A lash lift is a popular beauty service that will leave you with temporarily lifted and curled lashes. In this article, we will help you with some tips and trips to best prepare you for your lash lift appointment.
The best way to prepare for a lash lift is to do the following:
- Research your lash artist
- Avoid mascara for 24-48 hours before your lash lift
- Remove all eye makeup and skincare products before your lash lift
- Don’t use an eyelash curler for 24 hours before your lash lift
- Take out your contact lenses before your lash lift
Read on for more detail.
What Is A Lash Lift?
A lash lift is a service that is typically performed by a lash artist or esthetician in a salon or spa.
It will create a temporary curl and lift to your natural eyelashes that will last up to 6 weeks.
The process requires the use of a lifting solution that is applied directly to your lashes as your lashes are gently taped up over a flexible rod or pad.
Holding the lashes in that position while the solution sets will create the temporary curl in your lashes to create the lifted effect.
A lash lift only takes about 30 minutes, so it’s great for anyone who wants a great look but has minimal time for upkeep.
A lash lift is also a good treatment for those who are pregnant, just don’t have it done in the first trimester.
How To Prepare For A Lash Lift
Although lash lifts are much lower maintenance than lash extensions or applying false lashes, there is some important preparation to make your lash lift go smoothly.
Here are a few things that you should do before your upcoming appointment to make sure that you get the most out of your lash lift service:
1. Research your lash artist
Before you schedule your lash lift, make sure you find a salon and lash artist that you trust.
Research the lash artist and ask to see examples of their work. Many lash artists post their work on social media accounts or may have photos they can send to you.
By reviewing their work beforehand, you can see what a lash lift will look like and make sure it’s for you before scheduling your appointment.
Ask them plenty of questions about how the appointment will go, what to expect, and anything else that you want to be cleared up beforehand.
2. Avoid mascara for 24-48 hours before your lash lift
There are many things to be careful of when getting a lash lift. One of the few rules that must be followed prior to your lash lift appointment is in regards to mascara.
Depending on whether you wear washable or waterproof mascara the recommendation is different, so it is very important that you follow the instructions carefully.
If you wear regular washable mascara, it is recommended that you stop using it 24 hours before your lash lift appointment to allow time for the mascara residue to be completely gone.
If you use waterproof mascara, the recommendation is that you do not use it for 48 hours or more before your appointment.
This is because the compounds that make mascara waterproof are a lot more sticky and will take more washing to fully remove all remnants from your lashes.
3. Remove all eye makeup and skincare products before your lash lift
Before you go to your lash lift appointment, wash your face or at least the area around your eyes thoroughly.
Remove all your eye makeup like eyeshadow, eyeliner, and of course mascara.
You also want to make sure you don’t have any greasy skincare products like an eye cream or serum on the area around your eyes.
4. Don’t use an eyelash curler for 24 hours before your lash lift
If you typically use a lash curler, you may want to give it a break for the day or so before your lash lift appointment.
This will make sure that your lashes will be in their most natural state for your appointment, which allows the lash artist to do the lash lift correctly based on how your lashes naturally are.
5. Take out your contact lenses before your lash lift
If you wear contact lenses, remove them before your appointment and wear glasses if possible.
You can remove your lenses just prior to your lash lift and put them back in immediately after, but you may want to wait a bit to make sure there is no leftover solution in your eye to cause irritation.
Things To Avoid Before A Lash Lift
A lash lift requires little preparation and there really isn’t much to do or avoid before your appointment.
There are a few simple things you should avoid doing before your lash lift, but most are very easy to do in the days leading up to your appointment.
Here are a few things to avoid before you get a lash lift:
Avoid using any heavy moisturizers or sunscreen – The oil in any face products like this can get on your lashes and prevent the lash lifting solution from working properly.
Avoid using waterproof mascara for 48 hours before – Waterproof mascara leaves a thick residue on your lashes even after several washes, so it’s important to skip it for 2 or more days before your appointment.
Avoid using a lash curler or any mascara the day of your appointment – Curling your lashes or applying mascara before your appointment won’t allow your lash artist to assess your natural lashes, which is the best way to give you a great lash lift.
What To Expect After A Lash Lift
Your lash lift will take effect immediately, so you will leave the salon looking bright-eyed and beautiful with your newly lifted lashes.
You can go about your day mostly as normal after your service with very minimal restrictions in the first 24 hours, and then almost no restrictions after that.
Here are a few things you can expect after your lash lift appointment:
- Sensitivity – If you have sensitive skin or eyes, you may experience some redness, itching, or burning in the eye area. This is caused by the lifting solution which may have got into your eye or irritated the skin in this area. It is usually minor and clears up quickly in most cases.
- Strict aftercare for 24 hour period – You will want to avoid humidity, sweating, rubbing your eyes, and getting your face wet in the first 24 hours after your lash lift. If you also got your lashes tinted, you should stay out of direct sunlight as well.
- Results last 4-6 weeks – Most lash lifts will last up to 6 weeks depending on how curled your lashes are and how much your lashes shed. The lift will diminish slowly over the weeks that follow your appointment, so it will be a subtle process until your next lash lift.
How To Best Maintain A Lash Lift
Lash lifts are low maintenance after the first few days are over. There really isn’t much that you need to do, but there are certain things you can do that will help you get better results.
This is part of the reason why this service has risen in popularity in recent years over things like lash extensions or false lashes which require much more specific care.
Here are some helpful tips to keep your lash lift looking great as long as possible:
Follow the 24-hour aftercare instructions closely
The most crucial maintenance period for a lash lift is the first day after you have it done.
If you follow the instructions from your lash artist carefully in those first 24 hours, you will set yourself up for great lashes in the weeks that follow.
Use a lash growth serum
Consider using a lash growth serum starting 3 weeks after your lash lift.
This will help stimulate growth and increase the strength of your lashes so that your lash lift will last longer and your fresh lashes will grow in thick and lush.
Skip eye makeup whenever possible
With your lashes lifted and curled, you won’t need much makeup to feel beautiful.
Although you can wear eye makeup with a lash lift, it’s best to wear as little as possible to minimize oil or product buildup around your eyes and prevent the need to scrub the eye area clean daily.
Use oil-free products
For the first few weeks of your lash lift, make sure you are using oil-free products like makeup removers and skincare products.
This will help extend the life of your lift. Once most of your lifted lashes have fallen out, you can use oil-based products until it’s time for your next lift.
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