Nothing can bring out your beauty like enhancing your eyelashes! If there’s one makeup product many won’t leave the house without, it’s mascara, but we all know the pains of having it run and smudge. So more and more people are turning to semi-permanent lash enhancement options.
One of them is semi-permanent lash curling – the so-called lash lift.
Here’s everything you need to know about semi-permanent lash curling: what it looks like, how long it lasts, how it’s done, and how to DIY it.
What Is Semi-Permanent Lash Curling?
Semi-permanent lash curling is a quick treatment that uses chemicals to curl and lift up the lashes, with an option of tinting them for an even more striking effect. It’s not the same thing as lash extensions – there’s no extra fibers, the treatment just makes the best of your natural lashes.
It gives you 6-8 weeks of curled lashes that open up the eyes, make them look wider and refreshed, and abolishes the need for mascara! Unless you really want to wear it on top, which is also possible.
Image source: Instagram @victoriakat_makeup
How Is Semi-Permanent Lash Curling Done?
The treatment is done by applying a range of products onto the natural lashes, which lift them up into an attractive curved shape, and darken them. The products penetrate the hairs, so the effects are achieved from within, and they won’t wash off or disappear for the length of the lash growth cycle.
Here’s a step-by-step description of the semi-permanent lash curling process:
- Step 1 – Cleaning. Your lashes need to be cleaned of all makeup, skincare and sebum residues in order to let the chemicals work evenly. They’re wiped with a gentle cleanser.
- Step 2 – Placing the lash curling rod. A soft silicone pad in the shape of a rod is stuck just above the lash line. There are several rod sizes to choose from – a smaller rod gives a more dramatic curl, a larger one gives a subtler curl.
- Step 3 – Gluing the lashes onto the rod. The lashes are lifted upwards and glued onto the lash curling rod. This is the shape they’ll be fixed into.
- Step 4 – Perming. You’ll be asked to close your eyes. The lashes are covered with a chemical that will soften them and relax them into a straight shape. When softened, the lashes can further be manipulated and fixed into a curled shape. The product is left on for about 10* minutes.
- Step 5 – Fixing. The next step is the setting, or fixing solution. The perming solution is cleaned off, and the lashes are covered with a layer of the neutralizing solution which will harden them into the curled shape. This product should also sit for about 10* minutes.
- Step 6 – Optional tinting. The neutralizing solution is cleaned off, and if you want, your lashes can be darkened with a lash tint. This works a lot like regular hair dye – a solution in the desired shade is applied to the lashes. The tint needs a bit more time to work, so it’s left on for about 20* minutes.
- Step 7 – Removing the rod and cleaning. The silicone lash curling rod is removed. Your lashes are cleaned from product residues, and you can finally open your eyes.
* The time the products are left on depends on the manufacturer and the formula, so it may vary. This is just a general time span – always check the instructions on the products.
Image source: Instagram @taraconaboy_beautyandtraining
Does Semi-Permanent Lash Curling Require Any Aftercare?
A bit, but nothing complicated:
- Don’t get your lashes wet and avoid steam for 24-48 hours.
- Don’t touch them for 24-48 hours.
- Don’t wear eye makeup, especially mascara for 24-48 hours.
- Avoid oil-based products for the longevity of the effects – they can relax the curl.
- Avoid using the lash curler.
You can find more maintenance tips that will help you keep your lashes curled here and and here.
How Long Do the Effects of the Lash Curling Last?
Your lashes will stay curled for the longevity of their growth cycle – 6-8 weeks.
Every individual lash has its own cycle, so they won’t all fall out at the same time. As more and more of the curled lashes fall off, the effect will slowly relax, and your lashes will go back to their natural shape.
The curl will become visibly relaxed after about 4-6 weeks. The tint usually fades away a bit quicker than this, around week 3.
Where Can I Get Semi-Permanent Lash Curling?
Semi-permanent lash curling is a relatively simple procedure, so you can get a professional treatment and a lash bar or your local beauty salon (most of them offer this treatment nowadays), or you can do it yourself, at home.
If you decide to try and DIY it, you need a lash lift kit. It will provide you with all the necessary tools and products.
Notes on DIY Semi-Permanent Lash Curling
If you decide to DIY it, the process is the same as described above, more or less.
Make sure to read the instructions that come with the kit, since the process may vary slightly. Pay special attention to the time spans the products need to be left on for.
What can be tricky about doing a semi-permanent lash curl at home is the fact that your eyes need to be closed throughout the treatment so the chemicals don’t get in them. Obviously, you won’t be able to go through the steps without opening your eyes, so perhaps the safest and most practical approach is to do one eye at a time, or get someone to help you.
You can find a more detailed description of the DIY lash curling process along with extra tips here.
Image source: Instagram @beautybyflip
Are There Any Risks to Semi-Permanent Eyelash Curling?
If you do it right, not really.
Of course, since the process implies applying relatively aggressive chemicals very close to your eyes, there’s a chance they get in your eyes. So be careful, but if this does happen, rinse your eyes with water as soon as possible.
There’s also the possibility of damage to your lashes if the chemicals are left on for too long. So keep close attention to the timing of each step.
Final Word
To wrap things up, we’d like to warn you that there’s a wide range of DIY lash curling kits on the market, and not all of them are high-quality. Since the chemicals are applied so close to the eyes, and since lashes themselves are delicate, make sure to always get the highest quality supplies you can get. The products provided should be enough for 10-12 applications, so it’s worth cashing out a bit more.
For more information on the lash lift, read this guide.
Cover image source: Freepik
