Hair can change your look, and we are not just referring to the hair on your head! This is precisely why women are obsessed with hair or going hairless when it comes to certain areas of their body.
When it comes to their eyes, however, most women want #browsonfleek and longer, thicker and curlier lashes. Long curly lashes make your eyes pop all day without the need of mascara and who doesn’t want to look good without makeup!
While you may have your eyes set on an eyelash perm or eyelash extensions, it’s best to make an informed decision before booking an appointment. So do yourself a favour and read all you need to know about these beauty procedures to help you make the right choice.
Eyelash Perm vs Eyelash Extensions: What it is
Eyelash Perm
Just as a perm turns straight hair into curls, an eyelash perm is a semi-permanent beauty treatment that is designed to curl natural lashes upwards. Thanks to the optical illusion of upward lashes, your eyes will look bigger as a result!
The effect can last for about 1-3 months, after which, the lashes will go back to its original shape.
It however does not lengthen or increase the number of lashes you have currently.
Eyelash Extensions
Eyelash Extensions, on the other hand, requires adding artificial lashes to your existing lashes to make it appear thicker and longer.
This gives you more options to play with to create the exact lashes you want!
1) You Can Choose The Length of Lashes
Most salons will stock lashes with length ranging between 8mm to 14mm.
For a more natural look, lashes between 8mm to 10mm are recommended.
For a more voluminous look, lashes between 11mm to 13mm are recommended,
Just to give you an idea of what that length means, you can wear your sunglasses comfortably with a 10mm eyelash extension but you’ll find it uncomfortable with a 12mm extension as it will keep hitting your glasses!
Do however note that not all the lash extension will be the same length.
If you want your eyes to look bigger, the beautician will focus on extending centre eyelashes with longer length extensions.
For sexier looking eyes, the beautician would extend your corner eyelashes with longer length extensions
2) You Can Choose the Type of Curl
This is another differentiating point between lash extension salons.
3) You can increase your lash volume with 2D/3D/4D/5D/6D Volume Lash Extension
Regardless of what your local lash extension beautician may tell you, lash by lash extension is the SAFEST. Lash extension is applied lash by lash onto your existing lashes (and not to your eyelids). This way, the chances of eye infection dramatically reduces as the glue used does not touch your eye at all.
This means that the lash extension is actually limited to the number of lashes you have right now.
To overcome the limitation of lash by lash extension, the Russians invented a new technique called Volume Lash and the Japanese improved on it to make it feel lighter. Basically, the Volume Lash is multiple lash extensions in one.
Each volume lash can have up to 8 lash extensions depending on what you choose:
2D = 2 Lash Extensions per 1 Natural Lash
3D = 3 Lash Extensions per 1 Natural Lash
4D = 4 Lash Extensions per 1 Natural Lash
5D = 5 Lash Extensions per 1 Natural Lash
6D = 6 Lash Extensions per 1 Natural Lash
7D = 7 Lash Extensions per 1 Natural Lash
8D = 8 Lash Extensions per 1 Natural Lash
As you can imagine, the lash extension can increase how voluminous your lashes look dramatically if you go all the way up to 8D!
Eyelash Perm vs Eyelash Extensions: The Procedure
Eyelash Perm
Eyelash Perm is alot like the usual hair perm. Lashes are coated with an adhesive and curled around mini rollers.
A perming solution or cream is then applied to your eyelashes with a tiny brush. The beautician will then covers your roller-wrapped fringe in plastic wrap to allow the solution to penetrate into the lashes. After about 10 minutes, a neutralizer is applied to fix the shape and then a conditioning oil applied to strengthen the lashes at the end.
The entire procedure can take up to 30 minutes or so.
Eyelash Extension
There are a lot of ways an eyelash extension can be done but the ideal way is to apply it lash by lash. With the lash by lash extension, it begins with adding tapes to the lower lashes to protect them during the procedure, followed by cleaning the natural eyelashes with cotton buds before beginning the lash extension.
The extensions are added in strand by strand and glue is applied to attach the lash extensions onto clean natural eyelashes, 1mm away from the eyelid. A handheld fan is then used to blow-dry the last bit of the glue before removing the tapes to reveal the final look.
Eyelash Perm vs Eyelash Extensions: Safety
You should take into consideration that though the effects of eyelash perm can last for several months, there are certain risks involved.
Eyelash curling solutions are generally made from perm chemicals that can result in skin irritation and allergic reactions for some. Eyes and the skin around the eye is extremely delicate so any accidental contact from the lash curling solution can cause extreme irritation.
Imagine when the lash liquid accidentally touches your eye!
Like regular hair perms, it is not advisable to go for it too often because the perm lotion actually changes your lash texture, making it sensitive and brittle. Inexperienced lash beauticians who leave your solution on too long can also cause your lashes to be fried, causing them to break or fall out!
Eyelash extensions tend to be a safer alternative as the glue used is not as harsh as the perm lotion. Lash extensions are also applied directly onto the lashes and falls together with your natural lash. It also doesn’t change the texture of your lashes so it can be done as often as you wish.
You can still continue your daily routine of using makeup and eyelash curlers or even go swimming without worrying about affecting the long-lasting effect.
Eyelash Perm vs Eyelash Extensions: Maintenance and Removal
As eyelash perm doesn’t add on additional lashes, you can rub them and it will not fall off.
This is not the case with lash extensions. Rub a little harder and you may find (with some horror) that some lash extensions is on your hand!
Also, lash extension falls together with your natural lash in a rather random manner. 2-3 weeks after the extension, you may find yourself back at the salon to do a retouch because the uneven lash fall-out can make the lash look rather unsightly.
If you do not wish to get lash extensions anymore, you can either wait for all the lash extension to fall off or go to a reputable lash extension salon for removal.
Don’t remove it yourself as you may cause your natural lashes to fall off!
Eyelash Perm vs Eyelash Extensions: The Cost
Eyelash perms are usually priced lower than eyelash extensions.
An eyelash perm can set you back by about $50 while eyelash extensions usually start from $120, depending on number of lashes you want to go for.
This is not surprising given that eyelash extension requires a lot more time and skill to select the right lashes and apply it lash by lash.
You can possibly find lower-priced services at local salons but we would highly recommend you to read reviews online because the reviews for some salons are less than desirable!
How Should You Decide?
If your lashes lack a natural curl or you wish to enhance the existing lashes with slight curl, an eyelash perm is more suited for you. It eliminates the need for eyelash curlers on a daily basis.
Lash Perm
An eyelash perm not only gives the illusion of longer lashes but is also one way to make your eyes look bigger! However, an eyelash perm does not make your lashes appear thicker, so unless you have naturally thick lashes, you are still going to need your favorite tube of mascara to help you out with that.
Is your natural lashes not thick or long enough for you? Lash extensions are possibly more suitable for you. You can customize your ideal lash type (natural, glamour, sexy, etc.), type of curl (j-curl, c-curl d-curl), thickness and length of the lashes. You don’t even have to put mascara or eyeliner afterwards if you choose the right lash. Do however note that lash extensions require more maintenance as you have to be gentle when washing your face and refrain from rubbing your eyes too hard. You should also prepare to retouch the lashes every 4 to 6 weeks to maintain your beautiful lashes.
If you are very chor lor (clumsy), lash extensions may not be for you for the long term. However, it is definitely a great service to do before a wedding or even a holiday… so you don’t have to worry about wearing falsies for the perfect photo!
Source:http://www.beautyundercover.sg/Eyelash-Perm-Eyelash-Extensions-Difference/