Keratin Lash Lift: Everything You Need To Know
With so many beauty treatments on the market today, it can be hard to keep track of what’s what! One of the newer treatments available for the eyes is the lash lift. The lash lift has been taking the beauty industry by storm and has gained immense popularity over the past few years.
We will take you through the specifics of lash lifts, specifically, the difference between a regular lash lift and a keratin lash lift. We will also break down the aftercare tips that your clients need to know before they get a lash lift of any kind.
Overview: What Is Keratin?
Okay, let’s start at the beginning. What is keratin? Essentially, keratin is a protein that can be found in your hair, skin, and nails, as well as in the organs and glands of the body. Keratin is a protective protein that is less likely to be damaged than other types of cells produced by your body.
Keratin is a protein that may be extracted from the feathers, horns, and wool of various animals and utilized in hair cosmetics. Because keratin is the fundamental building block of hair, some people feel that keratin treatments can help strengthen and improve the appearance of their hair, or in this case, eyelashes.
What Exactly Is a Lash Lift?
A lash lift is a chemical procedure that works with a client’s natural lashes. For all intents and purposes, it is a perm for the lashes. In contrast to extensions, lash lifts work by utilizing the eyelashes that the client is already blessed with, and just bumps them up a notch. This makes it ideal for those with long, straight lashes or those who aren't ready to commit to extensions just yet.
If you’ve got eyelashes, you’ve got what it takes to get yourself a lash lift! Lash lifts not only make the lashes more curled but also creates the optical illusion that they are longer and fuller.
Lash lifts can last anywhere from four to eight weeks with proper upkeep. The benefit of lash lifts is that their effects fade gradually over time, so the lashes do not appear artificial or awkward as the treatment starts to wear off.
When the effects of the lash lift begin to fade, the client can decide if they want to go back and get another lash lift, or if they’d rather go back to curling lashes the old-fashioned way, with an eyelash curler. Some clients decide they like the look so much that they want to go for something even more dramatic and switch over to lash extensions.
What To Expect at a Lash Lift Appointment
One reason that some people shy away from eyelash extensions is the length of the initial appointment and the refill appointments. Eyelash extensions, while they save time on makeup and lash curling, do take a while to apply. Not the case with lash lifts!
In only 45 minutes to an hour, a lash lift can completely reshape your lashes. But first, you will want to do a consultation. During this consultation, you will help your client figure out how curled they want their lashes to be, and what their desired overall look will entail.
The as the lash technician, you will work from the lash base to the tip to see the complete length of the lashes. The goal is to give them a curled effect.
You will apply an initial solution on your client’s eyelashes and then lift, separate, and curl them upwards along a silicone pad. Then, you will use a particular type of rod along the lashes depending on the desired curl. The larger the rod, the softer the curl.
You can choose different types of silicon rods for lash lift treatment as per your desired styling. You can also make the choice based on how much your client wants their eyelashes to be curled. You should go over all of that in the consultation.
Most lash lifts involve more than one solution. After the first solution has been set for several minutes, the lashes are wiped clean and a second solution is applied. That second solution is then given a chance to set before it is wiped clean and the rods removed.
Many clients like to have their lashes tinted as well, which adds another step to the process. It might not be necessary for those who have darker hair, but those with light hair and lashes won’t want to skip the tint!
What Is the Difference Between a Regular Lash Lift and a Keratin Lash Lift?
Not all lash lifts are created equal. A regular lash lift and a keratin lash lift are different, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that because a salon uses the phrase “keratin lash lift,” that it is automatically better for the lashes.
Lash Lift
The aforementioned lash lift process is fairly simple, while paradoxically being chemically complex. For the client, you just have to sit back and relax with your eyes closed while the solutions are set. Some clients even fall asleep!
The solutions are really what set the lash lift apart from the keratin lash lift. Now, the word “keratin” makes people think about healthy, shiny hair. Because of this, many people assume that a keratin lash lift will be healthier for the lashes. This is not necessarily true.
Many lash lift solutions already have nourishing ingredients built into them, making keratin unnecessary. For example, Sugarlash PRO’s SET formula has nourishers such as hydrolyzed silk and jojoba seed oil, while the NOURISH solution reintroduces hydration and nutrition. It repairs, conditions, and maintains the natural lash health, allowing the lift to last for weeks with no problems.
Keratin Lash Lift
There is really only one difference between a keratin lash lift and a traditional lash lift or perm. Essentially, prior to doing the lash lift, a keratin product is smeared onto the lashes. Then, the lashes are placed on the same silicone-type pads that would be used in a traditional lash lift and allowed to set.
A keratin lash lift will still use more than one solution, and you will still need to let those solutions sit on the lashes and allow the lashes to curl via a chemical process.
While no research has been done to determine why keratin alters the look of eyelash hair, it is thought that the protein strengthens the cells that make up the lashes. The treatment's long-lasting qualities are most likely due to the keratin's water-shedding properties.
Which Treatment Is Best for You?
This is a tricky question, and one only you can answer! In truth, both treatments are very similar. They involve using solutions to lift and curl the lashes, and they last approximately the same amount of time, with the same amount of upkeep.
Some people are drawn to the idea of a keratin lash treatment because of the idea that it is natural, and that it is a structural building block of the hair. However, any lash technician who knows what they’re doing will be using solutions that have other nourishing properties.
One thing you should pay attention to is lash lift aftercare. In this case, it is the same process whether you opt for a keratin lash lift or go the traditional route.
Lash Lift Aftercare Tips
- Avoid using eye creams and serums for the first day or two after getting a lash lift. Any creams could prevent the lash lift from maintaining its longevity.
- Keep them dry if you can. For the first 24 hours, water should be avoided. Be careful not to let water run directly on the lashes in the shower, and don’t go swimming for a day.
- Sleep with care! When your lash lift is fresh, do your best to sleep on your back so that you don’t undo any of the beautiful results of your lash lift.
- Be gentle. Try not to rub your eyes or lashes too aggressively.
- Consider a nourishing solution. This solution is ideal not only made for use with lash lifts at the time of application but can also be applied directly to lashes afterward to keep them looking plump and nourished.
- The beauty of lash lifts is that when they do fade, it’s gradual and unnoticeable. When the results are gone, set up another appointment to freshen up the lashes.
The Takeaway
Lash lifts, keratin or otherwise, are an excellent alternative to eyelash extensions. Both keratin and traditional lash lifts will have nourishing solutions that can make you feel good about your lash health. It’s worth giving it a try for natural, long, dark lashes!
Sources:
Lash Lift Side Effects on Skin and Lashes | Healthline
