Long, full lashes – one of those trends that has lasted through time. They frame the face, widen the eyes, draw attention, and act as a dirt and grime safety net.
But how to get your desired lashes if you weren’t fortunate enough to be born with them? The good news is that we have two really effective options, with their own pros and cons.
Let’s start with lash extensions: the good, the bad and the ugly.
The Good – almost immediate results
If you’re looking for super fast results, lash extensions will provide in spades. Within a matter of a few hours in your lash technician’s chair, you’ll have fuller, thicker lashes thanks to the plastic extensions that are carefully glued to your existing lashes. These extensions are often comprised of multiple strands to add the fullness through the quantity of lashes. The extensions are also often longer than typical lashes, giving that va-va-voom look.
Eyelash extensions are a great option for a special event in the short term like a wedding or trip, or if you’re going for a really bodacious look.
The Bad – expensive and time consuming
Depending on where you live, eyelash extensions can end up being a very expensive part of your ongoing beauty routine. Generally, it’s a good bet to budget $100 to $300 for an initial set, with $50 – $100 for refills. Not to mention the time it takes to have them put in and refilled, usually every 3 – 4 weeks.
Your skincare regime may also have to change – often the glue used for eyelash extensions will breakdown with oil which means not only do you have to carefully clean your lids with a special brush and cleanser, you also need to be careful about oil based products on your face.
The Ugly – allergic reactions and infections
The lash extensions are glued onto your existing lashes – having these glues so close to a delicate mucous membrane (your eyes!) can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. This is often characterised by watery eyes, red eyes, rashes and worse. These reactions can last until the glue is removed.
We’ve all heard of cases where an unhygienic or unregulated eyelash technician improperly cleans tools, leading to infections in their customers. Eye infections, ranging from pink eye, to styes can occur.
Lastly, the constant gluing and re-gluing of extensions to your natural lashes can cause breakage and damage, not only to the lash but also the follicle itself. This means that even when you want a break from extensions, you’ll likely have to wait a few months for your lashes to recover before getting new extensions.
We’ve reviewed eyelash extensions pros and cons, and now we’ll shift to serums.
Eyelash growth serums and their benefits and problems.
Eyelash serums encourage new lash growth while also increasing the telogen phase of the existing hair which helps to keep your lashes fuller for longer.
The Good – effective, affordable and simple
Latisse, the only clinically proven serum to actually work, will cost about $200 for a three month supply via Jill Health. This same cost as the average initial set of eyelash extensions.
Applying the serum is also super fast – right before bed and after cleansing your face and eyes, you simply swipe the solution across your top lashes.
The Bad – it takes time to see results
Eyelash growth serums like Latisse are a more long term play – most will see some good results 8 weeks in, with best results 16 weeks and beyond with daily use. That means either you need to be really really organised months ahead for a special event, or this becomes a regular part of your beauty routine.
They also won’t provide the really vivacious, mega volume look that you might be going for – growth serums augment what you already have and the result in a more natural look.
The Ugly – some side effects
As with all medications, a small proportion of the population who use the drug may have bad side effects. While rare, some Latisse users can have discolouration of the eyelid or iris, redness, irritation or unexpected hair growth (where the solution may have dripped).
Lastly, there are many serums on the market, some with questionable claims and sketchy ingredient lists. Make sure you validate the company, the product and the ingredients so that you don’t apply something that could harm you. Our recommendation? Go with a Health Canada approved serum that has had rigorous testing and proven results.
One more thing – you can use an eyelash growth serum like Latisse with your extensions. So, if you want both the immediate results of extensions with the longer term fullness and length that comes from Latisse, you absolutely can!
