Tracing the Evolution and History of the Lash Lift Technique
What is a lash lift?
A lash lift is a revolutionary beauty treatment performed by a qualified lash tech that elevates and accentuates natural lashes by giving them a perfect curl and lift. This process involves carefully perming the lashes from the roots, resulting in beautifully lifted lashes that appear longer and more defined, and the best part is this entire treatment is performed in under an hour.
The results are long-lasting, and you can enjoy the benefits of your lash lift for up to eight weeks, embracing a hassle-free beauty routine that requires minimal maintenance and is more cost-effective than lash extensions. It truly is low maintenance, with high-reward beauty at its finest.
A lash lift, in its simplest terms, is an upgraded and evolved perm for your lashes; it accentuates your natural lashes, giving them a perfect curl and lift. It begins by perfectly placing the eyelashes on silicone rods and setting them into place with a water-soluble adhesive glue.
Lash lifts are traditionally carried out using the same perming agent that is used for the hairs on our heads called Thioglycolic Acid (TA), or using a Cysteamine HCL active that contains no Thioglycolate. The lashes are then brushed up over the rods and left to set into their new curled shape using a setting solution. This is tailored specifically to each client, the condition of the hair and the way their lashes naturally grow to ensure the best result. Once the lashes have adapted to their new position, the product is then wiped off, and a lash tint and conditioning treatment is typically applied.
The craze started in 2020 when gorgeous lashes appeared across our Instagram feeds, and suddenly, a shift to a more natural look slowly started to infiltrate. Before, amongst models and artists, heavy and bold make-up was the ‘look’, but as lash lifts started to make a promising return, that trend went on the back burner, and then the ‘no make-up’ makeup trend came in. The focus shifted to skincare, and many of them, who had never implemented an actual skincare routine before, now had the time to try. Skin tints, blush and dewy products, and lash growth serums have become some of the top-selling products.
For generations, women & men have used make-up and beauty tools to enhance their features, especially their eyes. In 1931, the first eyelash curler was created by a company called Kurlash and this metal, scissor-looking contraption helped women achieve the iconic 1930s ‘wide eye’ doll-like look.
But the desire for the perfectly curled lash didn't stop there. Shortly after that, women started to perm their eyelashes to have a long-lasting effect. Although this seemed like a triumph in the beauty industry at the time, many women were left with unruly and damaged lashes. Nevertheless, this didn’t stop Karl Nessler, the inventor behind the perm.
Later, this was adopted by beauty specialists and trialled on lashes; however, didn’t stand the test of time like other must-have beauty treatments until 2020.
During the lockdowns of COVID-19, many people took the opportunity to experiment with their natural beauty and go for a more bare-faced approach. This shook the beauty industry as we saw people who typically wore eyelash extensions and long nails pushed to embrace a more minimal look.
As the lockdown restrictions eased, lash specialists who offered this service became inundated with new clients, and today, #LashLift has over 3 billion views on TikTok. Many had to restart their journey by growing out their eyelashes with the help of some holy grail products like these quality serums.
With our newfound knowledge of toxic chemicals and their effect on our health, many lash specialists are opting for particular products to ensure that the long-term health of the lashes is being considered. If you are trying a new lash specialist, make sure they always do a patch test. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when chemicals are so close to your eyes. Also, don’t be afraid to ask about the products the specialist uses.
And don’t forget, if the long-term goal is to have long, healthy lashes,then you need to ensure you are following the proper aftercare following a lash lift treatment; the EC team have put this together to give you all the best tips!
Do let us know if there is anything you would like to chat about and give us a follow on socials; our DMs are always open.
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