How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Lash Lift? [Answered]

Lash lifts are becoming so popular amongst people of all ages, that it’s easy to see why minors under the age of 16 years old are enthused about getting one. But how old do you have to be to get a lash lift?

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A Lash Lift

There is no minimum age required for a lash lift in either the US or UK. It’s up to the beauty studio to decide whether or not they’ll accept kids for the treatments.

Typically, however, if someone is under the age of 16, the consent of a parent or guardian will be required for the procedure to be carried out.

What Is A Lash Lift?

A lash lift is a relatively low-maintenance beauty treatment. By adding curl to your lashes, you’re elevating your natural look and adding a touch of drama to your everyday appearance. 

A lash lift is a semi-permanent treatment. It adds curl to your natural lashes and will also darken them if you choose to undergo a tint at the same time

Your lashes will consequently look uplifted and make you appear more bright-eyed.

A lash lift should last around eight weeks as long as you care for your lashes. 

It’s a suitable treatment for anyone who wants to add a little something to their natural look, for those who have blonde or translucent eyelashes, or those who have naturally straight lashes.

Bear in mind that it’s still a procedure involving chemicals, which will be placed close to your eyes. 

As long as you go to a certified technician, your natural eyelashes shouldn’t undergo any damage. 

You should ask for a consultation before your appointment so that you and your esthetician can agree on a look before the lash lift actually takes place.

You can also then get a patch test to ensure that you won’t experience any sensitivity or irritation.

Benefits Of Getting A Lash Lift

Different people choose to get a lash lift for different reasons. Amongst the most popular are:

Time-saving

We all love catching a little extra beauty sleep in the morning, but endlessly snoozing the alarm can shorten the time we have to put make-up on. 

A lash lift sorts this problem, saving you those precious extra minutes in the morning.

You spend less on eye make-up

With a lash lift, you can say goodbye to endlessly purchasing mascara. 

Although you can wear eye make-up with a lash lift, it might shorten the lifespan of your lift. 

And anyway, the lash lift is designed to add a ‘no make-up make-up’ look to your lashes, so why would you bother?

By not spending on mascara and putting your eyelash curler aside, you may save a few pennies.

You can get a lash tint at the same time

Many beauty salons offer a lash lift and lash tint procedure simultaneously. So, you get to add both curl and color to your lashes at the same time. 

Cheaper than eyelash extensions

A lash lift isn’t cheap, but it’s also not as expensive as other eyelash procedures like extensions. 

Whilst you can do a lash lift at home, it’s best to go to a studio if you’re unsure what you’re doing. It’s not worth messing around with chemicals so close to your eyes, after all.

Lash lifts last

If you take care of your lash lift, it can last for a serious amount of time – anywhere up to two months. 

Keeping your lashes dry can really help to preserve the lift for as long as possible (so, minimal swimming or working out).

How Old Do You Have To Be For A Lash Lift In The US?

There are no laws in the United States specifying the minimum age for a lash lift. Typically, the consent of a parent or guardian will be required for individuals under the age of 18. It’s up to beauty salons to define whether or not they will accept minors for treatments.

It’s also absolutely worth considering why a minor might want to undergo a lash lift and factoring in things like expense and self-image to establish whether it’s worth a child having a lash lift. We detail more on this below.

How Old Do You Have To Be For A Lash Lift In The UK?

How Old Do You Have To Be For A Lash Lift In The UK

There is no legal minimum age for a lash lift in the UK. As such, it’s up to the beauty studio and the technician to decide whether they are happy to perform a procedure on individuals.

Typically, for minors (under the age of 16), the consent of a parent or guardian will be required.

Although there is no legal minimum age for a lash lift in the UK, it is a criminal offence to administer Botox or filler by way of injection to a person under the age of 18. 

As above, it’s worth considering why a minor might feel like they want a lash lift, and it’s important to help them weigh up the different factors at play in the decision.

Is Lash Lift Suitable For Kids?

Whether or not a lash lift is suitable for kids really depends on the individual situation. 

These are the factors to consider:

1. Expense

Sure, a lash lift is cheaper than extensions, but it’s still not a cheap beauty treatment. 

You can pay anywhere from $50 to $150 depending on where you go, and you will need to book refill and touch-up appointments in order to keep your lash lift looking its best. 

Kids may not have enough money to fund this habit or may end up relying on their parents to finance it, so this is worth taking into account.

2. Why is the treatment desired?

What is the reason that your child might want a lash lift? 

Do they have a special occasion coming up for which they want to look their best? Or is it about an insecurity that they have with their natural lashes?

It’s important to have a conversation with your child about why they want the treatment so that you can decide whether or not it’s in their best interest to do so. 

It’s all about walking the fine line between helping your child actualize a sense of pride in their appearance, without having them rely on treatments in order to feel confident about that appearance. 

As such, there’s no one-size-fits-all policy for whether or not a lash lift is right – it’s entirely dependent on the child and their situation, as well as their relationship to you.

3. High maintenance

Lash lifts need a certain amount of maintenance in order to stay looking their best.

In the first 48 hours following a procedure, your child will need to avoid all water – whether that’s swimming, humidity, or a shower. 

It’s also best for them to sleep on their back so that they don’t tangle or crush their lashes, and to use silk or satin pillowcases. 

As a result, there can be extra stresses involved in a lash lift that your child may not have thought about.

It’s important to be upfront about these from the off so that they can make an informed decision.

4. School rules

Depending on the school that your kid attends, there may be strict policies about minors undergoing beauty treatments. 

Some institutions have certain dress codes, and your child may be penalized for heading into school with a lash lift. 

You should aim to clarify if there are any school rules before getting the procedure, otherwise, it’s essentially money down the drain.

Who Should Not Get A Lash Lift

Who Should Not Get A Lash Lift

1. If you’re prone to allergic reactions

Lash lifts use a chemical perming agent in order to cause your natural lashes to curl. If you are sensitive to these types of ingredients, it’s probably not worth risking it. 

At the least, you should undergo a patch test before your appointment.

It’s also best to avoid the procedure if you have naturally sensitive or watery eyes, too, as these are less ideal conditions for exposure to a chemical agent.

2. If you’ve had a lash lift within six weeks prior to your appointment

As long as you go to a certified technician, you shouldn’t experience any damage to your natural lashes from a lash lift.

That said, you do need to wait a minimum of six weeks in between sessions, otherwise, your lashes may well be too brittle or damaged to undergo a lash lift.

3. If you’re pregnant

If you’re in your first trimester, you are not able to get a lash lift. Although it should be fine beyond this point to get one, you absolutely must perform a patch test first.

4. If you have an eye infection

If there’s any redness, irritation, or infection around your eyes, then you should not get a lash lift. 

This is also the case for anyone experiencing skin problems like dermatitis in the area. Your eyes, eyelids, and eyelashes need to be entirely healthy in order to undergo a lash lift.

5. If you’re on a certain medication

Hormonal medication, thyroid medication, and other antibiotics or medicines such as Accutane might react badly with the lash lifting solution, so it’s best not to undergo a lash lift if you’re taking any of these.

If in doubt, it’s best to consult with your physician prior to the appointment.

Similarly, if you’ve had chemotherapy within the past year, you need to wait for a whole year to pass before having an appointment.

6. If you’ve had laser eye surgery

If your surgery was within six weeks prior to your lash lift appointment, your eyes won’t be fully healed.

Any eye treatment such as a lash lift might complicate the healing process.