Hi all! I'm Farrah, and I guess I love writing about eyelashes? I'm someone who is low maintenance but still likes to look like it took me 45 minutes to get ready when, in reality, it's more like five. That's why I'm on a mission to see if I can achieve luscious, DRAMATIC eyelashes with a lash lift.
Here's the thing: I've had a lash lift in the past, but I was hoping for more of an OOMPH factor. My goal is to get long, dramatic lashes that even out my eyes and make me appear more alert. I want to be able to roll outta bed and be like, "I WOKE UP LIKE THIS, Y'ALL."
Another thing? I've tried lash extensions, but I didn't super enjoy them. I loved how they looked, but they were a little high maintenance for me. I have thick, stick-straight lashes that don't hold a curl, so I was hoping Blinkbar would give me a dramatic look that was a little more natural-looking than extensions that could keep my lashes long 'n' curled.
Here's a few things you should know about lash lifts before I continue to talk about my treatment:
- Eyelash lifts are basically perms for your eyelashes and last between six to eight weeks.
- You must take off ALL makeup (I mean, really clean your eyes/lashes) and wash the skin around your eyes before treatment. Not even facial lotion or sunscreen is recommended.
- If you're like me and wear contacts, you're going to NOT want to wear them to your treatment. This is because you can't be touchin' your eyes for 24 hours. So basically, bring your glasses.
- Let your technician know if you have any skin sensitivities or allergies so they can perform a test sample on you prior to treatment.
- Again, this is like a perm for your eyelashes, so that means you cannot get 'em wet for 24 hours. Use a washcloth to gently wash your face/the areas around your eyes before bed that night.
- You might see something called a keratin lash lift and wonder what makes it different than a regular lash lift. Keratin preserves the natural hair. Because the lift solution is chemical, (again, like a perm) it works to help keep it damage-free.
Here are all the tools and solutions that are needed to get started with a lash lift at Blinkbar. I love that they use a tiny dental mirror to ensure that all your lashes are in the right place. The lifting solution that's used is Elleebana Lash Lift. It's a keratin treatment that's formaldehyde-free, and the glue used to hold your lashes is non-toxic.
The first thing my lash technician did was glue my eyelashes to those tiny orange rods, which meant my eyes were closed for the duration of the treatment. The rods are the tools that form the curl. This was probably the longest step because she was making sure each lash attached to the rod.
Once my lashes were set with glue, the lift lotion activation serum was applied. This had to stay on for about 10 minutes, then the setting lotion was gently brushed over my lashes. After another 10 minutes, it was done!
The technician began working on cleaning the area around my eyes so I could open them safely. Like I mentioned earlier, you don't want to open your eyes throughout treatment. The serum can cause irritation if you do.
While the lifting serums came off beautifully, the leftover glue made the area around my eyes feel a little stiff. My technician was great about making sure everything came off clean. Then, BOOM! I was done. The entire process had taken about an hour.
When I got home, I took this picture so you could see what my lashes looked like after treatment. The most important thing to remember is that you CANNOT get your lashes wet for 24 hours. I was warned they'd look a little piece-y and clumped together and that it was normal. That changed once I was able to clean them the next day!
Here's the before and after 24 hours after my lash lift. Personally, I think it makes me look more alert and awake.
Here's another comparision with and without mascara. I used Maybelline's Great Lash mascara ($5 at Target) and felt like it made them look a little longer and fuller.
Is this a service I feel like I'll keep to my beauty routine? Yes. I like the way it opens up my eyes and truly feel like it makes me look less tired, which means I don't feel the need to cover that tiredness with makeup every morning. (I told you I was low maintenance.) I also thought the outcome with this treatment was MUCH curlier than the treatment I'd had prior!
