Lash Lift vs Extensions: Key Differences
If you’re looking for a long-lasting lash enhancement, both treatments are great. Decide which one works better for you with the help of our lash lift vs extensions guide with all the differences and similarities.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in May 2020. Updated August 2021.
Long and thick lashes are always in. We all love the way enhanced lashes can make our eyes pop and instantly give us a glammed-up look. But how can we achieve it?
Lash enhancement treatments have replaced the smudgy mascara for many people. The beauty industry offers a number of treatments that can give you lush lashes which last much longer than regular makeup. The most popular ones are definitely the lash lift and eyelash extensions.
Read our guide through key differences between lash lift vs extensions and decide which one to get.
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Lash Lift vs Extensions – Which Is More Popular?
Lash extensions are a well-known, proven method of enhancing lashes that has many faithful fans who seem to never take them off. They’re the go-to treatment before any special occasion, and many people are so obsessed with the look they treat infills as a biweekly errand.
The lash lift, on the other hand, has only emerged a few years ago, but it’s taken the beauty world by storm immediately. There are many skeptics, but once you get it, you’ll keep going back for more every 6 weeks.
So although extensions are still in a slight lead, the lift is definitely catching up in the lash lift vs lash extensions popularity race.
What Is a Lash Lift?
A lash lift is a semi-permanent chemical treatment for your lashes.
It reshapes your natural lashes by curling and lifting them, thus making them look longer and fuller. The treatment is something like a lash perm, it’s very simple, safe and completely painless. You will have impressive lashes for 6-8 weeks, after which they will take their natural shape.
Want to find out more about lash lift? Follow the links:
Lash Lift – The Ultimate Guide
Lash Lift Before and After Gallery
Image source: Instagram @pretty_eyes_by_kellieanne
What Are Lash Extensions?
Lash extensions are semi-permanent fibers that are glued onto your natural lashes.
A semi-permanent adhesive is used to glue individual extensions to each of your natural lashes, thus making them look more voluminous and thicker. They last 6-8 weeks, and fall off with the natural lashes once they end their growth cycle.
Want to find out more about eyelash extensions? Follow the links:
Eyelash Extensions – The Ultimate Guide
Image source: Instagram @facesbyjessicafaye
Lash Lift vs Extensions Compared
Here is a detailed comparison between lash extensions vs lash lift – their effects, lifespans, aftercare, maintenance, and cost.
Lash Lift vs Lash Extensions Treatment
These are two very different treatments.
The lash lift is done by applying chemical solutions onto the natural lashes that mold them into a specific shape – an attractive, upwards curl.
Lash extensions are done by gluing fibers that look like lashes directly onto the lash hairs, not on the lash line, like strip lashes are.
Both are quite safe and don’t entail any downtime.
Lash Lift vs Lash Extension Effects
The effects of lash extensions are more dramatic and more noticeable than the effects of a lash lift. The lash lift is a more subtle enhancement.
With lash extensions, you get more density as extra fibers are added. But the lash lift also has a densifying effect if it’s combined with a lash tint, as the hairs are colored into a darker shade and all the thin, invisible ones are made visible.
The lash lift makes your lashes look longer than they usually do, but the maximum effect is limited by the hairs’ natural length. With lash extensions, you can achieve whatever length you want.
Both effects are striking, but they’re definitely more dramatic with lash extensions vs lash lift.
Image source: Instagram @ggsglowandglamstudio
The Durability of Lash Lift vs Lash Extension
When it comes to their lifespan, there’s no difference in the durability of a lash lift vs extensions. Both last as long as the lash growth cycle – 6-8 weeks.
However, aftercare and maintenance affect the longevity of these treatments differently:
- The aftercare and maintenance routine. After a lash lift, you have to follow aftercare instructions for 24-48 hours, otherwise, the curl will be ruined. But after that, you don’t have to pay much attention to them and they last out the 6 weeks. With lash extensions, you have to be careful not to touch and damage your set all the time.
- Touch ups. Technically, you can have lash extensions indefinitely, as you can refill the set whenever you feel too many extensions have fallen out. With the lash lift, you can’t prolong the results. You have to wait for all the curled lashes to fall out, and then repeat the whole treatment.
Which Is Easier to Maintain – Lash Lift vs Lash Extensions?
It’s easier to maintain a lash lift than extensions.
With the lash lift, you need to be careful for the first 24-48h, during which you shouldn’t get them wet and use makeup, but after that, you can relax. All you need to avoid is rubbing your eyes and using oil-based products.
With lash extensions, you need to be more cautious, since the fibers can fall off if you damage them. They are not exactly high-maintenance, but you do have to pay special attention to them. You need to be gentle when washing your face and more selective about which products you use. You also have to clean your extensions regularly in a special way, and get regular infills every 3-4 weeks if you want to keep them looking good.
Get a detailed overview of aftercare for both treatments in our Lash lift aftercare guide and our Lash extensions aftercare and maintenance guide.
Lash Lift vs Lash Extension Touch up
With the lash lift, there are no touch ups. Your lash lift will last 6-8 weeks and if you want it again, you have to repeat the whole treatment. Wait for at least a month before you redo the treatment, though, so you don’t damage your natural lashes.
Lash extensions require an infill around 3-4 weeks after the initial treatment if you want to keep their shape. By then, half of your natural lashes will fall off, along with the extensions, so more needs to be added.
Which Is More Expensive – Lash Lift vs Lash Extensions?
Lash extensions are more expensive than a lash lift.
A lash lift can cost from $50 to $250, but the average is around $100. After the treatment, you are set for at least 6 weeks, and you can repeat the treatment after 8 weeks, without additional appointments in the meantime.
The price of lash extensions varies, depending on the style you want, the location and the popularity of a salon, and it can go from $100 to more than $350, for more dramatic styles, where more lash extensions are added. Also, every 3 weeks or so, you should have an infill, which is charged additionally.
For a detailed overview of the prices, visit our Lash lift cost guide and our Lash extensions cost guide.
Pros and Cons of Lash Lift vs Extensions
Lash Lift
The pros of a lash lift are:
- It looks natural
- It’s low-maintenance
- It’s more affordable since it’s a one-time payment
- The risk of irritation is much lower
- You can add mascara for a dramatic effect
- The chances of ruining the results is minimal
The cons of a lash lift are:
- The results depend on the state of your natural lashes – the longer they are, the better the results
- The treatment is a bit more risky, since the chemicals can get into your eyes, but the chances of this happening are close to none if your tech is skilled
Lash Extensions
The pros of lash extensions are:
- The results are super-glamorous
- You have many styles to choose from: Classic Lashes, Russian Volume, Hybrid Lashes, etc.
- You can customize your set by choosing the material, length, thickness, and curl type
The cons of lash extensions:
- You have to pay special attention to them
- You have to get infills every 3-4 weeks
- You have to clean them regularly to avoid infection
- They can get pricey with all the infills
- They may feel heavy sometimes
How Do I Choose Between a Lash Lift vs Extensions?
The answer depends on the look you want to achieve, and how much you’re willing to commit.
The look of lash extensions vs lash lift is much more dramatic and glamorous, but the subtle enhancement of the lash lift will look perfect on any occasion. Plus, you can enhance it a bit further with mascara, which isn’t recommended in the case of lash extensions.
The lash lift is very low-maintenance, while lash extensions require a special cleaning routine and have to be refreshed every few weeks.
Lash Lift vs Extensions – Main Takeaways
Each of the treatments has its pros and cons. The lash lift is a low-maintenance lash enhancement, but its effects are subtle and limited by the natural properties of your lashes.
Lash extensions can be customized and give a more dramatic effect that will definitely make you stand out, but you have to take special care of them and get them refreshed often.
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