100 and Miss Fox who were named Melbourne’s best lash perm studio offers an eyelash perms from $110. A lash lift at The Brow Bar will coast $88.
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