Do your delicate eyelashes droop in shame at the mere sight of your partner's lavish "sweep"? Do you want your thick lashes to dazzle not only your bathroom mirror every day, or do you desire a more expressive look for a special occasion? Then this article is just for you! Let us guide you through an overview of the best known eyelash extension methods. Which are going to be right for you?
What do we have eyelashes for?
Eyelashes are probably the only body hair that everyone desires. Not only are they very aesthetically pleasing, but eyelashes also protect our eyes from dust and small dirt particles. They also act as a kind of air filter for the eye and help reduce tear evaporation by up to 50%, thus helping the eye to become sufficiently and permanently moisturised.
Interesting fact: Did you know that even some animals boast really long and thick eyelashes? These include, for example, camels, giraffes, llamas, as well as the secretary bird and the ostrich. Their eyelashes have the same function as in humans - protection against the intrusion of foreign particles.
Lashes throughout history
Eyelash highlighting began in ancient Egypt and was also used by men. Things like ash, kajal with the mineral stibnite and natural ointments were used. Makeup was not only for beauty but also to protect the eyes from the sun.
Throughout history, the trend for eyelash make-up has changed, while during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the ideal of beauty was an unmade alabaster face, with the nobility even removing their eyebrows and eyelashes. The prudish 19th century, with Queen Victoria, dismissed make-up as something inferior, and only prostitutes or actresses of poor quality were usually made up.
The eyelash highlighting boom came with the inventions of Eugene Rimmel or of the siblings Mabel and Tom Lyle Willams, who invented the first mascaras with vaseline, black pigments and oils. The first mascaras were a huge success and improved versions are still in use today.
Methods of highlighting and lengthening eyelashes
1. Mascara
It is with mascara that we begin our big review of methods, because no matter how you wear your lashes today, I'm sure your first experiments with make-up began with mascara, when you may have secretly borrowed it from your mother's make-up bag as a child. After all, mascara is a quick and versatile tool, and since there are so many differently curved brushes and quality blends with desirable properties (e.g. waterproof, anti-clump, etc.) on the market today, there's something for everyone.
Even those with sensitive eyes or who are uncomfortable with the adhesive used in press-on false lashes or semi-permanent lashes can enjoy a highlighted look with mascaras from natural or hypoallergenic cosmetic lines. The downside, however, is that the beautiful make-up lasts for a day at most and the highlighting is limited mainly by your natural lash length.
2. Press-on false lashes and clusters
Do you love a specific fashion and style, or are you just going to shine at a party but barely have a day to get breathtaking lashes? A compromise, where you can handle the application yourself without having to make an appointment at a specialist salon, often takes the form of press-on lashes and clusters.
The advantage is that you don't need any special tools and products at the time, just tweezers and glue, which are usually included in the package or can be bought separately. Eyelashes and clusters are usually easy to find in a larger drugstore.
Press-on eyelashes are a ready-made strip, which you just apply to the lid with glue, hold for a while and you get an incredible look. You can also get these adhesive eyelash strips with different embellishments, glitter rhinestones, different colors, lengths and styles that are often used by makeup artists and makeup artists for photo models.
It sounds very simple, but the truth is that applying it can be a struggle, with lashes sticking everywhere but your eyelid, or trouble comes up the moment a gust of wind hits you. It's a good idea to take the glue with you so that you have a chance to fix your lashes if necessary during the event.
Press-on clusters are the imaginary predecessors of today's volume lashes. With a bit of skill, you can apply them at home, but you need to set aside at least an hour or more to do it. Eyelash clusters work on a similar principle to press-on lashes, except that you glue each cluster separately one next to the other on the natural eyelashes close to the eyelid (not ON it) and, unlike the application of volume lashes, you don't need to keep your eyes closed all the time.
With clusters, you can get much more volume than with just one row of traditional press-on lashes. If you apply them correctly and carefully, they'll keep you company for up to two weeks, so they can be a temporary lifesaver if you're going on holiday and your stylist can't do your lashes anymore. If handled carefully, they'll last through some summer swimming, but you should avoid oil-based products that can loosen the lash joints.
Even so, they're better suited to short-term wear, the clumps are heavier than the fans used today, and when worn for long periods of time, they create a constant strain on your lashes that can affect their growth and quality.
3. Permanent eyelashes - lash to lash method
If you want to have effortlessly beautiful lashes for a few weeks and are happy to pay extra for the work of a professional, permanent lashes are a great solution for you. The word permanent has a slightly different meaning when it comes to eyelashes specifically than classic permanent make-up such as eyeliner, which lasts for years, but even so, we are getting into more interesting lengths of staying power here compared to other methods.
Again, if the lashes are made of good quality material and the stylist really understands her job, you can look forward to 2-3 weeks of perfection. However, it also depends on your lashes and how you handle them. Generally, in summer for example, due to heat, mugginess or going to the pool, the lashes can go away a little faster than normal, but even so, there is usually a two-week lifespan as a minimum. The eyelash glue used also plays a part in the longevity, the higher the quality the better, of course.
Again, the lash-to-lash method will appeal to those ladies who prefer a more natural look while lengthening their lashes, as there is just one false lash applied to one of your lashes. The lighter the false eyelash, the less strain it puts on your eyelashes and the longer it lasts. In this case, however, the stylist is limited by the number of your natural eyelashes, so you should not expect a sudden increase in volume; it is more about highlighting and lengthening your eyelashes. Refills are done after 2-4 weeks, prices vary depending on whether you choose a salon or prefer a stylist who does your lashes at home.
4. Permanent eyelashes - finished fans
For volume lashes, the same method of application applies as in the eyelash-to-lash method, but the difference here is that a fan of eyelashes composed of three to ten individual eyelashes is applied to the natural eyelash (referred to as 3D-10D). High-quality fans are beautifully light, even if they are composed of multiple thin lashes, they do not increase in weight, but their volume increases significantly. If a stylist glues a fan divided into three onto one lash, your one lash will suddenly become a triple lash. In the end, it looks like you have three times as many lashes. This is exactly why volume lashes are so popular, even with little natural lashes you can achieve the perfect volume and length without weighing your lashes down. In addition to the length and width of the fan, you can also choose from a variety of lash curves.
With volume lashes, you can look forward to at least 2-3 weeks of getting up in the morning looking like a goddess. You'll also love them on summer holidays when you won't have to worry about whether a mascara is really waterproof, and in winter you'll appreciate their festive look at balls and other social events.
Beautiful, volume lashes are an addiction and once you've tried them, you won't want to go back to mascara. The reward is not only a great look, but also time and hassle saved from daily application.
A lash brush will help you maintain your permanent lashes, as well as a special cleaning foam to get rid of dirt and creases.
You may also be interested in:
- 6 principles for the proper care of eyelash extensions
- Trailblazers and pioneers - lash trends at the turn of the millennium
- UV Lash System - has the eyelash extension revolution arrived?
5. Eyelash Lifting, Botox and Dyeing
This procedure, performed in beauty salons, has recently become very popular for its long-lasting effect and natural look. So if, like Renaissance women, you want to rely more on what nature has bestowed upon you with only a little help, this is exactly what you're looking for. It basically works like hair perm, but this one is much gentler and lasts longer.
It visually lengthens, lifts, curls and nourishes your lashes too. Botox will then take care of the volume by strengthening the lashes and having a beneficial effect on their growth. Eyelash coloring is also part of this procedure, which will enhance the final effect. The result is also visible after you have applied mascara. However, this method also has its pitfalls; it should be avoided by pregnant women, women with eye diseases or those with significantly droopy eyelids. It is also not recommended to use eyelash curlers.
Which method did you start with? Let us know in the comments on our Facebook! We'd also be happy to give you advice and answer your questions.
Source: tetadrogerie.cz, napovime.cz, prozeny.cz, zenysro.cz, wikipedia.org, earthtouchnews.com, coopervision.cz, pinterest.com
